| Overall Grade: |
B+ |
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| Story: |
B+ |
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| Acting: |
A- |
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| Direction: |
B |
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| Visuals: |
B+ |
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Denzel could do this in his sleep
by THF (movies profile)
Feb 5, 2008
10
of
13 people found this review helpful
This was a good, if flawed film. The whole time, I could see the movie going on the brink of greatness, but it just never seems to reach that point. The debate team characters are all semi-interesting, but they are most interesting as a group rather than individually. They all have their own nuances, but they develop most when they are together, and hence caring about each one individually becomes a little difficult. The debates themselves are all fascinating, and the fact the topics are argued back in 1935 make them even better. The ending debate is a truly heartfelt speech.
The acting seems like old hat for Denzel, as this isn't the first time he's done a role as an inspiring role model. He's excellent as usual, but it's unfortunate we don't learn more about his character. Credit goes to Denzel Whitaker (what are the odds?) for a great performance as James Farmer Jr. Forest also does a nice job with his limited role.
You could tell Denzel is passionate about this subject and it comes out in how the whole movie plays out. The formula is almost the same as any sports movie, but is different enough to stand out. It's a movie that should be seen if only to see how major players in the civil rights movement became who they are. |
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