Going to see The Great Debaters is a great way to celebrate Black History Month at Gustavus, and I would highly advise all to go see it. Don’t be put off by the geeky title of the film; there are no socially awkward, middle class debate team kids in this movie. The Great Debaters is actually a 2007 award-winning and Golden Globe-nominated drama about a debate team from an all-black college in 1930s Texas.

Melvin Tolson (played by Denzel Washington) is a professor at the historically black Wiley College. He pulls together a group of four students including James Farmer, Jr. (Denzel Whitaker), Henry Lowe (Nate Parker), Samantha Booke (Jurnee Smollett) and Hamilton Burgess (Jermaine Williams) and whips them into shape to debate the best colleges and universities in not only Texas, but the entire country.

Tolson, a rumored communist and underground union organizer, gets in trouble with the county sheriff because of his political activism.  As the Wiley College Debate Team’s meteoric rise to fame lands more offers of debate from increasingly prestigious institutions, Tolson finds himself under investigation and at risk of graver run-ins with the law.

The debate team, inspired by Tolson’s guidance, aim to test their skills against the Harvard University team.  Unfortunately, Hamilton’s parents force him to quit the team after Tolson refuses to deny that he might be a communist. With only three members left, the team suffers its first defeat. However, it eventually earns an invitation from Harvard to debate there. The movie ends on a high, feel-good note as James and Samantha pull out a tremendous, heart-felt victory.

This modified version of a true, historical success story has apparent flaws that, for the most part, can be overlooked. The film sometimes seems a little too Chicken Soup for the Soul to take completely seriously as a drama and historical account, not surprising seeing as Oprah Winfrey is one of the producers.  The first half of the movie can be irritating at points, with many of the characters coming off as cliché or just plain annoying.

Luckily, the characters grow on the viewer, and as they face the darker side of the Jim Crow South, they become more complex and intriguing.  One disturbingly dark depiction of a lynching really upsets the viewer and, obviously, Melvin, James, Henry and Samantha. As the onlooker comes to grips with the terrifying scene in his or her own way, so do the characters. Drunkenness, physical and verbal scuffles and promiscuous sex are the tools by which the team deals with its petrifying experience.  Hopefully, the audience won’t indulge themselves similarly.

The all-star cast of actors, directors and producers does not fail to astound. The performances put on by each actor are superb, and there is obvious chemistry between them. Denzel Washington in particular impresses. As the director and actor of one of the primary protagonists, Washington deserves major kudos for what could be considered his opus magnus.

I honestly expected the film to be full of bitter condescension as many other minority-narrative films are, but The Great Debaters manages to display historical racism and portray the plight of black southerners without getting too preachy. The heart-warming story and characters’ triumphs are so uplifting that the viewer, no matter white or black, will empathize with the underdogs and relish in their successes.

With a great plot, compelling characters, superb acting, beautiful cinematography and a poignant message, The Great Debaters is a must-see for every Gustie. I give it 4.5 stars.