Remember the Titans

* Characters * Summary * Reaction

Characters:

Denzel Washington as Coach Herman Boone
Denzel Hayes Washington, Jr. (born December 28, 1954) is an American actor, screenwriter, director and film producer. He first rose to prominence when he joined the cast of the medical drama St. Elsewhere, playing Dr. Philip Chandler for six years. He has received much critical acclaim for his work in film since the 1990s, including for his portrayals of real-life figures, such as Steve Biko, Malcolm X, Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, Melvin B. Tolson, Frank Lucas, andHerman Boone.Washington has received two Academy Awards, two Golden Globe awards, and a Tony Award. He is notable for winning the Best Supporting Actor for Glory in 1989; and theAcademy Award for Best Actor in 2001 for his role in the film Training Day.

Ryan Hurst as LB Gerry Bertier
Ryan Douglas Hurst (born June 19, 1976) is an American actor who perhaps most notably starred as Gerry Bertier, an All-American linebacker in Disney's Remember the Titans and as Alison's brother, Michael, in the show Medium. He also played the role of football player Lump Hudson in The Ladykillers, appeared in the movie We Were Soldiers as Sgt. Savage, and starred in the TNT show Wanted. In Saving Private Ryan, Hurst portrays a paratrooper who, because of temporary hearing loss, cannot understand Captain Miller's questions about sighting Private Ryan which forces Miller (played by Tom Hanks) to ask the questions in writing. He currently plays Opie on the FX network series Sons of Anarchy. Hurst was born in Santa Monica, California, the son of Candace Kaniecki, an acting coach, and Rick Hurst, an actor.[2][3] Hurst attended Santa Monica High School

Ethan Suplee as OT Louie Lastik
Ethan Suplee (born May 25, 1976) is an American film and television actor best known for his roles as Seth Ryan in American History X, Louie Lastik in Remember the Titans, Frankie in Boy Meets World, Randy Hickey in My Name Is Earl, Thumper in The Butterfly Effect, Dewey inUnstoppable, and his roles in Kevin Smith films.

Kate Bosworth as Emma Hoyt
Catherine Ann "Kate" Bosworth (born January 2, 1983) is an American actress. Bosworth starred in the television series Young Americans, in which she played Bella Banks. She became known with a leading role in 2002's Blue Crush. The following year, Bosworth played the teenage girlfriend of porn star John Holmes in Wonderland opposite Val Kilmer. In 2004, she portrayedSandra Dee in Kevin Spacey's Beyond the Sea. Bosworth since appeared in several notable films, including Superman Returns (2006), where she played Lois Lane, and 2008's blackjackdrama film 21. In 2008, she became both Calvin Klein Jeans newest model and spokeswoman for Coach newest luxury bags.

Burgess Jenkins as Ray Budds
Burgess Jenkins (born October 24, 1973) is a film actor known for work in the 2000 filmRemember The Titans (as Ray Budds) opposite Academy Award winner Denzel Washington; as Hilary Swank's husband David Winter in The Reaping (2007). He portrayed religious leader John Wesley in the award winning independent film Wesley (2009) with Golden Globe winner Kevin McCarthy and Emmy-nominated television legend June Lockhart. On television, Jenkins played Bobby Irons throughout season 6 on the hit WB series One Tree Hill while also playing a recurring role on Lifetime's Army Wives and Drop Dead Diva. He starred in the true story "Unshackled" with Stacy Keach. He was nominated as Best Actor at the Boston Film Festival for his portrayal of Bruce Snow in "Insignificant Others". Jenkins is a Meisner method actor trained at the Playhouse West with Robert Carnegie and academy award nominated actor Jeff Goldblum.

Summary:

In 1971 in Alexandria, Virginia, 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. Coach Boone takes the coaching position from 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 white 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 black and white 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). However, 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 Titanslose their game, essentially implying he wants Boone to get fired over his race. During the game, it becomes apparent that the referees are engaging 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 afterward 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. Despite the fact that Bertier is no longer able to play, the team goes on to win the championship. Ten years later, the coaches and athletes from the team reunite to attend Bertier's funeral after he died in a car accident, as Sheryl reiterates the message of racial equality taught by the Titans.

Reaction:

Fabulous movie that teaches we are all equal no matter what race you are. Of course, there's violence: football tackles, a car crash, and some injuries. Some foul language and insults. Perfect movie for 10 and up kids to learn about how discrimination was used back then and it should never have been. Great heart warming movie that teaches that we are all equal no matter your skin color. A fabulous, powerful movie for the whole family to cherish for years to come. Remember the Titans is an amazing movie that can change the way people look at football, and also discrimination. Throughout the movie the football team strives to win, and they work together as a family. At first the society doesn’t like this. But they realize how close the boys are getting. Then people start realizing they are all a family and we shouldn’t judge people based on their race, or color. Even though it is violent, and shows a lot of vulgar things. This movie does preach a great message for all viewers. And can really change how people look at this terrible subject of discrimination. It tells the real story, not to make you sad or even put some lie on it. The language is a little cruel. I haven't watched it in full. But overall it is a very good movie. It's simple and funny.