Remember The Titans [2001]

Set in Alexandria, Virginia in 1971, the fact-based story begins with the integration of black and white students at T C Williams High School. The effort to improve race relations is most keenly felt on the school's football team, the Titans, and bigoted tempers flare when a black head coach (Washington) is appointed and his victorious predecessor (Will Patton) reluctantly stays on as his assistant. It's affirmative action at its most volatile, complicated by the mandate that the coach will be fired if he loses a single game in the Titans' 13-game season.

The players represent a hotbed of racial tension, but as the team struggle towards unity and gridiron glory, Remember the Titans builds on several subplots and character dynamics to become an inspirational drama of Rocky-like proportions. --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com

On the DVD: Remember the Titans looks impressive in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen, with Dolby Digital 5.1 or DTS 5.1 sound options equally up to the "big game" challenge. Extras include a "making of" feature, hosted by Lynn Swann, which will seem a tad on the sentimental side for non-American audiences; but to balance the schmaltz there are two more interesting behind-the-scenes featurettes: "Denzel Becomes Boone" and "Beating the Odds". The commentary is standard, relatively uninspired stuff, with director Boaz Yakin, producer Jerry Bruckheimer and writer Gregory Allen Howard giving the low-down on the production. Even with the addition of a couple of deleted scenes and the theatrical trailer there isn't really anything to get DVD aficionados drooling here. --Kristen Bowditch

What makes it even more amazing, is that this 'story' actually happened; that one man could actually change the views of a whole neighbourhood of people through high school football.

With equality being recognised, one very saddening scene and a great soundtrack, Remember the Titans is the best film i have seen in a long time. And Denzel washington is, again, on form, presenting Herman Boone fantastically. Absolute brilliance.

If you haven't seen this film already, buy it and watch it over and over again until you know the words to every part of the film, it is a great watch with a great message behind it. No matter what colour skin you have, you can still work as a team with someone from a different background. And if it takes more Herman Boone's to make that happen, bring on even more titans. SO " before we reach for hate, always always, Remember the Titans".


fantastic flik   December 14, 2006
 7 out of 7 found this review helpful

This flik is absolutley brilliant. Based upoon a true story with a breakthrough on reacial issues within US College football. Hire or buy this - You wont be dissapointed.


I Do Not Know How I Missed This Film   January 18, 2003
 18 out of 21 found this review helpful

However, if you did let this film get past you, remedy the void by seeing this story. The well known names are very few, almost beginning and ending with Denzel Washington, although Will Patton has become a much more familiar face on screen in the 3 years since this film opened. There is also a tremendous performance by a young girl, Hayden Panettiere who knows as much about coaching and critiquing the team in this film as the two coaches played by Denzel and Will. I do not know of another film I have seen her in, but she is a treat to watch during this tale.

Movies that are based upon, or inspired by true events are somewhat difficult to quantify for you never know how closely the true events are followed. This DVD has lengthy additional documentary features that bring to viewers not only the two coaches that made a seemingly impossible relationship work, but many of the players of the original team as well.

The forced integration of the team and its high school was as ugly as any other imposed changes involving forced integration. In this case not only was a black coach hired, he then replaced a very popular and successful head coach, a job that not even he sought. It is a testimony to both men that you will meet in the film that they stayed, worked together, and produced one of the most successful high school teams in the nation. The accomplishments on field would have made a great story, that it was done amidst such racial strife is amazing.

The cast of little known or unknown actors that were put together to create these teams are an amazing group. Whether they worked so well because of the material they were given, or it was just a pleasant happenstance is unknown, but they do a great job portraying not only the Titans, but their opponents as well.

The film deals with race, and forced integration in all its ugliness and shameful behavior, and were it not for the fact the story is true, and you have a chance to meet the real people that were once the coaches and young men, it would be easy to dismiss this as Hollywood embellishment to varying extremes. But the men, who were the boys that year, will visit with you and you will reminisce with the coaches that guided them as an amazing group of young men.

On a final comment, the soundtrack is phenomenal, that rare instance when you may likely go out and purchase it to place next to the DVD, so when the film is not on, the music will remind you of the great moments in the film.


Best film there ever was   September 23, 2005
 8 out of 9 found this review helpful

Outstanding, Denzel washington plays the character of Coach Boone brilliantly .The power this film gives off is amazing, for some reason, the energy just his you and you feel you have a sense of achivement in your life when you watch this film. Jerry Bruckheimer has produced a fantastic film, as he does with all of his films. In my books, its "The Best Film There Ever Was".


One of the greatest films of all time   July 3, 2007
 4 out of 4 found this review helpful

Don't listen to the one doubter, Although D I Redfearn below may know more about what happened in real life than the real coach Boone that helped with the film i doubt it, and bad acting?!?!? in a denzel washington film!?!?!?! i very much doubt it! This is a phenomenal film about a small football town in the US.

The story is a very moving portrayal of the racial problems in America. When two schools are combined to make one mixed race school the white families are in uproar picketing the school gates in protest of black people being allowed to go to school with their children. The school board then contreversially assign a black coach to the football team who insists that the players integrate and come together as a team.

In real life the T C Titans went 13 - 0 for the season, not losing a single game! the whole towns love of football caused them to see the way the players integrated and follow suit.

This film works on many levels, it works as a sports film about american football and on a deeper level it works as a moving drama dealing with the issue of racism. I watched this film because it was about american football, I love this film because it is about so much more!

The acting in the film is good - much as you would expect from an actor of Denzel Washingtons quality. The historical accuracy is ensured by the contributions of the real Herman Boone who is played by Washington in the film. Obviously there is some dramatisation for the film and not evry word scripted is exactly as it was spoken in real life but if it is close enough for those that lived it it is close enough for me!

This film has something for everyone buy it now!