BlackPerspective.net
Discussing the Diaspora as seen through an internal Black lens
Preview of The Great Debaters
December 18th, 2007
Is the Great Debaters another in a long line of Lean On Me wanna-be movies gone bad? Mmmm, probably not. For one it takes place 70 years ago, so you don’t have the cliché’ ‘gang riddled school with graffiti tatted walls’ thing going. Also unlike all the ‘teacher rescues the natives’ movies we’ve been cursed with since Lean On Me starring Morgan Freeman as our protagonist and Stand And Deliver starring Edwards James Olmos in the position of youth inspirer; we don’t have the great white hope condescension of some do-gooder whitey coming from outside to save the Blacks and Hispanics.
Here the protagonist is played by Denzel Washington, and as he is, his students are Black. He comes from their community. Furthermore, these aren’t wayward young folks, looking to run the streets, who’s parents don’t understand the importance of education; where the protagonist must bring them along. These are Black college students in the 1930s; they really choose to be there. From what I’m reading this film leans more Dead Poets Society than Dangerous Minds
And good. I’m from Hip Hop and I could do without the pimped out low riders and 2 hours filled with “ya know what I’m saying” for once.
There’s a decent review of the movie here
The film is the second directed by Denzel Washington, following Antwone Fisher, and also stars Forrest Whitaker and a grow up Jonree Smollett who you might remember as Eve in Eve’s Bayou.
I don’t know if it’s a good movie quality wise, I haven’t seen it; but it seems like worth giving a chance at least as much as the numerous crappy movies made by white people that we flock to spend our money on; and then complain about how we get no love in the movies.
You vote with your dollars baby.
The film Opens on Christmas.
Popularity: 4% [?]
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Yobachi Boswell is creator and publisher of BlackPerspecitve.net. I’m a writer, activist and political watcher based in Nashville, Tennessee. I’ve also been know to do some spoken word and MCing in my day.
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I am not your usual movie goer, however, this movie is receiving rave reviews in the Black community of those who were priviledged to see the screening. I will be one of those whom will see this movie. Check back with you.
Okay, great. Let me know what you think when you see it.
Even if we’e not usual movie goers we should try to support films about us with our dollars if it’s what we would like to see more of; so I’m glad you’re going.
I applaud your review…I have heard nothing but negative comments in regards to this film…here is my outlook on it…
We are NEVER satisfied…either our movies are boofonery or when there is a positive message, people don’t want to see it because they feel like society is playing Captain-Save-A-Ho with us black folk.
And the “we” I am referring to are blacks that deem themselves as intellectuals. We over analyze everything…and call our black actors bafoons…or either we can’t get with a feel good story because it’s too formulaic. For the most part, movies are meant to be entertaining…nothing more, nothing less. And if we don’t support black movies, who will? Why should theaters carry them? Why should companies back them?
With that being said…Will I go see it…probably not…but I don’t like most movies…black or white cast. But I like Denzel, and his name is typically tied to quality films. Have yet to have have one of his movies disappoint me.
I have a problem with people who complain about one thing but don’t do anything to support the alternative and don’t do anything about what they’re complaining about.
I do however disagree that a movie is just entertaiment. Film has the capacity to be much more than that, and to say it’s just entertaiment is a very self-limiting view. So no, I don’t except coonery and bafoonery under the guise that anything goes in the name of entertainment.
And I think if everyone is panning this film off top it’s probably do to them being fake intellectuals who have any real ability to analyse the situation and what this film is in comparison to some of the others such as Dangerous Minds and Freedom Writers.