“Before we reach for hate we remember the Titans.” The provocative movie, Remember the Titans (released in 2000) directed by Boaz Yakin and starring Denzel Washington focuses on the struggle of a football team attempting to bond together at a time when society is trying to rip them apart. The movie’s captivating acting makes this movie stand out from other movies with this message . In this film review I will discuss, racial understanding, camera angles and music.
In 1971 the town of Alexandria’s high school was integrated, black and white students attending the same campus at a time of wide spread racial disharmony. The football team was going to being integrated as well. On top of that the school board decided to get a new black head coach. Coach Boone played by Denzel Washington takes over the head coaching role at The Titans from Coach Yoast played by Will Patton and neither of them are particularly happy with the new change. The players and parents are also disgruntled and tension begins to build.
Boone knows that the players have a lot to learn about racial diversity and teamwork. He takes the team to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on a training camp. It is there he proves to be a rigid disciplinarian installing racial respect among the players. One of the ways he does this is by them sleeping in bunk rooms together and learning about each other. Despite this they continue to struggle to bond with each other. After leading them on a 3am romp through the woods to the famous Gettysburg battlefield, Boone tells them: “If we don’t come together on this hallowed ground, we, too, will be destroyed.” The players suddenly come to realise that if they look at each other they will find that the colour of their skin is only skin deep and underneath they are all the same, Titans striving for the same goal.
Boaz Yakin uses a wide range of camera angles to create different effects and emotions for the audience. At the start of the movie Yakin cleverly uses low and close-up angles of the white actors to give them a sense of importance and dominance over the black actors. These low camera angles at the start of the movie to make you think that the blacks characters are small and insignificant. As a viewer you are drawn into this. You wouldn’t want to mess with Gerry played by Ryan Hurst at the start of the movie, his appearance is overbearing. Towards the end of the movie the viewer is shown longer and wider shots to see all the players working as a team.
The music in this film was lively and quite symbolic. On the bus trip to Gettysburg at the beginning of the movie, Blue starts singing but Gerry tells him to shut up and Julius agrees. This signifies the lack of trust between the players as it is seen as uncool to sing. On the other hand, Louis is the first white person to start singing because from the start he respects the players for who they are. Later on in the movie, the team come onto the field singing ,which symbolises how the team now respects each other and the tension has been broken down. This is such a cool little touch, like many others in the movie, that really brings it all together and makes you want to watch it again and again.
This movie, based on a true story, has an excellent message that is still relevant in today’s society intertwined with the engaging high school sport theme. Dynamic camera angles and expressive music add depth to this timeless movie. Unfortunately racism and racial disharmony is still very staple in news articles all over the world. Denzel Washington’s incredible display throughout the movie sends a tingle down your spine and recommend it to anyone that likes a feel good movie. Maybe there will be a day when these themes are irrelevant but for now we can all learn from this movie.
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