Katie Bruckmann
Class of 2010
Blind Side Review
With humor, talent, and heart, the movie The Blind Side directed by John Lee Hancock, impresses and inspires audiences of all ages. The movie is based on a true story about an impoverished, homeless teen, (played by Quinton Aaron), who is taken in by a wealthy family in the South. His name is Michael, or “Big Mike”, as he is called in the beginning of the film. After many struggles, and with the help of the Tuohy family, he goes on to become an excellent football player. Although the battles Michael faces could very well make for a dramatic, depressing movie, the comedy of all the characters, especially Leigh Ann Tuohy, played by Sandra Bullock, and her son S.J. Tuohy, played by Jae Head, brighten the movie up and keep the audience laughing, even through all of the drama.
Sandra Bullock is known for playing very comedic characters, but in this movie, she also shows her knack for drama. Leigh Ann Tuohy is portrayed as a tough but loving goody-goody. Bullock’s acting is one of the main reasons this extensive film does not drag on, resulting in also giving Bullock and the movie Oscar buzz. Without Bullock and Head’s incredible skills for drama, along with their comedic timing, The Blind Side would still be a good movie, but it would have become tedious at times. Aaron’s acting, although for the most part subtle, especially compared to the other more vibrant parts, is also brilliant. It is hard to believe that The Blind Side is only Aaron’s second film. An especially poignant and striking scene in Aaron’s performance in the movie occurs when Michael goes back to his former home after feeling betrayed by his new family. Until this point, Michael’s persona is one that is quiet and shy. At this time, however, he is angered and loses his temper, starting a fight with the other guys at a party. The side that is shown in this scene is a much more violent and bold one, a stark contrast to the subtle, quiet, and shy person that is seen through much of the film.
While watching, the audience can really feel the emotions that the characters in the movie are experiencing, and these emotions are at all times believable. Nothing in the movie feels forced or artificial. The actions of the characters also feel like they really happened, while being extraordinary at the same time. A scene in which this is especially evident is the one in which Leigh Ann Tuohy is out to lunch with her wealthy, snobby group of friends. They hear that she has taken in Mike and think that it is just another charity that she is doing, without realizing that she really does care about him. The group expresses to Leigh Ann their worries about having a black boy in the house; they speculate if he has stolen anything, for example. By making these assumptions, it is obvious that there is still that stigma of racism in the South. To think that a wealthy family from that area would take in a black boy without really giving it a second thought while also being judged by their peers is amazing, and it truly shows the influence of the human spirit. The movie also shows a true underdog story without being trite, which it could have been with all the other inspirational sports movies that seem to come out around this time of the year. Those other movies, although inspiring and heart-warming, are not nearly as entertaining or unique as The Blind Side.
In this sports drama based on a true story, as well as every other movie like it, there is a happy ending. What distinguishes The Blind Side from the rest of the pack however is that not everything is shown as picture-perfect. The audience knows going into the movie that it will have a good ending, but they have no idea of the propensity of the struggles that will unfold before their eyes. There are many times in the film that things seem hopeless for Michael, such as his seemingly impossible fight to get good grades in school, and the disconnect between him and his family, and these go on for the majority of the film. In other movies, these similar struggles usually only last for a small portion of the film and then all problems are resolved. Because of this, The Blind Side is more realistic and relatable.
Something that this movie teaches, again just like other films, are morals such as not judging a book by its cover and to hope. Although this could seem contrived, the movie prevents it from seeming that way by using originality, heart, and humor. Nothing is ever preached to the audience, making this movie refreshing when it could have very easily been the opposite. The morals expressed by the film have been shown time and time again in countless other movies, yet the ways in which they are shown do not feel new, like they do in The Blind Side.
John Lee Hancock’s work, The Blind Side, entertains audiences of all ages. It surpasses expectations and its message is clear and inspiring to all because of its refreshing and unique voice. The Oscar buzz that both the movie and Sandra Bullock are receiving is well-deserved, and will hopefully result in victory.
