Based on a true story - In 1971, in Virginia, racial integration has arrived and a local high school's first effect from it is felt by the Titans football team. Herman Boone (Washington), a black coach, is brought in to replace Bill Yoast (Patton), the veteran, successful and well-respected white coach. When this happens, it's up to Boone to turn the team into a unified group of intergrated races and win each game the coming season or he'd lose his job.

I was extremely impressed with this movie. Great acting all-around, great story, relatively clean content. I found it to be a pretty film for most families. However, I've found that the racism subject matter may be hard to swallow for some. Although the previews make the movie seem a lot like a light-hearted film about a team of players wanting to win, it's mainly about a team of high school students trying to deal with a newly integrated school and the idea of their beloved coach being replaced by and unwanted black man. For me being born in 1980, it's harder to understand why white people could be so judgmental over the color of somebody's skin. Although it was obvious the movie was anti-racism and made a lot of white look evil (practically), I have a good feeling that's how it was back then. And there's no good reason to hate every person because their skin's darker than yours. I find it mind boggling. But the film included great moments that showed whites finally coming around and becoming best friends with their black partners eventually. And all this is based on a true story.

One really pleasing part about the film, was the inclusion of God in several scenes. We see them finishing a prayer as a team at one point, some of the boys start singing a praise song, and even one of the respected players is nicknamed "The Rev" because of his Christianity and desires to be a minister. The film had little to complain about and many redeemable qualities. And when it came time to "care about the characters' well-beings," you do. The characters were well-rounded and well-developed in the 2 hour length the movie had. The story sucks you in and it isn't long before you forget where you are and you're involved, yourself.

In summary, I thought the movie was excellent (and I don't even really like football!). Although the tense situations could be a turn off or hurt the level of this being a family film, Remember the Titans still scores a 4 out of 5 in my book for its compelling story and overall entertainment and moral value.

- John DiBiase, (reviewed: 10/29/00)