The Blind Side Review

Blinded by the Light
I have two confessions I’d like to make before I continue this review. First off, I am a huge Sandra Bullock fan. It was her starring role in “While You Were Sleeping” that really caught my attention to her gift as an actress and her charm as a person. Secondly, I am a sucker for a feel-good movie, especially if the story is based on a true event or person. So, when I went to see “The Blind Side,” I was already biased in my opinion since it starred Sandra Bullock and was based on the true story of Michael Oher – a once homeless teen who goes onto play in the NFL after being taken in by the Tuohy’s family who encourage and enable him to reach this incredible dream. And complementing this amazing story is an amazing movie filled with inspiration, laughter, action, and real-life drama.

What makes this movie so amazing is not just the well-written screenplay, but also the acting accompanying it, which is not only superb but also heartfelt. I have seen Sandra Bullock in many roles but this has to be one of her finest performances. She truly convinces you that she’s a tough opinionated southern bell. Having spent some time with people from Tennessee, I found her accent authentic and her mannerisms genuine. I am not sure I like her as a blonde, but she looked gorgeous in this role as a mother, wife and businesswoman. Playing Michael Oher is Quinton Aaron, an actor I am not too familiar with until now. Though his character in the movie spoke very little, his performance masterfully embraced the nuance and spirit of Michael Oher. There were many other outstanding performances. But the one that constantly made me smile was the performance of Jae Head who played S.J. – Michael’s adopted brother, friend, and coach. Seeing his character on the screen made me wish there were more kids out there like S.J.

As far as the overall story goes, I am not sure if writer/director John Lee Hancock was trying to imply multiple meanings within the story through the use of its title, but here’s what I see. First, there is the blind side of a quarterback in which a left tackle, like Michael Oher, would guard. Second, “The Blind Side” could also mean how Michael Oher was blind-sided by the overwhelming generosity and love the Tuohy’s gave him. And lastly, “The Blind Side” could also imply how Michael Oher blinded his eyes by covering them as a child growing up, to protect himself from seeing his mother do some horrible things. So he protects the quarterback, he protects his new family, and ultimately he protects himself from allowing the evils of the world from robbing him of his dream.

Bottom-line, there are many other merits this movie has, but for me, it ultimately was about the story. If you’re looking for a potentially life-changing movie – look no further. “The Blind Side” will not only challenge your complacency in helping others less fortunate, it will also challenge your complacency in reaching your full potential both personally and professionally. I highly recommend this movie to all who breathe.

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