The Great Debaters News

Denzel Washington's Controversial Film Scored Big at NAACP Image Awards

February 15, 2008 12:02:52

Up for 8 nominations at the 39th Annual NAACP Image Awards, the Weinstein Company's drama "The Great Debaters" headlined the feature films' winners of the event. On Thursday, February 14, night, the film inspired by Melvin Tolson's story brought home 4 top prizes presented on the ceremony.

On the special night, "Debaters", which stirred controversies earlier for allegedly being historically inaccurate, was hailed as the best motion picture winner besting over acclaimed legal drama "American Gangster", blockbuster horror thriller "I Am Legend", biopic drama "Talk To Me" and comedy drama "Why Did I Get Married?". The film also nabbed three other kudos for its theps, Denzel Washington, Jurnee Smolett and Denzel Whitaker for best actor, actress and supporting actor respectively.

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The Great Debaters Tops the 39th NAACP Image Awards Nominations

January 09, 2008 11:01:17

Criticized for being historically inaccurate, "The Great Debaters" was hailed as the top leader at the 39th NAACP Image Awards nominations. The drama film got a staggering 8 nominations, including Outstanding Motion Picture, in the nominees announcement made on Tuesday, January 8.

The film that is based on the real-life victories of a black debating team in the 1930s also brought about two nods for its actor and director, Denzel Washington. The Academy Award-winning actor was nominated for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture as well as Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture.

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The Great Debaters: Historically Inaccurate!

January 05, 2008 02:01:52

Denzel Washington's based on true story film, "The Great Debaters" has been harshly criticized for its blunders. Talks of the blunders surfaced after the college students the film are based on claimed that the film is full of historical inaccuracies, especially about Harvard's participation.

In the inspirational drama starred by Oscar winning actor Forest Whitaker among others, it was told that Melvin Tolson, a debate coach, took a group of underdog students from a small, modest black college in the segregated South in East Texas to challenge and win over the reigning debate champions Harvard University in the national championship.

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Great Debaters L.A. Premiere Packed with Big Stars

December 13, 2007 03:12:18

A bunch of lauded names in Hollywood film industry illuminated Hollywood's Arclight Cinerama Dome as they all gathered up on Tuesday, December 11, 2007 for the premiere of "The Great Debaters", a production of The Weinstein Company set for theatrical release on Christmas Day this year.

Leading star and director Denzel Washington cheerfully showed up alongside beloved wife Pauletta Washington before taking his time to pose together with producer Oprah Winfrey, who sported a beaded Oscar de la Renta gown that night.

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First Great Debaters Theatrical Trailer Arrives

November 06, 2007 10:11:51

We have already seen Denzel Washington as mob leader Frank Lucas in currently-shown "American Gangster", and now, we can also take a look at him as a college professor in a film he himself directs.

Yes, an initial theatrical trailer for "The Great Debaters" has smoothly made its way to greet moviegoers online. Spinning a little over two and a half minutes, it is now available at Yahoo! Movies, but you can find a link to it as well via The Great Debaters Trailer page at AceShowbiz.

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Forest Whitaker Is "Great" at Debating

April 12, 2007 01:04:49

Now becoming the meeting point of two Oscar-winning talents, "The Great Debaters" has satisfyingly submitted Forest Whitaker into its cast lineup alongside Denzel Washington, who finally jumps in to also star in this feature directorial effort of him, The Hollywood Reporter has revealed.

Based on the true story of professor Melvin B. Tolson, the picture follows the man as he formed an all-black debate team who rose up to challenge Harvard's best in 1935. While Washington will portray Tolson, Whitaker is said to get billed as the father of one of the debaters and a rival to the professor.

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Columbus Short to Be One of "The Great Debaters"

February 08, 2007 10:02:06

Appears to be determined enough in making more marks in film acting, "Stomp the Yard" star Columbus Short is engaged in talks for a starring slot in Denzel Washington-directed drama feature "The Great Debaters", the actor himself has revealed to MTV.

"If that goes through, it could very well be my next movie," so he said. "It's a great script... One for the Oscars, possibly."

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