The Blind Side
Warner Bros. Pictures
The Blind Side is an inspiring true story of beating the odds. It’s not Oscar material, but it is a solid film. You can’t argue with truth, and the movie proves a person doesn’t have to be dead or old to have a film made about his or her life that pulls on the heartstrings of the audience and leaves them asking the question: What am I doing to change someone’s life for the better?
If you plan on watching the film because of the sports aspect, you will be sadly disappointed. It doesn’t follow the same vein as Remember the Titans or Miracle. The film isn’t about a team; it’s about an individual realizing his potential thanks to loving hands reaching out for him. You don’t have to know anything about (American) football to understand the film – though Sandra Bullock’s character explains it well enough during the course of the film, even the term “the blind side,” which means covering the quarterback’s blind spot on the gridiron to ensure his safety.
The plot shouldn’t be a shocker. After all, it’s a true story, one that follows Michael Oher before he became an All-American football player and current Baltimore Ravens tackle. An impoverished teen from the projects in Memphis, Tenn., he finds himself homeless. Cue in the Tuohy family, who take him in after mom Leigh Ann Tuohy (played by Bullock) sees him walking in the cold one night. A bond grows between the Tuohys and Oher that will change them forever and unite them as one family.
Watching how his story unfolds is the real magic of the movie.
Performances to note are Bullock as Leigh Ann Tuohy, Quinton Aaron as Michael Oher, Tim McGraw as dad Sean Tuohy and Jae Head as brother S.J. Tuohy. Head, a dynamic youngster, steals the scene in nearly every shot he’s in. It’s like watching comedy and sunshine interact that will make audiences laugh. McGraw – who, by the way, was almost unrecognizable at first without his standard facial hair – does a solid job and quietly fills in the gaps onscreen.
It’s Aaron and Bullock, though, who take the cake for carrying the weight of this movie. Bullock captures her character perfectly. The ultimate Southern socialite, she is a force to be reckoned with and knows it, yet she shows Tuohy’s soft underbelly. That combo makes it easy to follow and love her as she maneuvers her way through uncharted waters by taking in Michael. Aaron’s performance as Michael is captured all in his facial expressions. The hurt, loneliness and feeling of being lost are easily read on his face. I’ve rarely seen such an expressive face in a movie.
White high society meets black poverty in a delicate way in the film. It brings to light prejudices and misconceptions still prevalent in the South, and breaks them down, revealing that love and compassion should be the driving forces in action, not personal gain. It proves love really does conquer all and give us wings to fly and realize our potential, and that this isn’t just the stuff of which movies are made.
The Blind Side opens Nov. 20 in the U.S. No date was available at time of publication for international release. To view the trailer, click here.
