Review of Remember the Titans (2000) by Armando B — 06 Oct 2014

"Remember the Titans" is a movie based in 1970s. An all-white school becomes integrated by black students. This soon becomes dangerous when people from the community, parents, and students begin to realize that it is an adjustment that no one is ready to make. The students are divided, but began to break down the color barriers as they realize that they all must work together if they want to win the football championship. The original coach of the football team becomes furious after he is demoted and must now be second in command to an African American (Denzel Washington). This is an amazing film that everyone should get the chance to watch.

The actors were all top notch performers. Not a second in the movie would pass by where the audience members were not holding on to every word spoken. From the plays, to the locker-room, to the scenes where the players were home, their acting skills would shine through. When a character was introduced that gave the audience a reason to dislike them (like the coaches on the other teams), there would be genuine hate attached to that character. Each of the players played an important part in bringing the movie to life.

This is a fast paced drama that depicts racial tension among racially integrated schools and football teams. Race and segregation are both touchy issues, and the film did a good job portraying the issues despite the fact that this was a Walt Disney produced movie. There were few to know racial slurs thrown during the movie (which I appreciated).

The different settings help add to the progression of the movie. The high-school shows how the students begin acting once the school becomes integrated. Steeped in racial turmoil, little to no contact is made among the football players. As the film moves to the football field, tension is still high as the boys try to outshine each other rather than work together.

It isn't until they lose a game that they realize that they must put aside their differences and work together. At a time when people could not be more divided, football brought everyone together. This sudden change of heart allowed the boys to bond both on and off the field. You begin to see their lives, as well as the community, change as they become more accepting of the other race. The head coach (Denzel Washington) is also receiving hate from each of the other coaches because he is African American and coaching an integrated team. Their tones begin to change after they realize that their comments don't hold much value once the Titans begin to win.

The rich dialogue keeps the audience focused on the excitement unfolding within the movie, but also supplies you with scenes of comic relief. There is a shower scene where they guys bond by singing a song (I know it sounds cheesy, but it works). One quote that many people remember is from the head coach. He is being disrespected by another coach, but responds with, "I don't scratch my head unless it itches and I don't dance unless I hear some music. I will not be intimidated. That's just the way it is." This quote alone shows the unbreakable spirit that the characters in the movie have.

Remember the Titans is a classic. It handles the plot better than a lot of films from its time, and also tops the charts as a family favorite. The film shows the racial tension begin to die down as the football players begin to bond. When the Titans accepted each other as brothers, their community saw them as a team.