Wonderfully rousing drama the whole family can enjoy.

Rating: Null/10 (27 September 2000)

Boaz Yakin has directed a rousing true story drama. Not being a football fan, I entered planning to take a nap. However, this uplifting tale of the dawn of integration in Alexandria, Virginia in the early 70's, draws the viewer in and doesn't let up for a moment. Denzel Washington stars as Coach Boone who is brought in replacing Coach Yoast (winningly portrayed by Will Patton), previous coach of the all white T.C. Williams High School football team. The two local high schools are being integrated and so is the football team. Boone, not only has to contend with the divisiveness of the local community, but with the job of creating a black and white team that will work together to play and win on the football field. Washington's Knute Rockne-like orations to the teens are surprisingly straightforward and sincerely delivered. During a boot camp training period he gradually gets the boys to jell as a team and, more surprisingly as friends and equals off the field. In particular, a speech to the boys on the grounds of the Gettysburg cemetery is particularly moving. This carries over to the high school population in general when the team comes home, and helps the community at large deal with integration. Performances are top notch all around. Fine use is made of period music and the expanse of the wide screen. Even wise use of surround sound brings the audience right into the thick of the battles on the gridiron. Best of all, the film is rated PG. As beautifully written by Gregory Allen Howard, use of coarse language is at an absolute minimum, and it doesn't adversely affect the film one bit. All in all, this is so far the best of the fall releases; one the whole family can see and enjoy.