"Where Movie Critics Get A Taste Of Their Own Medicine!"
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out
of 4 stars (PG)CRITIC DOCTOR EXAMINES: Michael O'Sullivan (Washington Post), Chris Gore (filmthreat.com), Peter Brunette (film.com), Rob Morlino (matineemag.com), Philip Wuntch (Dallas Morning News), and Roger Ebert (Chicago Sun-Times).
When I watched "Remember the Titans," I couldn't
forget those emotional moviegoers who erupted in spontaneous cheers
during climatic moments of the film. Is a movie about high school
football team really worth the cheer?
"Remember the Titans" is a 1971 true story about a Virginia
high school forced to hire African-American football coach, Herman
Boone (Denzel Washington). Boone replaces a White coach, Bill
Yoast (Will Patton) and faces the challenges of a small town poisoned
by racism. While Boone's mission is to coach his team to a championship
on the green, he must battle to break racial barriers between
Black and White.
Michael O'Sullivan (Washington Post) said, "Now, I
don't mean to sound like I'm against peace, love and understanding,
happy endings, male bonding or tales of uplift and personal redemption,
but I get a bad taste in my mouth when I'm force-fed the pap in
a broth of swelling strings, stirring martial rat-a-tat-tats and
dubious pseudo-sociologizing about the ability of sport to bring
races and nations together. I get enough of that propaganda from
the Olympics."
You know what, Michael? You sound like you're against peace,
love and understanding, happy endings, male bonding, and tales
of uplift and personal redemption. You probably hate the Olympics,
too! Regardless, you are pseudo-psychoanalyzing this film! What
is wrong with a feel-good movie, Michael? Maybe you just
don't like football.
Chris Gore (filmthreat.com) said, "You'll notice that
the story is predicable and cliché, but who cares? If you're
not a fan, this movie isn't for you. If you are a fan, you'll
be left choked up, tearful and satisfied."
"Remember the Titans" is a cliché. But the talent
in this film brings the story to life! Football players and coaches
are so well acted - you'd think the casting director worked in
the school's chemistry department. Whether you like football or
not, you'll probably like this film if you're against racism and
have human emotions.
But you know what pisses me off? Critics who gripe about "feel-good
movies." I think it is (in some cases) a form of human emotional
denial.
Peter Brunette (film.com) said, "I won't try to pretend
that my eyes didn't well up here and there, when the musical collage
soared and all these fine young men were learning the competitive
advantages of brotherly love and racial harmony. But I didn't
believe the movie, or my tears, for a second."
Denial! Let's psychoanalyze Peter. He watches the film,
he's moved and teardrops trickle down his cheek and land in the
popcorn bag on his lap. Peter either: 1) Found something
in that story that moved his heart because he "believed"
what he saw on film; or 2) Peter forgot to add salt and butter
to his popcorn, so he had to add something! Give me a break.
Rob Morlino (matineemag.com) got it right: "Some people
are going to call 'Remember the Titans' a 'feel-good movie,' which
is most often a derogatory label given to lousy Robin Williams
films. It's appropriate here, but only in that it makes the audience
feel good without cheating them. This is a story that's about
constant conflict, what it takes to rise above it and what kind
of people have the courage to. It's also full of laughs, a few
surprise emotional punches, and genuine human emotion."
Now that's a genuine opinion! However, we still have critics who
are in human emotional denial.
Philip Wuntch (Dallas Morning News) said, "While watching
the film, you'll occasionally feel like cheering. But it's a forced
feeling, as if anyone who doesn't cheer will have to write an
essay on good citizenship."
Philip? You need to write an essay entitled: "How
to Enjoy Feel-Good Movies and Overcome Human Emotional Denial."
Send it to me for examination and I'll check up on you from time
to time.
Roger Ebert (Chicago Sun-Times) sums the movie up best:
"'Remember the Titans' has the outer form of a brave statement
about the races in America, but the soul of a sports movie in
which everything is settled by the obligatory last play in the
last seconds of the championship game. Whether the Titans win
or lose has nothing to do with the season they have played and
what they were trying to prove. But it has everything to do with
the movie's sleight of hand, in which we cheer the closing touchdown
as if it is a victory over racism."
"Remember the Titans" is a four star "feel-good
movie" and yes - my emotional buttons got pushed. Whether
it was because of the uniting of the races or the race for the
championship - I will not forget to "Remember the Titans."
--CRITIC DOCTOR
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TITLE: Remember the Titans
CAST: Denzel Washington (Coach Boone), Will Patton (Coach
Yoast), Wood Harris (Big Ju), Ryan Hurst (Bertier), Donald Faison
(Petey) and Craig Kirkwood (Rev).
DIRECTOR: Boaz Yakin
PRODUCERS: Jerry Bruckheimer, Chad Oman
SCREENPLAY: Gregory Allen Howard
U.S. DISTRIBUTOR: Walt Disney Pictures
RELEASE DATE: 09.29.00
RUNNING TIME: 113 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG (Mature themes, mild violence, language)
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