Coming late to the reviews party this week is Warner Bros. release of The Blind Side. Based on the Novel The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game by Michael Lewis. The movie tells the story of how Baltimore Ravens 2009 first round draft pick Michael Oher reached this point in his career. The Blind Side is an acting tour de force that provides plenty of substance over style and is one of the most powerful movies I’ve seen this year as well as one of the greatest sports movies I’ve ever seen.
The movie begins with teenager “Big” Mike Oher being placed in the all white Wingate Christian School by the hands of his current guardian Big Tony, Omar J. Dorsey’s character. Frequent arguments between Big Tony with his wife force Michael to leave the couch where he sleeps and become homeless again. He lives off leftovers and wears the same clothing every day at school until he is befriended by Jae Head’s Sean Touhy. Shortly after the Touhy’s take Michael into their home and begin providing for him as one of their own.
Michael is a terrible student in every subject and his personality leaves no defining marks except for his protective instincts. With a few of the teachers help Michael is able to raise his grades enough to be placed on the school football team. Under Coach Cotton, played by Ray McKinnon, he is a terrible player who is unable to follow instructions. It’s not until Sandra Bullock’s character mixes their family dynamic with the teams that he begins to understand his role. From then on he quickly becomes the best left tackle on the team.
With a little help from Jae Head’s character, his talents are witnessed by many Universities across the U.S. The head coaches all make attempts to recruit him but unfortunately his grade point average is not good enough to be accepted anywhere. The Touhy’s then hire Kathy Bates as Miss Sue to be his personal tutor and improve his grades. Now able to choose a school, the Touhy’s indirectly persuade him to attend Ole Miss over the other Universities. This decision sparked the controversy that Michael Oher faced in his career and covers the last leg of the film. Sandra Bullock really shines as the strong, southern, and wealthy Leigh Anne Touhy. I was initially thrown off by her southern drawl, but it quickly grew on me. I couldn’t imagine anyone else in Hollywood playing this role. Her passion and concern for Michael is genuine and the emotional exchange between the two creates some of the most dramatic moments in the film.
The scene where she visits Michaels real mother, played by Adriane Lenox, is particularly heart wrenching. Sandra is amazing to watch on screen in this role and I think that this is by far one of her best films. She is sure to be considered for the next Academy Awards.
What surprised me more than Sandra Bullock’s performance was Quinton Aaron as Michael Oher. John Lee Hancock did an excellent job in casting him. He does more with facial expressions and his show of raw emotion than many other actors are ever capable of. He manages to pull the audience into his struggle throughout the film and onto his happiness at the end. The scene towards the end in which he visits his old neighborhood is explosive and further strengthens his ability to perform this role with little words. While not a household name, I wouldn’t be surprised if this role helps him land many others in the following years.
Tim McGraw and Jae Head provide most of the comedy injected throughout this film and none of it feels forced. I have not been a big fan of Tim Mcgraw in the past, but his supporting role in this film leads me to believe he is capable of more than just singing. Jae Head’s character is by far the most over the top and that is my only complaint about this film. It feels as if he’s much smarter than a kid should be at this age and it causes a few distractions throughout the movie. Kathy Bates also provides some welcomed humor. Her scene describing The University of Tennessee’s Body Farm is extremely hilarious.
This film addresses many racial stereotypes and prejudices that could occur in a mostly white, southern community. This film could have gone a wrong way in many of the scenes involving them, but thankfully John Lee Hancock handles these in a way that I consider a breath of fresh air. The scene where Sandra Bullock’s character defends Michael in front of her lunch group is particularly exciting. This movie offers no super hero antics or last minute saves and I’m happy it doesn’t.
It’s really great when a movie based on a true story like this is done well. This movie reminded me that there are still people out there who are willing to help those who were given a rough start. That message is even more important during the holiday season. With the rush of the masses seeing Twilight: New Moon as their preferred Thanksgiving Holiday movie, I’m hoping the second place finish this past weekend of The Blind Side will keep it going strong for a few more weeks. It would be a shame not to witness this incredible film.
ComicsOnline gives The Blind Side 4.5 out 5 touchdown passes.
