The Great Debaters (2007)

Formula films can be a tricky lot, especially with the dreadfully overused “underdog sports movie” template. Every time you step into one you pretty much know how it's going to work out, who's going to triumph, and when each of the various character setbacks are going to occur. But it's when you take formulaic tenets and apply them in unique ways that you can come up with an exceptional film. Here the creed is applied to my favorite of college bloodsports: debate. And it's not just debate here; it's debate as an allegory for civil rights circa 1935. Director and star Denzel Washington's second effort behind the camera is a finely paced, relevant, and uplifting film. The casting and acting are uniformly excellent, and the underdog struggles of African Americans in the film are depicted with just the right balance to be honest but never preachy. The argument isn't all perfection, though. While the debates and discussions and the intellectual food for thought brought to the table are wonderfully enthralling, like all movies of the template the personal issues around the players can be hit or miss. Thankfully the majority of the movie is on the good stuff, leaving the gristle to pop its head up from time to time to break up the pace. While it has the same failings as (by now) hundreds of movies of its ilk, this is the rare movie that applies its modus operandi to great effect, becoming a touching tribute to the struggles of a people.

8 out of 10.