Tag Archives: debate

Rocket Science

IMDB Rating: 6.80
3142 votes

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Storyline
Coming of age in Plainsboro, New Jersey. High school student Hal Hefner stutters. On the evening his parents stop arguing and separate, 43 miles away at the state tournament, his school's legendary debater, Ben Wekselbaum, goes blank mid-sentence, Ben's teammate Ginny Ryerson doesn't get a first-place trophy, and the world changes. That fall, to Hal's amazement, Ginny recruits him for the debate team, mentors him, and will be his partner. He still has his stutter, but he works hard and he falls in love with Ginny. On the day of the first debate of the season, the world changes again. From then until the day of the state tournament, Hal has a lot to sort out. Is love rocket science?
Actors
Hal HefnerReece Thompson
Abraham LincolnDionne Audain
Ginny RyersonAnna Kendrick

The Great Debaters

IMDB Rating: 7.70
6453 votes

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Storyline
Marshall, Texas, described by James Farmer, Jr. as "the last city to surrender after the Civil War," is home to Wiley College, where, in 1935-36, inspired by the Harlem Renaissance and his clandestine work as a union organizer, Professor Melvin Tolson coached the debate team to a nearly-undefeated season that included the first debate between students from white and Negro colleges and ended with an invitation to face Harvard University's national champions. The team of four, which included a female student and a very young James Farmer, is tested in a crucible heated by Jim Crow, sexism, a lynch mob, an arrest and near riot, a love affair, jealousy, and a national radio audience.
Actors
GarrettJackson Walker
Upscale TravelerRoger Dillingham Jr.
Hanging VictimRon Auguste

Old School

IMDB Rating: 6.90
34377 votes

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Storyline
Mitch, Frank and Beanie are disillusioned with their personal lives begining when Mitch's nymphomanic girlfriend, Heidi, cheats on him, then former party animal Frank gets married, but unwilling to get go of his wild life, and Beanie is a family man seeking to reclaim his wild and crazy youth. Beanie suggests that they form their own fraternity in Mitch's new house on a college campus to re-live their glory days by bringing together a variety of misfit college students, losers, middle-aged and elderly retirees as their new friends and later try to avoid being evicted by the new Dean of Students, Pritchard, whom still holds a personal grudge against all three of them.
Actors
Luke Wilson
Vince Vaughn
Jeremy Piven

The Exorcism of Emily Rose

IMDB Rating: 6.80
16002 votes

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Storyline
The nineteen years old Catholic college girl Emily Rose (Jennifer Carpenter) dies a couple of days after being submitted to an exorcism carried out by her parish priest, Father Moore (Tom Wilkinson). Emily believed she was possessed by six demons, and although authorized by Emily and he parents, Father Moore is accused of negligent homicide, since he had suggested Emily to interrupt the use of medications for epilepsy. In order to avoid a scandal, the Archdiocese hires the successful, ambitious and agnostic lawyer Erin Bruner (Laura Linney), and the prosecution assigns the religious prosecutor Ethan Thomas (Campbell Scott). Along the days, there is a battle between science and religion in the court.
Actors
Erin BrunerLaura Linney
Father MooreTom Wilkinson
Ethan ThomasCampbell Scott

Thumbsucker

IMDB Rating: 6.80
6212 votes

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Storyline
Justin (Lou Taylor Pucci) is a teenager boy, who has an oral obsession with his thumb. His mother (Tilda Swinton) seems to be a normal housekeeper, but she has her own obsessions as well, like a crush on a TV-star (Benjamin Bratt). The only person who's aware of Justin's problem is his father (Vincent D'Onofrio), manager in a store, but none of his advices seem to be working for Justin. The kid is signed up in a debate workshop, but the thing isn't going well, because he has his mind in a pretty classmate and, of course, in his thumb, affecting all the rest of his classes. So, Justin is a loner kid in the school, who prefers to lock himself in the bathroom and suck his thumb. Justin's dentist (Keanu Reeves), a mystical-hippie person, will try to help to overcome his thumb problem, through the hypnosis. But the school's psychologist will diagnose Justin with the Attention Deficit Disorder, and will prescribe him some drugs. Suddenly, Justin's problem with his thumb will disappear, becoming an hyperactive genius, winning several debate contests and the admiration from his teacher (Vince Vaughn). Nevertheless, more serious problems will come for Justin with his mother, his father and with a drug addiction.
Actors
Justin CobbLou Taylor Pucci
Audrey CobbTilda Swinton
Mike CobbVincent D'Onofrio

Head of State

IMDB Rating: 5.00
4751 votes

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Storyline
Mays Gilliam, a Washington D.C. neighborhood Alderman, is about to be red-lined out of his job. But after the untimely death of the party frontrunner, Gilliam is plucked from obscurity, and thrust into the limelight as his party's nominee—for President of the United States. The players in Gilliam's life include: Mitch Gilliam, his unsophisticated older brother who becomes his running mate; Kim, his ex-girlfriend who had once dumped him, but who now has a sudden change of heart as she sees a chance at becoming First Lady; Martin Geller, his campaign manager; Lisa Clark, the woman who truly believes in Gilliam; and Debra Lassiter, the woman who doesn't have faith in his candidacy, and is serving as his reluctant advisor.
Actors
Mitch GilliamBernie Mac
Martin GellerDylan Baker
Brian LewisNick Searcy

Donnie Darko

IMDB Rating: 8.30
103769 votes

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Storyline
Donnie Darko gets along badly with his family, with his teachers and with his classmates; but he does manage to find a sympathetic friend in Gretchen, who agrees to date him; and he has a compassionate psychiatrist, who discovers hypnosis is the means to unlock hidden secrets. His other companion may not be a true ally. Donnie has a friend named Frank, who is either a large purple bunny, or man in a large purple bunny costume. Either way, Donnie is the only one who can see him. When an engine falls off a plane and destroys his room, Donnie is not there. Both the event, and Donnie's escape, seem to have been caused by supernatural events. Donnie's mental illness, if such it is, may never allow him to find out for sure.
Actors
Drew Barrymore
Jena Malone
Donnie DarkoJake Gyllenhaal