"The Great Debaters"- Did You See It? What Did You Think?

I am going to try to give this review of the Movie, "The Great Debaters" without giving away any major plot points in the event you have not seen it already. So this review is all about style and nothing about substance.

Generally speaking, I have never been impressed with Oprah's forays into movie production. Can anybody say Beloved ( FYI- The works of Toni Morrison should never be adapted for film! Some things were meant to be remain in their original form). So going into the movie, I was excited because I wanted this story to be told yet, filled with dread because in the past Oprah's productions can be a little heavy on message and symbolism. I don't know if it was because of the screenplay, the director, or the actors, but this movie had just enough of it all. Romance, trials, tribulations, redemption and comedy ( can you say SLAP HEARD ROUND THE WORLD?)- basically all the things you go to a the movies to see. They managed to convey the horror of what it meant to be Black in Texas during that time in history with out leaving you depressed and dejected walking out of the theater. After all, we go to the movies to escape.

I watched this movie in Southeast Texas. I think one of the interesting points in the movie was when they were trying to find Prairie View University on the map and everybody laughed because we know PV is out in the middle of nowhere and half the audience either graduated from PV or had an parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle that went to PV. I actually take a short cut through there when I am going from 290 to 45 ( don't worry about figuring it out, the locals know what I am talking about. Well the audiences familiarity with the geographic location adds extra meaning to the scene that follows. I won't give it away. Needless to say many folks in the audience have found themselves on a road to PV at one time or another.

Lets give a hand clap of praise to whoever made the casting decisions in this movie. They could have given us the same five Black actors who are in every other Black film, but they managed to pull together a group of actors that are relatively unknown. Even if we've seen them before, not in this way. It was nice to have a departure from the same ole same ole and I think it paid off because man, this was a character driven piece. I can't imagine any other actors playing any of these roles.

Now Denzel may have been heavy with his use of the soft focus effect, but the man knows how to direct actors. There was no Tyler Perry method acting excessive crying up in this movie. When a tear was shed, it meant something baby! The subtle things that the actors in this movie did were just amazing. Although Denzel Washington is the big name in this movie, he manages to make his presence known with just a look and a pause. It is when the man is totally silent – COMEDY! And let's talk abotu Forrest Whitaker... the brother speaks volumes just sitting in a chair in the dark! Put the two of them together and watch out.

There wasn't much bad about the movie, HOWEVER, Denzel darlin'. Moi luvs ya. She do she do and I KNOW you are excited to direct, but please, for the love of humanity , lay off the soft focus lens. I know it is fun and nifty to use all the various effects available to you, but several times during the movie, I wondered if I needed to go get my eyes checked, before it occurred to me that you are fascinated with making the outer edges of the frame blurry.

Now somebody needs to hunt down all of the literary references in this movie. I need to read or reread every work mentioned in this movie. Some I have read before, but it has been years and this movie reminded folks about the value of a liberal arts education. Half the time I thought professor Tolson was talking to me. Higher Education isn't just about vocational training, but also about the power of ideas to shape the mind and change the world. They almost had me convinced to go back to school at the end of the movie... I said ALMOST. Whew, now I am off to read some Greek mythology. What was the name of the character from mythology that got stronger with each defeat? I have to be spelling it wrong. Thanks erica b. the name of the character is Antaeus.

Now typically I don't like audience participation during a movie, but in this case, all of our collective participation was appropriate. Let's do a survey, how many times did the audience break out into applause? I think I counted 5. my Theater in Texas was packed with black folks of all ages. Good movie!

Why Isn't the Studio Promoting "The Great Debaters"- It's a CONSPIRACY I Tell Ya'- Making My Debut As an MC

Last week I told you about "The Great Debaters" the movie FEW of y'all have heard about.

Now you couldn't read a single Black blog without them going on incessantly about "American Gangster." The American Gangster Album, The American Gangster LA Premiere, the NY Premiere. Who wanted to play the role of Frank Lucas. Etc. On and on and on.

Well Denzel *sigh* has another movie coming out this Christmas, and you wouldn't know it because I haven't heard hide nor hair of it.

The film is based on the true story of Melvin B. Tolson, who, while at Wiley College formed a debate team that beat Harvard in 1935 during the national championships.

The film is produced by Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Productions. It is directed by Denzel Washington who also stars in the film along with Forest Whitaker, Kimberly Elise, Nate Parker, and Jurnee Smollett. The screenplay is by Suzan-Lori Parks[I think I saw her at the Magnolia Cafe last weekend.] and Robert Eisele. It will be released on December 25, 2007.

Why Haven't You Heard of It?

Could it be because is does not appear to be a never ending cliché upon cliché with a regurgitated plot, recycled cast, and rehashed version of Soul Food(sans the precocious children) a la "This Christmas"?

Could it be because the Black characters in"The Great Debaters" aren't criminals, gangstas', prostitutes, or hip hop artists?

Could it be because yet again the movie studio is going to mistake having the cast appear on a special edition of the Oprah show as some type of marketing? The Oprah name sells books. Movies, not so much...I got two words for you "Cat Woman!"

Which came first the chicken or the egg? Is it that Black folks and White folks don't want to see something different out of Hollywood, or is it that Hollywood only seems to want to promote the same old narrow range of African American stories? If we don't go see this in droves, it might not be because we don't want to see it, it might be because a whole lot of folks don't know this movie is even out there. People can say what they want about Tyler Perry, but that man knows how to market a movie. The folks responsible for marketing "The Great Debaters" need to call Tyler and stop dialing it in. Get with it people! Time's a wastin'!

Everybody that went to see American Gangster, needs to go see this twice.

My MC Challenge

Now Jay-Z put out an "American Gangster" album to coincide with the release of the movie chronicling how one man was able to murder thousands of folks with heroin while desecrating the bodies of dead US service men. I have not heard of any such cross promotion for "The Great Debaters". In fact, according to the site, the Great Debaters soundtrack features blues and gospel. hmmmm. To do my part in promoting the movie I have vowed to write and perform lyrics to a hip hop single in honor of the Wiley College Team. All I need is for someone to lay down a track. I have no musical or lyrical talent, but if you have heard your radio recently, a lack of talent, skill or ability is no impediment to being a successful recording artist. I am serious!

Get on it people. I am still waaaaaiting! We can throw it on I-tunes and watch as "The Great Debaters" rockets towards box office domination. While I wait on your musical contributions, I will continue working on my first screenplay, "Get Those Church Folks Off My LAWN: The Debra Lee Story"

For real though, everybody that went to see American Gangster had better go see "The Great Debaters" TWICE as your penance.

Everybody Who Saw "American Gangster" Had Better Go See THIS MOVIE Twice: The Great Debaters

Tell me why I have heard that they are making Confessions of a Video Vixen into a movie and didn't know about THIS movie about a Black college debate team? A movie about Black folks that ain't singing dancing or shooting or talking about how we all suck...and they're in COLLEGE too. It's about a professor not a gangster? GASP. Tis' not possible! The people promoting this movie are doing way past poor. They need to call Tyler Perry about promoting a movie. The film is called "The Great Debaters":

A drama based on the true story of Melvin B. Tolson, a professor at Wiley College Texas. In 1935, he inspired students to form the school's first debate team, which went on to challenge Harvard in the national championship. SOURCE

Everybody who went to see American Gangster and Why Did I Get Married had better go see this one TWICE. Apparently Denzel Washington can still bring the sexy even when he isn't playing a murderous drug dealing gangster.

To the marketing team for this movie, throwing the cast on the Oprah show the week before the movie premiers does not qualify as marketing. Bring your "A" game with this one. If you don't know how, email me, I'll tell you.

The OFFICIAL MOVIE WEBSITE.

Shecodes, since Jay - Z put out an album to coincide with the release of "American Gangster", I say we put out a single online to coincide with the release of "The Great Debaters." You lay down the track and I'll do the lyrics. I'm serious. I think folks would pay $0.99 to hear the crazy cat lady from What About Our Daughters? rap or MC.