The theme of Remember the Titans is that even against all odds, a united group can take on anything.

Rating: 10/10 (14 March 2011)

***Spoilers***
The theme of Remember the Titans is that even against all odds, a united group can take on anything. In 1971, Alexandria, Virginia was a town against the integration of the black and white high schools much like the rest of the south. Obviously, this sentiment is going to trickle down to the newly combined high school and its football team. The tension in town really increases when black head coach Herman Boone (Denzel Washington) is chosen as the high school's football coach. Herman Boone is given the difficult task of trying to coach a football team that is divided by color. The football players are constantly fighting and at odds with each other. At the center of team's conflict are two pivotal players. The black players' main influence is Julius Campbell (Wood Harris) where the white players' tend to be Gerry Bertier (Ryan Hurst). Even Herman Boone is not exempt from the conflict as he constantly runs into problems with the team's assistant coach Bill Yoast (Will Patton). Through all of this, the team starts to come together after an influential run to Gettysburg. The lighting really made this part even more profound and impactive. It presented a bleak, gloomy mood as Coach Boone spoke about the reality that many men died for what was still relevant in 1971. This tied to the theme as there is not a more important uniting time then when soldiers are fighting in wars together. I also think the angle was important as it effectively made the scene more surreal as we are listening to Herman Boone talk. The angle helps us really focus on what is being said. It works because it really makes you think about his words as Coach Boone is speaking. Collectively, this scene symbolized the darkness that racism and prejudice can present. It was also a foreshadowing for the adversity the team would encounter after getting back to Alexandria and starting high school. The team might have been ready to look at each other as men and not skin colors. Unfortunely, the rest of the town is not. The team gets back to the real word and is met with this harsh realization. This in turn helps emphasize the theme even more. Even though it is two different genres of film, I can see a comparison of this film to the movie Wildcats which stars Goldie Hawn. This is simply for the fact that my chosen theme could fit both of these movies effectively. In closing, Remember the Titans epitomizes what fighting against all odds can really be about.