Rivalry Week is upon us, and the all-important 160th football game is right around the corner. There is no better time to review one of my all-time favorite sports movies: Boaz Yakin’s emotional and uplifting “Remember the Titans” (2000).
Set in Alexandria, Virginia, in 1971, this true story follows the T.C. Williams High School football team as they become racially integrated, causing great turmoil in the town. Denzel Washington’s Herman Boone takes on the challenge of leading the rowdy group of young men as their newly appointed head coach.
The film exquisitely relates the football team’s journey from strife to unity as a metaphor for racial reconciliation, perfectly balancing the heartfelt cheesiness of sports movies while also critiquing the country’s systemic prejudices in a thought-provoking way. The film also touches on the themes of brotherhood and leadership.
Mostly known for smaller indie films like “Fresh” (1994) and “A Price Above Rubies” (1998), Yakins broke onto the scene with Disney’s “Remember the Titans.” He successfully blends a historical drama with the kinetic energy often found in sports movies. Each scene is directed with poise and purpose, arguably giving the film more weight than it may have had under a different director. Elevating the excellent direction is a pinpoint and socially relevant screenplay from Gregory Allen Howard, who makes sure to imbue the film with commentary that reflects both the society of the late 1960s/early 1970s and that of 2000.
The football scenes in “Remember the Titans” are dynamic and serve as the film’s central narrative and emotional backbone. Many of the film’s most vital moments come while these men wear pads on the field. They are all meticulously choreographed, and when cinematographer Philippe Rousselot shoots them, the viewer fully experiences the brutality and aggression of football. The editing done by Michael Tronick is perfect and always cuts at the right moment, never letting a scene linger.
Washington gave one of the best performances of his entire career, embodying the compassion, determination and leadership for which Coach Boone was known. His equal treatment of his players is a significant factor in his team’s success and journey. Alongside Washington’s Boone is Will Patton’s Assistant Coach Bill Yoast, Ryan Gosling in an early role as linebacker Alan Bosley and Ryan Hurst and Wood Harris as defensive linemen Julius Campbell and Gerry Bertier, respectively. Those named are just a handful of the exceptional and nuanced performances throughout the film.
24 years later, “Remember the Titans” is still enduringly popular, suggesting that its themes of unity and perseverance continue to resonate. It offers both a historical reflection and an aspirational vision for overcoming societal challenges.
