The Great Debaters
Written by Robert Eisele
Directed by Denzel Washington
Starring Denzel Washington and Forrest Whitaker
Even the charismatic young actors portraying Wiley College's first debate team couldn't save this formulaic movie.
Screenwriter Eisele knew when to conjure suspenseful moments, wrestle with adversity, pluck our heart strings, charm our inner soap box junkie. But I saw Remember the Titans (I remember them, sort of). I avoided We are Marshall. (I was put off by the syntax). This should not have been another sports movie in league with Mighty Ducks D2 or Varsity Blues with James Van der Bek. The angels are not winning the pennant and thus the film should not cinematically resemble this genre of films.
Denzel Washington is one of the finest actors of our generation. Training Day was one of the most powerful screen performances ever. But he was phoning this one in. The character work was only evident in costume choices (looking disheveled or deviant in key moments). I recognize his directorial debut, but wish he had been a little edgier. Less Hallmark, more gritty and realistic. It seemed to be all style and little substance.
On that note, the perfect pairing: The Muffin Shop on Columbus in the Upper West Side. So charming from its store front (perfect scones, frothy mugs). Wrong. Grainy pastries and bitter coffee. Plus they don't take cards.
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