| Critics Reviews |
Average Grade: |
B |
|
| Source |
Brief Review |
Grade* |
Boston Globe
Wesley Morris |
"Passion of both actors and their characters makes 'Debaters' a winner" more... |
B- |
Chicago Sun-Times
Roger Ebert |
"... a powerful and impassioned story. ... One of the year's best films." more... |
A |
Chicago Tribune
Michael Phillips |
"... pure Hollywood, not without its share of storytelling cliches and golden-toned inspirational teaching moments." more... |
B |
Filmcritic.com
Sean O'Connell |
"Washington's direction is pedestrian, but his fiery performance injects spitfire into the conventional teacher-student formula." more... |
C |
Hollywood Reporter
Kirk Honeycutt |
"Terrific acting lights up this period drama ..." more... |
A- |
Los Angeles Times
Kenneth Turan |
"It is 'The Great Debaters' ' unwillingness to downplay the harsh reality of prejudice that gives this film its authenticity." more... |
B+ |
New York Post
Lou Lumenick |
"There's an air of extreme predictability and inevitability in the script ..." more... |
C+ |
New York Times
Stephen Holden |
"... transcends its own simplifying and manipulative ploys; it radiates nobility of spirit." more... |
C+ |
ReelViews
James Berardinelli |
"... One of the better movies in recent years to address issues of racial inequality and the way in which individuals overcome them." more... |
A- |
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
William Arnold |
"... so sure of itself that it gradually becomes bogged down in its own nobility." more... |
B- |
USA Today
Claudia Puig |
"... enjoyable, rousing film, despite its formulaic quality." more... |
B- |
In Theaters 
