The Great Debaters

Director: Denzel Washington

Cast: Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker, Nate Parker, Jurnee Smollett, Denzel Whitaker, Kimberly Elise, John Heard

(Weinstein Company, 2007) Rated: PG-13

US theatrical release date: 25 December 2007 (General release)

[27 December 2007]

by Cynthia Fuchs

PopMatters Film and TV Editor

Tradeoff

The Great Debaters is history by way of Oprah: righteously angry and uplifting, willing to pull a punch when it makes the broader point.

‹‹ Read the full article

shouldn’t the film credits read “Forest Whitaker” instead of “Denzel Whitaker”?

Comment by ash from chicago — December 27, 2007 @ 12:56 pm

Actually no, Denzel Whitaker is one of the kid actors.  But wait, there’s more! He looks a lot like a young Forest Whitaker.  Strange, just strange.

Comment by arnaud from Montreal — December 29, 2007 @ 2:07 am

THIS WAS A GREAT ARTICLE FOR A GREAT MOVIE. I FEEL EVERYONE IN THE MOVIE PLAYED THEIR PART TO THE MAX. I FELT THEIR PAIN, THEIR FEARS, THE STRENGTH AND POWER IT TOOK FOR THEM TO BECOME THE GREAT INDIVIDUALS THAT THEY ARE. I AM HAPPY DENZEL CREATED SUCH A FILM TO LET US ALL KNOW WHO WE ARE. WE ARE ALL GREAT IN OUR OWN UNIQUE WAY AND AS LONG AS WE BELIEVE AND HAVE FAITH IN OURSELVES, WE WILL NEVER FAIL. THANK YOU, DENZEL AND THE REST OF THE CAST FOR SUCH AN INSPIRING FILM.

Comment by YOLANDA from GRANITE CITY, ILLINOIS — January 10, 2008 @ 10:28 am

Denzel Whitaker is the actor, Forest Whitaker’s son.  Forest has a great brotherly love and admiration for Denzel WASHINGTON so he named his son after Denzel Washington.  This is required viewing for every child in my family as of 10 years old.  We MUST TEACH OUR CHILDREN the value of an education.

Comment by Don from Baltimore, Maryland — October 12, 2008 @ 4:43 pm

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