Review of film: “THE BLIND SIDE”

11-15-09:

Review of film:  “THE BLIND SIDE”

Director:

John Lee Hancock.

Writers:

Michael Lewis (book)

John Lee Hancock.

Starring:

Sandra Bullock

Tim McGraw

Quinton Aaron

Jae Head

Lily Collins

Ray McKinnon

Adriane Lenox

Kathy Bates.

MPAA Rating:

Rated PG-13 for one scene involving brief violence, drug and sexual references.

Quotes:

“Feet as quick as a hiccup.”

“You admit him because it’s the right thing to do.”

“Who thought we’d have BLACK son before we knew a Democrat?!…”

MY Rating: 

8 of 10 stars (based on an advance screening of the film).

CLEAR-SIGHTED view of how to Succeed in America

This is another TRUE story turned into a movie--  but with a sincerely “HOPEFUL” underpinning:

Type “A” personality Leigh Anne Tuohy (SANDRA BULLOCK, in one of her strongest performances ever) is a working woman in the Memphis area, happily married to easygoing, rich fast-food entrepreneur Sean (TIM MCGRAW)…

…  She’s very active in “people” causes, & her daughter Collins (LILY COLLINS) is active on the cheerleading squad of a private high school…

…  The school’s football coach Cotton (RAY MCKINNON) is touted to look at an unusually large ball-playing black kid named Michael Oher (QUINTON AARON), and, although he’s had horribly bad grades, the school is encouraged to let him attend it to help him out in life…

…  In time, Sandra sees that Quinton is virtually HOMELESS (in part because he comes from an extremely poor family whose mother Denise (ADRIANE LENOX) is a drug addict), &, encouraged by her exceptionally-outgoing pre-teen son S.J. (JAE HEAD), she invites him to stay at their place “temporarily”…

…  The “temp” living arrangement quickly becomes increasingly PERMANENT as he is treated like a MEMBER of the Tuohy family.  Sandra & Jae soon work to help Quinton learn how to properly play FOOTBALL, trying to “smoothe out” his non-aggressive tendencies so he can become more “protective” of his team members. ..

…   Helped by Quinton, the team quickly starts to improve, which gets him increasingly “NOTICED” by pro college teams…  Since Sandra & Tim had experienced great times when attending Ole Miss, they tend to “direct” Quinton’s interest towards that school--  &, with the help of tutor Miss Sue (KATHY BATES), they strive to help him with his schoolwork to build up his GRADES (so colleges could recruit him)… 

…  Will that cause the NCAA to start to “notice” that situation?  Will that raise possible problems for various people?…  Will Sandra “back down” when some old-neighborhood toughs start to threaten Quinton & her family?…  Will all the family members really “accept” him?…

…  Overall, while it’s not a “ground-breaking” film, it is a heart-warming story infused with humor & optimism, aided by some FINE performances by the leads mentioned above, particularly Sandra, Jae & Quinton…

…  At the end of the film, you can see some photos & video footage of the REAL people involved in the story (including the drafting of Michael by the Baltimore Ravens pro football team in 2009). ..

…  Originally, --  despite what some of its ads implied --, I felt the film  was unlikely to garner any OSCAR® nominations…  But, after an unexpected  groundswell of public interest in the film (which turned it into a huge box-office hit), SANDRA BULLOCK won the OSCAR as Best Actress in a leading role…

  

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