Strength of 'Titans' lost in trite displays of sentimentality

By Leslie Boxer

Daily Arts Writer

According to Greek mythology, the titans were stronger than the gods. They were people of colossal size, strength or achievement. "Remember the Titans" is a fitting title for the film about a high school football team that single handedly changed the face of racism in Alexandria, Virginia in the early 1970s. It is equally fitting because the film is so full of its own valor that it seems to assume epic status.

The story of the T.C. Williams High School Titans is the story of integration played out on the football field. In 1971 two high schools - and consequently two football teams - were integrated. Denzel Washington (Coach Boone), in a political move by the school board, is brought in to coach the Titans, replacing a well-regarded white coach, Coach Yoast (Will Patton). As can be imagined this is the first of many race related issues that the team must face. The African Americans don't want to play with their white teammates and the Caucasian students are equally disinterested. Throughout their pre-season, which is much more grueling than any high school football training camp that I have ever seen, the audience watches the characters dismantle their racial prejudices and learn to get along.

Once returning to school, the team has to face all of the same pressures of integration but this time "in the real world." All of the boys must challenge not only their personal beliefs but also those of their families and what is expected of them by their friends. All of which is illustrated through the friendship of white All-American Bertier (Ryan Hurst) and the African American defensive player, Julius (Wood Harris).

Even though the film is structured as a football movie and does follow the Titans in their quest for the state championships, it never truly takes on the persona of a sports film. It lacks the build-up and excitement that often connects the audience with the team. This is because director Boaz Yakin, in his attempt to glorify the Titans has made the film overly sentimental and often trite.

Many of the scenes that are meant to be touching and heart-felt come across hackneyed and forced. For example, there is one scene in which Julian tries to visit his injured white teammate, Bertier, and the nurse tells him that only "kin" are allowed to visit. At which point Bertier tells the nurse that they are "brothers." Similarly, a late night run at pre-season camp leads the players to Gettysburg where Denzel Washington reminds the players that their football team embodies the very essence of what the Civil War was fought over.

With scenes like these, you would think the characters would be flat caricatures of the two sides of the race argument. Luckily for the audience, this is not true. Will Patton's Coach Yoast is well developed and truly comes across as a man that is torn between what is expected of him and what he believes is right. Denzel Washington is very good as Coach Boone and never allows his character to be simply a victim of the town's prejudice. One character whom writer Gregory Allen greatly misjudged was Yoast's daughter, Cheryl (Hayden Panettere). She is a nine year old tomboy who will not play with dolls and loves football more ferociously than her father. Throughout most of the story she is simply annoying. She is representative of the voice of the Caucasian community in certain respects because she has the childlike innocence to tell people exactly what is not being said. Yet she comes across as out of place and spoiled.

"Remember the Titans" is entertaining at best. It is by no means anything to rave about and is sometimes overly sentimental, but it does have a certain charm.

Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures

Denzel Washington stars as Coach Herman Moone in Jerry Bruckheimer's "Remember the Titans," based on a true story.