Remember the Titans Review

Remember the Titans is a movie to be enjoyed by children and adults of all ages. Whether you’re a football fan or not, the trials and tribulations of the young men, coaches, and community portrayed in this true story will inspire you.

            In the 1970's TC Williams high school in Alexandria, Virginia became integrated, with blacks and whites going to school together for the first time. This movie is based on the school’s football team and the controversy surrounding the players and community when Herman Boone (Denzel Washington) becomes the newly appointed head coach, taking the place of former white head coach Bill Yoast (Will Patton). Upon realizing he could not bring the team together by himself Coach Boone invites Yoast to remain on the coaching staff as the defensive coordinator. Reluctant at first, Yoast agrees under the condition that his friend and former assistant coach has a position in the staff. The relationship is rocky at first but they soon become united in their effort to overcome the racial barriers constricting there team’s cohesiveness.

            The movie starts out with the players in pre-season camp. The racial tension between the black and white players is strong at the onset of camp but coach Boone mandates that the players get to know each other. Upon arriving at the bus stop Coach Boone notices that all the black players are on one bus and all the white players are on the other. He then splits the team into offense and defense and has the offense sit on one bus while the defense sits on the other. In addition, each player is assigned another player of the opposite skin color and be required to learn personal things about him. Team leaders Gerry Bertier (Ryan Hurst) and Julius Cambell (Wood Harris) are assigned to one another. Their relationship is rocky from the start but as they get to know each other they become best friends and an example for the rest of the team to follow.

            Perhaps the most moving scene is the film is when Coach Boone takes the team on a long run through the woods to an open field. The field is where the battle of Gettysburg was fought and Coach Boone explains about the young men who died fighting the same fight that the newly integrated teammates were fighting amongst each other. This scene marks a turning point in the culture of the team which begins to come together right as camp is winding down.

            When school starts they see firsthand the discrimination taking place in the hallways. The players had unified as a team but the rest of the normal students had yet to adopt a peaceful relationship amongst each other. Perhaps the hardest hit by the reality is new best friends Bertier and Cambell. They struggle trying to cope with the fact that no one wants to see them be friends, Bertier's own girlfriend is upset over the tight bond that they have formed. Coach Boone also has difficulty adjusting to life in a community torn in racial conflict. At one point his family is threatened at home by someone throwing an object through the front window of his house.

            Through all of the conflict the Titan football team remains united and goes undefeated into the state championship game. Playing both against the opposite team and the referee's without their star Linebacker Gerry Bertier the Titans overcome all odds and win the state title.

            Remember the Titans can really be compared to School Ties (1992). In School ties, a young star quarterback named David Greene (Brendan Fraser) attends an elite New England prep school on a scholarship. Upon learning that Greene is Jewish, his teammates start to discriminate against him. Both movies do a splendid job depicting the struggles of teammates and a community caught up in the perils of discrimination.

            Along with superb filing the movie boasts a fantastic soundtrack with songs by James Taylor, Marvin Gaye and Cat Stevens. The Movie won numerous awards for screenplay and Denzel Washington won several best actor awards for his portrayal of Coach Boone. I recommend this movie for anyone. It is a true inspirational story that anyone can learn something from.