The Great Debaters dvd succeeds in bringing a lump to the throat without, as is de rigueur these days, insulting our intelligence. Showcasing the history is done with care and purpose, but I wanted more. I wanted more time between Washington and Forest Whitaker. I wanted more When The Great Debaters ends, expect to be uplifted despite the inherent schmaltz. Think about the film for any length of time afterwards, and the wheels of its storytelling undeniably begin to deflate. Washington succeeds in making debating as enthralling as contact sports. Instead of exploiting this cruel reality, Washingtons camera records both scenes of joy and scenes of tragedy with equal composure, never milking for effect. Even if it does precisely what you expect its going to do, you still love it for doing it so well and telling a tale that bears repeating.