The film was directed by Denzel Washington. You may not have known that Oprah produced it

It doesn’t just do that The great and distinguished Denzel Washington He’s a powerful presence with electric charisma and fiery delivery, but he’s also one of cinema’s greatest orators. His background in theater and Shakespeare gives him a strong control over his speech, and his words roll off the tongue in ways that perfectly suit his characters. (He has played the famous civil rights activist Malcolm X several times.) We recently saw Denzel Washington having a lot of fun with him His amazing performance in Gladiator II As a conniving arms dealer plotting to take over Rome, like the way he exaggerates his pronunciation of the word “politics-ah”, he mocks the current bureaucracy.

This aspect of his performance style made him perfect for his role in “The Great Debaters” as Professor Melvin Tolson, a volatile debate coach who encourages his students from a small, all-black college in Texas to take on Harvard’s championship team. Controlling pitch, using pauses, and clearly articulating your argument are all important parts of giving speeches and engaging in debate, and Washington’s eloquence and authoritative demeanor carry all of this perfectly into his role as a teacher who inspires his students. He recites lines from “I Too Sing America” ​​by Langston Hughes and other writings by Countee Cullen.

But Denzel Washington doesn’t just use his acting skills in this role. Him too He unexpectedly worked as director of the film “The Great Debaters”, Which was his second advantage behind the camera. Denzel Washington’s first directorial experience It was the emotional military drama “Antwone Fisher,” and he would go on to adapt the powerful play “Fences.” Compared to those two projects, “The Great Debaters” flies a little under the radar, even though famous actress Oprah Winfrey is working on the film as a producer. Despite its participation, the “Great Debaters” took a long time to get off the ground.

Oprah’s production company, Harpo Films, has been trying to revive The Great Debaters for nearly 10 years. This was her passion project, and she became fascinated by this true story of black excellence—an accomplishment that many may have never heard of, but one that deserves to be widely celebrated. In the 1930s, when the film takes place, debate teams rarely existed at black colleges, and students at these institutions were often underestimated for their intelligence due to decades of racial oppression and cruelty.

The Great Debaters was a passion project for Denzel Washington as well:

“I love seeing others do well. Nothing gives me greater joy than watching… I grew up in the Boys & Girls Club, working with kids. This was my life’s work before acting – helping kids. I coached all my kids, as I’ve said many times “And I enjoy it.”

The only blight on Oprah’s success was that Professor Melvin Tolson’s real-life family sued Harpo Films, claiming it owed them money for the use of his life story. However, according to Hollywood ReporterThe judge ruled that the lawsuit was filed too late and lacked legal merit.

Opera describes “The Great Debaters” is a “stand up and cheer” type film that leaves you with a feeling of “pure joy, exhilaration and hope.” While the classic underdog tale, mixed with an inspiring teacher’s narration, is a bit formulaic and its direction strong but not visually stunning, “The Great Debaters” draws you in with sharp writing and smart performances instead. Ultimately, it’s a heart-warming film, and thanks to Oprah’s vision and funding, Denzel Washington and his team, it came to fruition, allowing mainstream audiences to learn about the astonishing victories of the Wiley College debate team.