THE GREAT DEBATERS (2007) (***1/2)
In his second effort as a director, Denzel Washington has now established himself as just as much a powerful force behind the camera as he is in front of it. His debut film, ANTWONE FISHER, was a surprisingly powerful film, and like that film, THE GREAT DEBATERS uses what seems like a conventional plot to actually tackle unconventional screen topics. Too often African-Americans are portrayed on TV and films as barely literate, but recent films like this one and AKEELAH AND THE BEE have brought an intelligent and inspiring portrait of African-Americans to audiences. But to pigeonhole these films as "black" stories would be undercutting their universal power, which deal with the universal power of education.