The Great Debaters
Weinstein Company, The | Release Date: December 25, 2007 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
65
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 32 Critic Reviews
Positive:
24
Mixed:
8
Negative:
0
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
60
The New York TimesStephen Holden
The wonder is that The Great Debaters transcends its own simplifying and manipulative ploys; it radiates nobility of spirit. Read full review
60
SalonAndrew O'Hehir
About midway through Denzel Washington's new film The Great Debaters comes a raw and terrifying scene that exemplifies why the movie's worth seeing, despite its hackneyed and awkward story. Read full review
58
The A.V. ClubKeith Phipps
Too bad the story is all over the place. One second, it focuses on a love triangle between students; the next, it's about Washington's efforts to unionize the local farmers. Read full review
50
Village VoiceNick Pinkerton
The film avoids potentially interesting frictions by always letting the team debate (and win) on the "correct" side of every issue--that which aligns with generally accepted modern liberal sympathies. The kids follow their party line all the way to the big game, a ridiculous, fallacy-riddled face-off against Harvard. Read full review
50
Austin ChronicleMarjorie Baumgarten
The film is hobbled by the narrative predictability that inevitably governs this type of drama. Read full review
50
Miami HeraldConnie Ogle
The Great Debaters keeps things on the surface and pushes the obvious buttons, hoping you won't notice its distinct lack of depth. Read full review
50
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Liam Lacey
All of this unfolds with such predictability, the title might as well be The Great Foregone Conclusion. Read full review
50
TV Guide MagazineKen Fox
Polished, pokey and cloyingly formulaic, Denzel Washington's directing follow-up to "Antwone Fisher" is a Harpo -- as in Oprah spelled backwards -- Production all the way. Read full review
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