The Blind Side Review
The Blind Side is a film about escaping poverty and disadvantage and finally finding success. The story is based on the real life journey of NFL player Michael Oher who is adopted by the white upper class Tuohy family and given a proper education and loving support. Due to the help of his new family, Michael works hard to become a great football player and improve his schoolwork.
“Big Mike” (Quinton Aaron) is a very big boy. His size and color make him stick out like a “fly in milk” in the homogenous Memphis suburb. Despite his raising (I use that word lightly as his mother crack addicted mother doesn’t know who he or his father is) Michael is an enormously shy boy. He is the perfect candidate for joining a gang in the inner city and hardly a candidate for the Christian day school a family friend tries to get him to attend.
Michael is an introverted boy who no one really knows much about. His aptitude tests place him at the lowest percentiles in almost every category and many write him off as stupid. However Michael isn’t stupid. He is just a shy boy who trusts no one and is haunted by the events of his childhood.
As previously mentioned, Michael is adopted by a white family and begins to have success. He is given every advantage he never had: clothes, bed, tutors, and more importantly, a loving family. Why are the Tuohy’s doing this? Some people in the community find it hard to understand. Some friends see it as “white guilt” while others, including the NCAA, sees it as a ploy by the family to get the fabulous football star to go to the Tuohy’s alma mater, Ole Miss.
Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock) is Michael’s biggest supporter. She has the initial idea of helping him by inviting them into their home. Additionally, she tracks down his mother and finally decides adopt him. Her motives aren’t clear at the beginning, but the film frames it within the Christian beliefs of the family. Leigh Anne’s actions are initially pure charity, but in my mind her actions were never selfish, rather she truly wanted to help Michael. Frankly it was a great movie to see to start the holiday season. Its important message could be misconstrued by some as pure propaganda about the inability for blacks to have success in the United States without help. This view is ridiculous and a view without merit. It was a great story made all the better because it is true.
The only problem with the film is some of the acting. While Sandra Bullock and Quinton Aaron’s acting is fair enough, certain other roles are not nearly as good. The younger brother, played by Jae Head, is completely overacted. Although there are some funny lines and situations involving the small boy, he often overemphasized when delivering the lines that made certain sections of the dialogue uncomfortable.
Nevertheless, the movie’s story and message are moving. The Blind Side attempts to give the hopeless hope, and succeeds in doing so. The strength of the story helped me overlook some of the weaker technical elements of the film. I’m sure that you will also be inspired by the young man’s journey.
So the seven year old talkative little boy was over acting?
Most ridiculous criticism ever.
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Jesse is a real jerk to cheat on somebody so kind and superb as Sandra. What goes around comes around!
Zuerst spielte ich mit meiner Zunge an seiner Eichel… dabei schmeckte ich seine Lusttropfen, die er zuvor versprüht hatte. Ich leckte ihm den Schwanz so richtig ab… von der Eichelspitze bis zum Sack.