Return of the Titans

Rating: Null/10 (16 July 2002)

***SLIGHT SPOILERS*** "Remember the Titans" is a film about football and racial harmony. In 1971, a high school in Alexandria, Virginia, is integrated. Coach Boone (Denzel Washington) is brought in to replace Coach Yoast (Will Patton), who becomes the assistant. Neither coach is very happy about this situation. Coach Yoast doesn't want to be demoted, and Coach Boone doesn't want to demote him. Many of the white players threaten to sit out the season, because they don't want to play for a black coach. Coach Yoast realizes if they sit their senior season out, they could lose their college scholarships. That's when Coach Yoast agrees to become the assistant. At the start of training camp, the white and black players have some difficulties getting along. They soon learn how to play together; they even become friends. The Titans have a spectacular season and go undefeated, but something terrible happens before the state championship. Titans captain Gerry Bertier (Ryan Hurst) is in a car accident and won't be able to play. After the accident, we see Bertier in his hospital room, and he only wants his black `brother' to be there. Bertier had said earlier he would never play with a black athlete. The racial harmony that took over the football team spreads throughout the community. Bertier's mother finally hugs his `brother,' and his girlfriend shakes his hand. Will the Titans be able to win the state championship without their captain to guide them along? Watch and find out.