Remember the Titans

Directed by Boaz Yakin

Starring: Denzel Washington and Will Patton

Touch Down!
Diversity tackles discrimination in this everything because it has an array of characters that exquisitely
but cliché movie of courage, love, and football in portray emotional vulnerability, strength of character,
‘Remember the Titans’ and charming personalities. There is not one character
By Emily Boyer whose story is left in the dark. Every character, even
Louie Lastik (Ethan Suplee) an optimistic offensive
lineman, has a well-developed and carefully crafted
character and has his fair amount of obstacles to
Remember the Titans is based on a true story of courage
overcome.
and acceptance. Football becomes the common thread
between two races in a difficult time of congregation in
Virginia. You follow the inspiring story of a football
team tackling racism and every other obstacle barreling
towards them in this epic classic. Denzel Washington
plays Coach Herman Boone, a black football coach
who is assigned the head coaching position at T.C.
Williams High School. He is handed this football team,
stolen from Coach Bill Yoast (Will Patton), and given a
team of egotistic stubborn players and manages to mold
This moving
sure…story would be nothing if not put together
his team of scalawags into a strong team who utilizes “You make they
with the same hard work and wit that made Boaz
their diversities. One could view this movie with a remember, forever,
Yakin’s theprevious
(Director) night film, Uptown Girls, such a
critical eye and suggest that this movie is chuck-full ofthey played the Titans.” –
rousing crowd pleaser. Yakin’s clear vision and precise
clichés and overused character typecasts. However, I Coach Yoast
balance between humor, heartbreak, and football made
have to argue this generalization of Remember the
this film a one of a kind. His depiction of Gerry Bertier
Titans being a cliché. Remember the Titans sets itself (Ryan Hurst) and Julius Campbell’s (Wood Harris)
apart from the other ‘beat the odds’ sport movies
relationship was, to say the least, heart wrenching.
The clever cast of roles and personalities depicting the team, forming relationships, and spirit of song and soul
ruthless players gave this film the charm and wit it will never dwindle. Remember the Titans is a true
needed to be classified above the rest. Kudos to Petey victory.
Jones (Donald Faison), Sheryl Yoast (Hayden
Panettiere), Alan Bosley (Ryan Gosling), and Emma
Hoyt (Kate Bosworth) whose charisma and powerful
presence, no matter how small their role, added an
aspect of rawness and relatable qualities to this already
overachiever movie.

“If we don’t come together right now on

this hallow ground, we too will be
destroyed.
Part I don’t careofif the
of the magnetism youfilm
likeiseach
the other
powerful
or not but you
soundtrack, willcoupled
which respect each other. Anddialog and
with dynamite
maybe,
the I don’t
natural of theknow,
scenesmaybe you
creates will learnrelationship
a magical
to play
that willthis game
keep yourlike
buttmen.” –Coach
fastened Boone
to the couch and your
eyes fixated on the television. With James Tayler’s
‘Fire and Rain’ and Marvin Gaye’s ‘Ain’t No Mountain
High Enough’ it is no wonder this movie goes straight
to your heart where it is bound to stay. The last
football scene sums up all of the qualities in this movie
that makes it appealing and an instant classic. From the
standing ovation for Gerry

Burtier’s mother to Coach Yoast’s epic speech and

Alan’s selflessness it’s inevitable that you will want to
be on the sidelines cheering for Petey as he runs
towards the goal line in their final game.

For the few blunders this movie has like Coach Boone’s
overly serious wife and the few extra years the boys
appear to be, it is a darn good movie that will never
fade to the bottom of your DVD pile. This movie is a
winner from the start and I guarantee your faith in the