By: debbie lynn elias
When choosing my final review of the year for you, there was a bit of influence over my decision; that of my 14 year old nephew. When it comes to my family it seems the adage is true that the “apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” and so I am most fortunate to have four nephews who are not only passionate about film, but some of whom may follow the family legacy into the tv and film industry in some capacity. In discussing possible film choices for my nephew to view over the holidays, some titles were obvious and immediate, but I was completely taken aback when I mentioned THE GREAT DEBATERS to him as not only did he express curiosity and interest, after giving him a brief synopsis of the film, his immediate comments ranged from “Cool” to “Wow” to “It’s a true story?” to “I want to see that one. It sounds interesting.” And so, if just a few brief words to a 14 year old can make him desirous to see this powerful and inspiring film by Denzel Washington, that was all it took to convince me that this was the film to review as we reflect on the year gone by and look ahead with hope and inspiration to the year ahead.
The time is 1935. As the new semester begins and a new crop of potential debaters audition for a spot on Professor Tolson’s debate team at Wiley College in Marshall, Texas, it’s clear the stakes are high. A man who believes in the power of education, competition is stiff and only the most dedicated and talented will make the four man team. Among the top contenders, veteran Hamilton Burgess who has proven himself prior and who believes there is no one with greater debate skills than he; but Mr. Burgess is more than surprised when the smart aleck, cocky, flippant and extremely well spoken, literate and gutsy Henry Lowe stands his ground in defiance to statements made by Professor Tolson and finds himself on the team. The biggest surprises. however, come with the selection of alternates, Samantha Booke and 14 year old James Farmer, Jr., son of James Farmer, a distinguished and educated preacher and professor also at Wiley. James, a gifted child, screams for the attention, acceptance and love of his father and to him, the debate team may be his answer.
Much to the chagrin of Mr. Lowe, Professor Tolson’s technique is simple. Tolson selects the topics and although the team researches fact for the arguments, Tolson writes the arguments with his thoughts and his words, for them to debate. Notable are the research skills of young James who together with Samantha uncover some kick-ass information as a basis for winning arguments. But as the team slowly winds its way through the competition, beating every school it faces, other issues of the day, and of life, ripe for debate appear on the horizon – James faces his first case of puppy love over Samantha while Samantha and Henry Lowe only have eyes for each other; Professor Tolson faces the outrage of a 1930’s South as he tries to help farmers – both Black and White – unionize, the effects of which are far reaching as young James witnesses a raid on a secret meeting and then must face his father and the consequences of what he has seen and what he cannot say, not even to his father; the townspeople, and particularly Sheriff Dozier, are after Tolson’s hide for the “uprising” among the farmers and workers and arrest him with charges of being a Communist, which of course causes the pretentious Mr. Burgess to resign from the debate team. And on the way to one of the biggest competitions of their lives, the team faces the ultimate horror – witnessing a lynching of a young man who is not just hung from a tree limb, but burned to a crisp.
Rattled to the core, the team tries to hold it together and as befits not only Hollywood, but history, when it seems that all is lost for the team, the school, Tolson and the debaters, a miracle occurs. On the sly, Tolson has been writing to every university in the country touting his talented team, challenging each to debate Wiley. Most say yes, but one has repeatedly said “no”, that is until now. Wiley has finally been invited to debate Harvard at Harvard.. But there are a few problems. Because of his arrest and terms of release, Tolson can’t accompany the team leaving Mr. Lowe in charge of Samantha and James. And to make matters worse, the topics for which they prepared argument are changed on their arrival at Harvard and now, for the first time, the team must research, write and deliver their own arguments, one of which will be debated by young James in only his second oration, and the other, by Samantha. Two African-Americans, a young boy and a young woman, debating at all-White Harvard.
Denzel Washington IS Melvin Tolson. A more passionate performance I have never seen. With each oration, each lecture, his words inspire and move. They are color blind and speak to all. Forget about what you thought was Denzel Washington at his best because nothing in his past prepares you for the power he exudes here. Forest Whitaker, with his soft spoken demeanor is ideal as James Farmer, Sr. and as comes as no surprise fills Farmer with tacit emotion that eloquently unfolds before our eyes. The wonderful Kimberly Elise, who was a stand out as Washington’s wife in “John Q”, here provides her patented heartfelt maternal warmth as Pearl Farmer. And John Heard is a pure evil delight as the bigoted and racist Sheriff Dozier.
But the real stars here are the debaters themselves and none moreso than Denzel Whitaker who plays James Farmer, Jr. As James, Jr. he is pure magic. Stealing every scene from his seasoned co-stars, by the time we arrive at the climactic Harvard debate, just seeing him walk to the podium will have your hairs stand on end with anticipation. The intelligence and verbal acumen and skill on screen in not acting. This young man is astute, formidable and a force to be reckoned with. Little Denzel is amazing to watch as he matures from a young scared boy into a confident young man voicing his own opinions and speaking them from his heart with conviction and clarity of thought. Nate Parker as Henry Lowe has all the power and charisma as a young Denzel Washington. Just imagine Washington in “Crimson Tide” going head to head with Gene Hackman and you’ve got the picture for Lowe versus Tolson. Jurnee Smollett, who was the first one to audition as a debater was hell bent on being part of this project. Passionate about the project as a whole, she was aware of the film and its history long before she ever auditioned. As Samantha, she speaks for every woman of the era and beyond with a clear loud voice that reverberates in ones heart.
Written by Robert Eisele, he retained some of the actual historical figures, such as Tolson, James Farmer, Sr. and James Farmer, Jr., but then after spending approximately two years researching and interviewing surviving Wiley debaters, including James Farmer, Jr. before his death in 1999, he created composites of Henry, Samantha and Warren based on actual Wiley team members from 1934 through 1939. Eisele then turned to Wiley College and incorporated historical fact into the fictionalized script. One key twist to history is that although Wiley did defeat the national champions of the day – those Trojans of University of Southern California – there was no historical evidence they ever debated Harvard. However, in order to stress the importance of education and academia as a means to success in life, Eisele took literary license with the embodiment of Harvard…and in a surprise move, Harvard agreed to allow filming in the Sanders Theatre of its great Memorial Hall.
Initially Denzel Washington was brought in only to direct but as he said, “I became more and more certain I had to play Tolson with each page. By the time I finished reading the script, I knew as a director I would insist on casting THIS role.” Insisting on authenticity, Washington sent his young actors off to debate camp at Texas Southern University where they were provided with intensive training with special emphasis on parliamentary debate. That desire for authenticity carried over into the recreation of 1935 Marshall and production designer David Bomba was called upon to master this aspect of the production. Likewise, costuming had to be authentic. Surprisingly, 1930’s costuming is not that easy to find, thus prompting costume designer Sharen Davis to design the clothing for the lead characters in keeping with patterns and fabrics of the day. A costuming coup, however, Brooks Brothers made the clothing for Washington and Whitaker’s characters.
As a director, Washington moves the film at a steady pace, building emotional impact not just with the main storyline, but with subtext and plotlines involving Tolson’s extracurricular activities and particularly, the growth and maturity of young James Farmer. Much of the story is seen through the eyes of wide eyed youth and the revelation of the horrors of the world viewed in this manner is powerfully mesmerizing. Thanks to well played and times scenes, by the time the climactic debate arrives, you’ll be on the edge of your seat, rooting for Wiley with such enthusiasm you would think this was the Super Bowl or the World Series, rather than a college debate.
As for Melvin Tolson and his team, they proved that education does beget greatness. Words are timeless and universal. Education is a gift not to be taken lightly and one to be embraced. It affords one respect and self-respect. These are lessons that
Melvin Tolson and his debate team taught us. And if you have any doubt as to the greatness of Tolson’s work and these young people, take a look at their legacy – James Farmer, Jr. led the Freedom Rides and was founder of the Congress of Racial Equality. One of the original debaters, Hobart Jarrett, became an English Professor at Brooklyn College; Hamilton Boswell, a Methodist minister and Melvin Tolson, a poet laureate, lecturer, four term mayor and teacher.
The debate is over. THE GREAT DEBATERS is one of the great movies of 2007.
Melvin B. Tolson – Denzel Washington
James Farmer, Sr. – Forest Whitaker
James Farmers, Jr. – Denzel Whitaker
Henry Lowe – Nate Parker
Samantha Booke – Jurnee Smollett
Pearl Farmer – Kimberly Elise
Sheriff Dozier – John Heard
Directed by Denzel Washington. Written by Robert Eisele based on a story by Eisele and Jeffrey Porro on an article written by Tony Scherman. Rated PG-13. (123 min)
