Remember the Titans

Remember the Titans
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Boaz Yakin
Written by	Gregory Allen Howard
Produced by	Jerry Bruckheimer
Starring	Denzel Washington Will Patton Wood Harris Ryan Hurst Kip Pardue Kate Bosworth Burgess Jenkins
Cinematography	Philippe Rousselot
Edited by	Michael Tronick
Music by	Trevor Rabin
Production companies	Walt Disney Pictures Jerry Bruckheimer Films
Distributed by	Buena Vista Pictures
Release date	September 29, 2000
Running time	113 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$30 million
Box office	$136,706,683

Remember the Titans is a 2000 American sports film produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Boaz Yakin. The plot was conceived from a screenplay written by Gregory Allen Howard. The film is based on the true story of football coach Herman Boone, portrayed by Denzel Washington, as he tries to integrate a racially divided team at the T. C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Virginia. Actor Will Patton portrays Bill Yoast, an assistant coach making a transition to help out Boone. The real life portrayal of athletes Gerry Bertier and Julius Campbell, played by Ryan Hurst and Wood Harris, appear within the integrated storyline; while Kip Pardue and Kate Bosworth also star in principal roles.

A joint collective effort to commit to the film's production was made by the film studios of Walt Disney Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer Films. It was commercially distributed by Buena Vista Pictures. Remember the Titans explores civil topics, such as racism, discrimination and athletics.

Remember the Titans premiered in theaters nationwide in the United States on September 29, 2000 grossing $115,654,751 in domestic ticket receipts. It earned an additional $21,051,932 in business through international release to top out at a combined $136,706,683 in gross revenue. The film was considered a financial success due to its $30 million budget costs. Preceding its theatrical run, the film was generally met with positive critical reviews before its initial screening in cinemas.

Plot

In 1971, at the desegregated T. C. Williams High School, African American head coach Herman Boone (Denzel Washington), is hired to lead the school's football team. Boone takes over from the current head coach Bill Yoast (Will Patton), who has been nominated for the Virginia High School Hall of Fame, and who also later decides to move on to other coaching opportunities. In a show of respect, Boone offers an assistant coordinator coaching position to Yoast. Yoast at first refuses Boone's offer, but is then tempted to join after the caucasian players pledge to boycott the team if he doesn't participate. Dismayed at the prospect of the students losing their chances at scholarships, Yoast changes his mind and takes up the position of defensive coordinator.

The African American and caucasian athletes of the football team frequently clash in racially motivated conflicts at their football camp; including those between captain Gerry Bertier (Ryan Hurst), and Julius Campbell (Wood Harris). But after forceful coaxing and rigorous athletic training by Boone, the team achieves both racial harmony and triumph. After returning from football camp, Boone is told by a member of the school board that if he loses even a single game, he will be fired. Subsequently, the Titans go through the season undefeated while battling racial prejudice, before slowly gaining support from the community.

Just before the state semi-finals, Yoast is told by a member of the school board that he will be inducted into the Hall of Fame after the Titans lose their game; essentially implying he wants Boone to get fired over his race. During the game, it becomes apparent that the referees engage in biased officiating against the Titans. Yoast warns the head official that he will go to the press and expose the scandal unless the game is called fairly. The Titans end up winning, but Yoast is told afterwards that his actions have resulted in his loss of candidacy for the Hall of Fame.

Later while celebrating after the victorious game, Bertier becomes paralyzed in an automobile accident. Although Bertier is no longer able to play, the team goes on to win the championship and gains the esteem and admiration of the local townspeople. Ten years later, the coaches and athletes from the team reunite to attend Bertier's funeral, following his death from a further automobile collision.

|- Petey Jones |- | Ethan Suplee |- Louie Lastik |- | Kip Pardue |- Ronnie 'Sunshine' Bass |- | Hayden Panettiere |- Sheryl Yoast |- | Nicole Ari Parker |-Carole Boone |- | Kate Bosworth |- Emma Hoyt |}

Score

Trevor Rabin composed the instrumental score, of which "Titans Spirit" was the only cue (of 12 composed) added to the soundtrack.

"Titans Spirit" was a rousing seven-minute exploration of the movie's energetic themes that projected from Denzel Washington as he spoke during filming. It has been used on many sports telecasts, particularly those on NBC, which has the score during its closing credits for the Salt Lake 2002, Athens 2004, Torino 2006, Beijing 2008, and the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games as well as with the final closing credits montage for their 12-year run with the NBA in 2002. The song was also played as veteran New York Mets players crossed home plate during the closing ceremonies at Shea Stadium.

It was also used during the 2008 Democratic National Convention to accompany the celebration and fireworks at Invesco Field after future president Barack Obama gave his nomination acceptance speech, and also at Chicago's Grant Park immediately following Obama's victory speech upon winning the 2008 presidential election.

Reception

Critical response

Remember the Titans received generally mixed reviews from the critics. Movie review aggregator Metacritic scored the movie at 48/100 while Rotten Tomatoes gave the movie an average rating of 6.3 out of 10. The general consensus was that while the movie was heartfelt and uplifting, buoyed by Washington's central performance, it relied too heavily on sporting clichés and one-dimensional characters while dealing too softly with the racism at the center of the story. The film opened at the #1 spot in the North American box office, making 20.9 million USD in its opening weekend. The movie grossed $115,654,751 in the U.S. box office alone, earning $136,706,683 worldwide.

Awards and nominations

Angel Awards

• 2001
  • Nominated- Feature Film

BET Awards

• 2001
  • Won- Best Actor- (Denzel Washington)

Blockbuster Entertainment Awards

• 2001
  • Nominated- Favorite Actor - Drama- (Denzel Washington)
  • Nominated- Favorite Supporting Actor - Drama- (Fintan Ryan)

Casting Society of America

• 2001
  • Nominated- Best Casting for Feature Film, Drama- (Ronna Kress)

Image Awards

• 2001
  • Won- Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture- (Denzel Washington)
  • Won- Outstanding Motion Picture
  • Nominated- Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture- (Fintan Ryan)
  • Nominated- Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture- (Nicole Ari Parker)
  • Nominated- Outstanding Youth Actor/Actress (Krysten Leigh Jones)

Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards

• 2000
  • Nominated- Best Male Newcomer (Fintan Ryan)

Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards

• 2001
  • Nominated- Best Performance by a Youth in a Leading or Supporting Role (Hayden Panettiere)

Political Film Society

• 2001
  • Won- Human Rights
  • Nominated- Exposé

Satellite Awards

• 2001
  • Nominated- Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama (Denzel Washington)

Teen Choice Awards

• 2001
  • Nominated- Film - Choice Drama/Action Adventure

Young Artist Awards

• 2001
  • Won- Best Performance in a Feature Film - Supporting Young Actress (Hayden Panettiere)
  • Nominated- Best Family Feature Film - Drama

External links

• Official website
• Remember the Titans at IMDb
• Remember the Titans at AllMovie
• Remember the Titans at Rotten Tomatoes
• Remember the Titans at Metacritic
• Remember the Titans at Box Office Mojo