Movie Review: Remember the Titans

Growing up, Remember the Titans was as close to a staple as almost bread and butter. The film took place at a Virginia in the early 1970’s when the times of racial segregation was at an all-time high. Two high schools, one black and one white, become segregated under a mandate by the government to integrate. The school’s football coaches, Head Coach Herman Boone (Denzel Washington) and previous Head Coach Bill Yoast (Will Patton) have to both come together to have a consolidated roster of T.C. Williams Titans.

The movie dives in on how sports not only bring people together, but also breaks that racial barrier. One of the first things that Boone does with his team is have them participate in a training camp where they are roomed with new teammates, pushing them to become more of a team rather than a group of guys from two ends of town. Coach Boone tells his players that no matter what they have to be teammates on and off of the field. Granted it took a few games, but the guys figure out how to move past black and white and focused more on the friendships that they have created.

The Titian’s have to overcome the stigma from peers, members of the community and even opposing teams as they play during the season. Team captains Gerry Bertier (Ryan Hurst) and Julius Campbell (Wood Harris) work hard, setting personal opinions aside, to focus on the greater good of the team and community.

Now I don’t want to give too much away…but in the ending the whole town rallies alongside the Titians to cheer them to victory. Overall the 2000’s movie can help put things into perspective for us in today’s time—while watching a good film.

Shyanne Sheehan - Editor in Chief