Instant Classic

Rating: 10/10 (19 February 2013)

Everywhere We Go-o, People Wanna Know-o, Who We Are-are, We are the Titans, the Mighty-Mighty Titans! This line is sung out by Titan football players as they warm up before their games in the 2000 Walt Disney drama "Remember the Titans". This isn't your ordinary football team however, and not just because of this song they sing. This 1971 T.C. Williams High School football team is one that is racially integrated, the only one in the surrounding Alexandria, VA area where whites and blacks get along together like oil and water. Remember the Titans is a true story about overcoming differences with tremendous acting, particularly from coaches Herman Boone (Denzel Washington) and Bill Yoast (Will Patton), leaving viewers touched and inspired by the T.C. Williams Titans.
1971 was a time of much desegregation in the South and it is decided that T.C. Williams High School be the home of two combined schools, one black, one white. African-American Herman Boone (Washington) is newly inserted into the head coaching role at T.C., replacing successful, long-time coach Bill Yoast (Patton), much to the dismay of the white community in Alexandria. The two are polar opposites and Coach Yoast plans to move on to other avenues but because he doesn't want to let down the community or his former players, he accepts a defensive coordinator position and the two try to band together a mixed group of opinionated young boys.
The conflict between the two coaches is one that is shaped brilliantly by director Jerry Bruckheimer. Throughout the movie, Yoast isn't afraid to let Boone know when he is being more of a military commander than a football coach and vice versa when Boone criticizes Yoast for coddling the African- American players. There are some intricate scenes in the movie and each coach figures out what role they need to play to deliver the best message.
Much of plot in the movie involves the continuous clash between the white and black players. There are multiple instances where a fight breaks out and it is easy to sense the hatred the players have for their opposite counterparts. However, near the end of the movie, All-American linebacker Gerry Burtier (Ryan Hurst) gets injured in a car crash and the only person he wants to be with is his black teammate, Julius Campbell (Wood Harris), one of the most touching parts of the entire film. Another dimension that adds a great sense of optimism to the movie is the upbeat rock music that is played whenever the Titans are on the rise including songs such as "Spirit in the Sky" and "Ain't No Mountain High Enough". Bruckheimer makes it impossible to not root for the Titans as they form a tight brotherhood and play every game with an incredible amount of heart.
The acting in this movie is deep and inspirational, as there were multiple moments where I was left with goose bumps. Both Denzel Washington and Will Patton are at their finest and deliver sensational speeches on and off the field. Many of the Titan players have a difficult time adjusting to "Big Bad Boone's" dictatorial style, but as Boone inspires his players to see past the color of a man's skin, the players rally around coaches and become champions.
Remember the Titans is a perfect blend of drama and football. It exhibits a real life story about fighting through adversity, offering countless heartfelt moments. This movie isn't just a must see for all football fans, but for anyone who needs a feel good story to boost their spirits.