The Great Debaters

NEW YORK (CNS) -- Resolved: "The Great Debaters" (MGM), with a story line drawn from real events, is an uplifting and thoroughly enjoyable film. The ayes have it.

Melvin B. Tolson (Denzel Washington, who also directed) is a gifted professor and debate coach at Wiley College, a small African-American school in 1930s Texas. As the new academic year begins, he sets out to choose the four members of his forensic team out of dozens competing for the honor.

The young people he eventually selects, including the first female student in the team's history, make up a varied and dynamic group. There's volatile Henry Lowe (Nate Parker), the more subdued Hamilton Burgess (Jermaine Williams), passionate, self-confident Samantha Booke (Jurnee Smollett) and, most intriguingly, 14-year-old prodigy James Farmer Jr. (Denzel Whitaker).

As the demanding Tolson tries to unify the new teammates, he faces a number of challenges. Frictions arise when James, who cherishes a secret affection for Samantha, finds himself overlooked in favor of the more mature Henry. Henry himself has a taste for the wild life to be found off campus, while Hamilton's parents are disturbed by Tolson's left-wing convictions.

Tolson puts his principles into practice by trying to organize a union for the local sharecroppers, one that will include both black and white farmers. When James follows Tolson to one of the union's clandestine meetings and is caught up in a raid, the need to keep that experience secret brings him into conflict with his stern theologian father (Forest Whitaker).

As the undefeated debaters begin to attract attention in the wider world, they eventually receive invitations, not only from some of the country's most prominent African-American colleges, but from white institutions as well. Tolson's ambition to pit his team against the Harvard Crimson -- the nation's premier debating team -- provides the lead-in to the film's stirring climax.

Washington, who collaborated with producer Oprah Winfrey on the project, creates an intimate character study that transcends the formulaic. His predominantly young cast demonstrates a remarkably sure touch, while cinematographer Philippe Rousselot makes the rural setting look wonderfully inviting.

A quality production in every respect, "The Great Debaters" manages to inspire without ever pausing to preach.

The film contains scenes of violence, including a lynched corpse; brief nongraphic, nonmarital sexual activity; and four uses of the s-word and two profanities. It is possibly acceptable for older teens. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

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Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops