Remember the Titans:Crossing the GOAL LINE

Rating: 8/10 (24 April 2016)

On April 15, 1947 Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier. Twenty- four years later in, ''Remember the Titans,'' we are still fighting the very same battle. Based upon a less well-known episode in the racial history of American sports, the integration of a high school football team in Alexandria, Virginia in 1971, it provides an awful lot of swelling from within.
No matter your skin color, "Remember the Titans" is bound to put a lump in your throat and bring out emotions that you may have never known you had. This movie is not strictly about football. "Football teaches you to control your anger" Denzel Washington says in the movie. "Remember the Titans" provides a compelling and convincing portrayal of how a single group of people, no matter their age, can unite people together.
Towards the end of the movie Julius Campbell (Wood Harris) goes to visit Gerry Bertier (Ryan Hurst) who had just been involved in a serious car accident. As Julius enters into Gerry's room the nurse tells him that visitation rights are for family only. Gerry's response is one that can show you the transformation throughout the movie. He responds, "Ma'am, can't you see that's my brother?"
Coach Boone (Denzel Washington) and Coach Yoast (Will Patton) meet in the beginning of the movie and Coach Yoast shares his concern that his players won't play. Coach Boone then says that the best player will play, skin color doesn't matter. Coach Yoast then responds with, "Coach, I'm afraid that is the only thing that does matter right now." Coach Boone and Coach Yoast do an unbelievable job of balancing the effects of racism in developing these young football players into men. They use football to teach them to control their anger on the gridiron, but most importantly, in real life.
One defining moment comes after Coach Boone issues a challenge for each player to get to know a player of the opposite race every single day and report to him what they learned. Julius and Gerry are undoubtedly the leaders of the team, in particularly the leaders of their race. As they accept the challenge they interact in a heart to heart conversation that could seem confrontational, but to them it was eye opening and inspirational.
One event stands out so clear in my mind on the maturity and impact these players have in the small town of Alexandria. Gerry and Julius were talking on the first day of school when Gerry's girlfriend, Emma Hoyt (Kate Bosworth), approaches Gerry to talk to him. Julius was trying to be kind, and gently extended his hand to greet Emma and officially meet her. She refused his handshake and just walked away, which lead to Gerry apologizing to Julius. You could easily see that this was something that Julius was used to, so there were no hard feelings. This is something that you will see occur quite frequently in this movie.
In the end of it all, this movie crosses more than one goal line and overcomes defeat. The Titans defy the odds and conquer defeat in the game of football, but more importantly, in the game of life.