EXCEPTIONAL FILM, EXTREMELY TALENTED CAST

(17 December 2007)

Although The Great Debaters does not open until Christmas, I had the good fortune of seeing it at a preview – and I can recommend it without reservation. It is a great story, based on real events that most of us never heard of, about a debating team from Wiley College, a small black institution in rural Texas.

The team performs extraordinary feats because the kids are good and the team is taught by Mel Tolson, a real person, acted by Denzel Washington, who also directs the film. Forest Whitaker, like Washington an academy award winner, plays James Farmer Sr., the school president and the father of one of the debaters, James Farmer Jr. (yes, that James Farmer Jr.). The participation in this enterprise of Washington, Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey and the Weinstein brothers should draw crowds (provided the film isn't cursed by being described as "uplifting," though it is).

The revelation in this film are the performances of the three principal debaters: Jurnee Smollett as Samatha Booke (with an "e", as she proclaims when she tries out for the debate team), Nate Parker as Henry Lowe (also with an "e" as he announces in response to Samantha's declaration) and Denzel Whitaker as James Farmer Jr. You may have seen Jurnee Smollett earlier in her career when she was a "cute kid" and a promising actress. This film could be her portal to stardom. In addition to being a gorgeous young woman, she's also an accomplished actress, ready for bigger parts in the future.

You'll also be impressed with her colleagues, people whose names you may never have heard. You don't have to be black to find this film engrossing; I'm not. All you need to be is (a) a human being and (b) someone who appreciates a good movie. I hope it makes a ton of money at the box office but it is, above all, a quality film. It just happens to be about a difficult period in American history, the rural South in the 1930s. It just happens to be inspirational and uplifting. But it's better than uplifting. It's GOOD and it's REAL (354 words)

Review B (1.2.8)

THE GREAT DENZELS

(28 December 2007)

In his sophomore effort, actor-director Denzel Washington has created one of the best films of the year, The Great Debaters. The film takes a high road to transform its narrative into a beautiful canvas for Washington to paint on like forgotten masterpieces like Stand and Deliver and Dead Poet's Society. Adapted from a Tony Scherman article by Robert Eisele and Jeffrey Porro, the film follows an astonishing pace and never forcing anything down the audience's throat rather, uses images and manifestations for its armor.

Washington's achievement here is pulling the performances of new, unknown young actors. Denzel Whitaker as the innocent, curious James Jr. is wonderful in exposition of character and gives the best child performance of the year. Nate Parker in a momentous breakthrough performance indulges the audience as Henry, the angry young college student dealing with the inequalities of African-Americans in the South. In the end it's the tenacious performance by the beautiful Jurnee Smollett that holds the emotional premise of the film together. Not only dealing the racial barrier, but the barrier of being a woman, a woman running away from her past and trying to settle into a world dominated by the differences of her own. Smollett's debate speeches are felt with every word, every expression, and every influential command.

Not expecting too much from last year's Oscar winner Forest Whitaker probably helped him in watching the film. This is a true superior work on the actor's resume. So how Denzel Washington do in directing himself? Not glossing as much as Clint Eastwood and Kevin Costner past works, Washington does an admirable effort and takes the supporting role (yes it's supporting) and acts as the film's right hand man. Adding his charisma, potency, and veteran thespian persona, the film is a success.

In terms of Oscar's chances, costume designer Sharen Davis is worthy of citation. David J. Bomba's production design is quite easy on the eye and captures the era of tyranny and persecution. With the Academy Awards potential, The Great Debaters delivers on every level encompassing the richness of love, the evil of oppression, and the beauty of triumph. (354 words)

3. Post your review on the Internet and wait for some cinema lover’s response, from Rio, Brazil or Ivenets, Belarus.

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Topic 1.2

CARER, KEEPER…

CLASS 4: “LABORATORY WORK”

1.Organize free-style communication session based on the ideas, evaluations and impressions of Classes 1 – 3. You may choose from several options.

A. Watch more episodes from the three movies (choose from 12 episodes). Comment on them in various ways.

B. Produce the results of Internet research based on the teachers in question and their work.

C. Share the favorite passages from the books mentioned (and more).

D. Share written work samples – read, evaluate, improve.

E. Share your personal vocabulary notes with other students.

F. Produce extra pieces of poetry about school and teaching.

2. In-class writing. Produce a summary view on the material of classes 1 – 4. The text should contain no less than 300 words, have a memorable title, and be finished in 30 minutes.

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Topic 1.2

SUMMARY VIEW

Dear Student Teacher,

As a result of those four classes you are supposed to have become much more intelligent and profession-oriented.

(1) You may have watched Gridiron Gang, Freedom Writers, and The Great Debaters and have found them great films. Tell your friends about them.

(2) You may have written down many of the nice phrases spoken by the characters in those movies, which must have improved your English. Share them with other students.

(3) You learned about several good books worth reading such as Bleachers by John Grisham, Bread upon the Waters by Irwin Shaw, and Silent Boy by Torey Hayden. Find them or borrow them from someone else and read them.

(4) You must have talked and written about the problem of being a carer in the classroom and outside it, which is quite important. This may have helped you to become a better carer, right?

(5) You could have improved your socio-cultural knowledge as you have learned about a number of crucial events in the history of civil rights movement. This can obviously be to your great advantage, right?

Date: 2015-12-17; view: 771