Another great offering from Denzel Washington (surprise, surprise). I'm not going to spend a heck of a lot of time on how good the movie was. Just know that it is definitely one you'll want to add to your DVD collection when the time comes. A "feel good" film for those times when you may need to be inspired.
Now, the criticism. I learned about the true history of the debaters from Wiley College when I came home from the movie on Christmas and started searching the net. I was disappointed to find a couple major points omitted or changed in the movie, moreso because adding them would not in any way have taken away from the quality of the film, or even significantly to its length. Turns out the Wiley debaters did not beat Harvard U as in the film, but rather USC, albeit still a momentous accomplishment. But also, the Wiley students were not allowed to even call themselves "victors" because racism did not allow their school to enter the same debate league as the White school. So technically they were victors only in sentiment, not on paper. Adding this element to the film would have certainly brought home how racist the times were and thus how monumental the victory from the Wiley students. I would add also that the writers could have easily (and I sooo wish they had) taken out the awkward, UNNCESSARY sex scene between two students and inserted the aforementioned historical material. That would have really added to an already quality--but not perfect--film.
Just a little gripe I had with an otherwise great movie. Go see it!
Now, the criticism. I learned about the true history of the debaters from Wiley College when I came home from the movie on Christmas and started searching the net. I was disappointed to find a couple major points omitted or changed in the movie, moreso because adding them would not in any way have taken away from the quality of the film, or even significantly to its length. Turns out the Wiley debaters did not beat Harvard U as in the film, but rather USC, albeit still a momentous accomplishment. But also, the Wiley students were not allowed to even call themselves "victors" because racism did not allow their school to enter the same debate league as the White school. So technically they were victors only in sentiment, not on paper. Adding this element to the film would have certainly brought home how racist the times were and thus how monumental the victory from the Wiley students. I would add also that the writers could have easily (and I sooo wish they had) taken out the awkward, UNNCESSARY sex scene between two students and inserted the aforementioned historical material. That would have really added to an already quality--but not perfect--film.
Just a little gripe I had with an otherwise great movie. Go see it!