“Remember the Titans,” in my opinion, is one of the most inspirational sports movies of this decade. It is action packed through football play and yet is heart warming and drama filled!
It is based on a true story in Alexandria, VA on the 1971 T.C. Williams High School football team. It depicts the journey of Coach Boone (played by Denzel Washington) and the players as they fight through the segregation of three local schools, through the racism of the community and the team, through a life-altering injury to a teammate, and through to the state championships.
The most moving part of the movie is the speech Coach Boone gives during a morning run at training camp in Gettysburg, PA. He leads the team to the location of the Battle of Gettysburg, and (Denzel Washington) encourages, “… If you listen, you can take a lesson from the dead. If we don’t come together, right now, on this hallowed ground, we too, will be destroyed, just like they were…” It is so inspiring that it brings me to tears every time I watch the movie; thinking of the lives lost to the war and racism, its impact on our nation, and the struggles we still fight today.
The drama of the screenplay is lightened somewhat by the pre-game dancing and singing of the titans; “We are the Titans, the mighty, mighty Titans!” It is so fun and light that it makes me want to be play Titan football!
I was brought to tears once again, but this time to the tragedy of the paralysis of All-American defender Gerry Bertier. However, the overwhelming optimism of Gerry was inspiring and proved that all life is not lost when something so catastrophic occurs.
Watching the team win the championship sent a shiver up my spine. Throughout the movie, you see the team struggle through all kinds of adversity. I felt more and more like a part of the Titan family as the movie went on, and you can’t help but want to cheer out loud at the victory of the team.
Although this is claimed to be “based on a true story,” I have recently discovered that Disney has more or less ‘spiced up the film’ by creating false or altered events to put in the movie. Jeff Merron tells of certain scenes that have proven to be different at http://espn.go.com/page2/s/closer/020808.html…
For example, my favorite scene at Gettysburg did not actually occur. In fact, the team took a tour around the historical site and was given a descriptive and impressive speech by a tour guide instead.
Another stirring detail about the movie was that segregation of schools was done in 1965, rather than 1971. In fact, it was noted that racism was not nearly as big of a problem as the film had depicted with the real ’71 Titans. Considering that racism is the focal point of the movie, this probably would not have been as great of a story as it is without its implementation.
Nonetheless, I suggest taking a look at “Remember the Titans,” if you already haven’t. It is a very inspirational story that will warm your heart and bring you to tears. If you love football, you need to see the movie because it will leave you jumping out of your seat from the exhilarating football play!
Gregory Allen Howard. 2000. “Remember the Titans.”
Jeff Merron. Reel Life: ‘Remember the Titans’. http://espn.go.com/page2/s/closer/020808.html.
