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Review
Archives
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Today's
Date is:
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Remember
the Titans
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Reviewed
by: |
David
Litton |
| Genre: |
drama |
| Video: |
2.35:1
anamorphic widescreen |
| Audio: |
DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1 |
| Language: |
English,
French |
| Subtitle: |
English |
| Length: |
1
hr, 54 min |
| Rating: |
PG |
| Release
Date: |
3-20-01
|
| Studio: |
Disney Pictures |
| Commentary:
|
one
with real-life coaches Bill Yoast and Herman Boone, one with
producer Jerry Bruckheimer, director Noaz Yakin, and writer
Gregory Allen Howard |
| Documentaries:
|
None |
| Featurettes:
|
"Denzel
Becomes Boone," "Beating the Odds," and an ABC special |
| Filmography/Biography:
|
No |
|
Interviews: |
No
|
| Trailers/TV
Spots: |
Yes |
| Alternate/Deleted
Scenes: |
six
deleted scenes |
| Music
Video: |
None |
| Other:
|
None |
| Cast
and Crew: |
Denzel Washington,
Will Patton, Wood Harris, Ryan Hurst, Ethan Suplee, Kip Pardue |
| Screenplay
by: |
Gregory
Allen Howard |
| Produced
by: |
Jerry Bruckheimer, Chad
Oman |
| Directed
By: |
Boaz Yakin |
| Music: |
Trevor Rabin |
| The
Review: |
Racism
in the 70's and America's favorite sport come together in "Remember
the Titans," one of the best sports movies ever made. It's a
combination of many different things: the stirring of the human
spirit in the face of hardships, which is not unlike another
sports film, "The Legend of Bagger Vance," also a marvel for
its powerful human backdrop. It's also a rousing and spectacular
sports film, possessing all the upbeat and cheer worthy moments
you'd expect from a real live football game. And the performances
here are some of the year's best, headed up by another powerhouse
performance from Denzel Washington as well as some of the supporting
cast. The year is 1971, and the small town of Alexandria is
in turmoil over the integration of blacks into the public school
system once meant solely for white children and teenagers. This
also means the integration of black teachers into the teaching
fellowship, none considered so outrageous as the replacement
of fifteen-win football coach Bill Yoast with Herman Boone,
whose thirst for victory matches that of Yoast's. The movie
establishes them, as well as the team, as rivals from the very
beginning. Yoast wants to see his original team ride to victory
as always, and the team doesn't warm up to the idea of a new
arrangement which includes black team members in the offense
and defense. At one point, the team captain, Gary Bertier, requests
that the blacks be put in one group away from the whites, which
Boone uses to make a public embarrassment out of him. What really
matters in this movie is the character development, which goes
through the strengths and weaknesses of each character meticulously
to show them as more than just people who start out hating one
another and then grow to get along. Boone puts the team through
many unorthodox social exercises in which one team member gets
to know more about another team member of a different race.
From these exercises, the foundations of friendship and strength
are laid down: team captain Bertier and Julius go from outright
contempt to the tightest of all friendships. Coaches Yoast and
Boone come to an understanding of one another's motives and
drives, and the movie takes its time in developing all of these
friendships so that in the end, there are no doubts about the
commitment they have to the game and one another. But the film
does not solely focus on the changes within the team circle,
either, but pans out to reveal changes within the community.
These changes do not come easy, though: upon returning from
the training camp, the now-bonded team must face the hardships
of segregation once again in the angry faces of rioters and
hate groups, which causes them to come to a crossroads of the
steps they must take to allow themselves to be unshaken by the
surrounding hatred. There are those that will change: Yoast's
young daughter, also a football fanatic, will gain the knowledge
of love over hatred, while Bertier's mother and girlfriend will
both reevaluate their views on public disdain for blacks. As
the movie progresses, there is much going on at various points
without becoming too much to take in or comprehend. As you guessed
it, the Titan football team goes on to win many football games,
and the football plotline takes a backseat to character development
and the human story. Under the excellent direction of director
Boaz Yakin, the sport serves as a takeoff point for the human
story, and once that story gains attention and focus, then the
sport becomes less important, but no less entertaining. "Titans"
has one of the best casts for a film this year, with performances
from Denzel Washington and Will Patton leading an even better
supporting cast. Washington reaches the dynamic of his work
in "The Hurricane:" his forcefulness and strong way with words,
mannerisms and demeanor, bring out the strength and complexity
of his character, Boone. Patton's character, Yoast, is one of
the film's most complex: his emotional change from pro-segregation
to a welcoming friend is made even deeper by Patton's depth
and power in his performance. Just like the actual events that
inspired its creation, "Remember the Titans" will go down in
history as one of the best and most uplifting films ever made.
The acting is dynamic and breaks the barrier, while the story
is handled in such a way that everything comes at an easy pace.
The issues of segregation have never been handled better than
by this movie, and director Boaz Yakin fills the movie full
of emotional depth and feeling. A four star film, and one of
the best of the year 2000! -- |
| Image
and Sound |
Picture
and Sound Quality: This is one of Disney DVD's best productions
to date! The image quality is pristine and without flaw, with
colors and sharpness to match any other DVD out there. The overall
picture is somewhat dull in moments, but that is important to
the plot, and the DVD masterers realize that. The sound quality
is excellent, with the musical score wrapping into the surrounds,
perfectly centered dialogue, and deep bass to match the beatings
that the men take out on the field. A well-executed DVD! --
|
| The
Extras |
Besides
the audio commentaries, there are three featurettes which go
into three different aspects of the movie. The ABC special "Remember
the Titans: An Inspirational Journey Behind the Scenes," is
everything you'd expect from a television special on the movie:
insightful and probing, going into the acting as well as the
storytelling and history behind the movie. The featurette, "Denzel
Becomes Boone," examines in detail the character played by Denzel
Washington, and how Washington reacted to playing the role and
meeting the real-life Herman Boone. "Beating the Odds" goes
indepth into the birth of the ideas to the final production.
Six deleted scenes are also included, and will raise the ever-present
question: "Why did they cut this stuff out?" A theatrical trailer
is also included, making this one of Disney's better DVD productions.
-- |
| Commentary |
One commentary
features the voice-overs of producer Jerry Bruckheimer, director
Boaz Yakin, and writer Gregory Allen Howard. This goes into
the technical aspects of the movie, from choosing the right
cast member for a certain part to the way in which certain scenes
interplay with later scenes. The real show-stealer is the commentary
track by real-life coaches Bill Yoast and Herman Boone. Through
their commentary, we understand the feeling behind the movie
more, listening to their feelings and their memories unfold
as they watch the film. Both commentaries are astounding! --
|
| Final
Words: |
This is
one of those feel-good movies that you can really feel good
about after watching it. The story is powerful and the cast
remarkable, and the overall effect is one of awe and total belief.
A four-star fi |
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