Summary
The Blind Side, an incredibly divisive biopic from 2009, is trending on Netflix — but the film’s sudden resurgence is actually the perfect reminder to watch a superior sports drama that stars Denzel Washington. Written and directed by John Lee Hancock (Saving Mr. Banks),the controversial movie adapts a 2006 book of the same namein order to tellTheBlind Side’s true story of Michael Oher, an offensive lineman who grew up in the foster-care system. Despite a difficult home life with his biological mother, who’s navigating substance-use disorder, Michael leaves his new placements to return home.
Although Michael (Quinton Aaron) has an uneven academic track record, the 17-year-old gets enrolled at Wingate Christian School so that he can play for the football team. When Sean Tuohy Jr. (Jae Head) befriends Michael, the latter is introduced to the strong-willed Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock) and her husband (Tim McGraw). After Michael spends Thanksgiving with the Tuohy family,Leigh Anne tries to become his legal guardian, seemingly supporting Michaelas he becomes an asset on the field. Still,The Blind Side’s true story controversyand harmful tropes mean there are better sports dramas to watch.
Remember The Titans Is An Inspiring True Story Football Movie Like The Blind Side
Denzel Washington’s Football Movie Focuses More On The Team Than Any One Player
Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Boaz Yakin,Remember the Titansis often cited as one of thebest inspirational sports moviesever made. Released in 2000, the film stars Denzel Washington as real-life Coach Herman Boone, whotries to integrate the T. C. Williams High School’s football team during the 1971 season. Boone is supported by assistant coach Bill Yoast (Will Patton) — the team’s former head coach. The film tackles the abolition of racial segregation in public schools, which wasn’t without backlash from white players and community members who wanted Yoast to lead the Titans.
[In Remember the Titans], Boone and Yoast try to cement the team’s bond…
As the Black and white players clash, Boone and Yoast try to cement the team’s bond. At a summer training camp, the team is put through the wringer with Boone’s rigorous training, but the head coach also inspires the group, especially when, in one iconic scene,Denzel Washington deliversRemember the Titans' motivational speech. UnlikeThe Blind Side, a biopic that centers mainly on Michael and Leigh Anne,Remember the Titans' cast of charactersall share the spotlight, reiterating the film’s themes. While viewers consider both football films inspirational,Remember the Titans' legacy is much more apparent.
One Remember The Titans Scene’s Continuity Error Drives Fans Wild
There is still one major Remember The Titans scene continuity error that is driving the film’s fans absolutely wild for how simple of a mistake it is.
How Remember The Titans' True Story Accuracy Compares To The Blind Side
Remember The Titans Is “Loosely” Based On Real-Life Events
WhileThe Blind Sidetook great pains to promote itself as an accurate biopic,Remember the Titansis just loosely based on the true storyof coach Herman Boone.Remember the Titansis based on real-life events, with the team’s incredible winning streak and even the accident thatparalyzedRemember the Titans' Gerry Bertier(Ryan Hurst) all being true to life. However, at its core,Remember the Titanswants to show that football and empathy can reshape narrow-minded people. To make that story more compelling, the sports drama took some major liberties, especially on the field.
Those down-to-the-wire moments and motivational speeches were all added to [Remember the Titans] for dramatic effect.
For starters,the Titans' nail-biter games and motivational speeches were all added to the movie for dramatic effect. After outscoring their opponents 265-31, the Titans were named the second-best high school team in the nation (viaNorthern Virginia Magazine). On the other hand,The Blind Side’s cast of charactersdon’t resemble real-life accounts.Oher, who ended the Tuohy’s harmful conservatorshipover him years later, noted in his memoir that, “I felt like it [the movie] portrayed me as dumb instead of as a kid who had never had consistent academic instruction and ended up thriving.”
Remember The Titans True Story: What The Movie Gets Right & Changes
Disney’s Remember the Titans was based on a true story, but how much of it actually happened in real life? Here’s what the movie changed.
Remember The Titans' Racial Themes Avoid A Huge Complaint About The Blind Side
The Blind Side Centers On A Harmful White Savior Narrative
Not only doesThe Blind Sideperpetuate racist stereotypes by undermining Michael Oher’s intelligence, knowledge of football, and agency, butit’s also a defining entry in Hollywood’s “white savior” trope canon. The white family’s adoption of a Black teen is framed as a kind of charity, as if the Tuohy family’s “graciousness” had everything to do with Oher’s eventual Ole Miss and NFL successes. In addition to undercutting Michael’s perseverance and hard work,The Blind Sideseems to give ownership of Oher’s story to Leigh Anne. InWhite Fragility, author Robin DiAngelo dubs the movie, “fundamentally and insidiously anti-Black.”
Remember the Titansisn’t perfect, thanks in part to its genre tropes.
Remember the Titansavoids these massive critiquesaboutThe Blind Side’s supposed inspirational value by not including a white savior narrative at all. Instead,Remember the Titansis more explicit about how race and prejudice play into the opportunities the team’s players receive. Of course,Remember the Titansisn’t perfect, thanks in part to its genre tropes. As an inspirational, mainstream, and feel-good sports drama,Remember the Titansleans a little too heavily into the idea that racism can be overcome by entire communities if their high-school football team wins championship games.
As of July 2024,Remember the Titansis streaming on Disney+.
The Blind Side
The Blind Side is a biographical sports drama film that follows the life of Michael Oher, a homeless African-American teenager who is adopted by a wealthy white family. Under the guidance of his adoptive mother, played by Sandra Bullock, Oher overcomes personal and academic challenges to become a successful college football player. The film, directed by John Lee Hancock, is based on the real-life story of Oher’s journey.
