Denzel as the debate coach, Melvin B. Tolson Credit: Weinstein Company

Doncha just luv an "underdog wins" movie?! A lot of films of this type are sports-based but with The Great Debaters, actor/director Denzel Washington makes a battle of the spoken word just as rousing as any conflict on a field or basketball court. If you were Black and living in the 1930's South, you weren't expected or even allowed to excel at much of anything. Denzel plays real life passionate professor and Debate Team coach Melvin B. Tolson who molded several small-town college kids into a quick-thinking and smooth-talking team that was able to best the best.. even defeat some Ivy Leaguers.

The young debaters are played wonderfully by handsome Nate Parker, beautiful Jurnee Smollett [Eve's Bayou, Roll Bounce, Gridiron Gang] and spunky and talented Denzel Whitaker [Training Day, The War at Home, All That]. Oddly, young Denzel (age 18) isn't related to "big" Denzel nor to Oscar-winning actor Forest Whitaker who plays his dad in this film. We chatted with this feisty "team" recently in Beverly Hills and were impressed, even brought to tears by their passion for this project. They each feel that they took on a great responsibility to represent pioneers who helped make it possible for modern young African-Americans to excel and they are proud that the movie is already effecting young people.