The Blind Side: Review By slysnide

Sandra Bullock may have delivered a great performance that's among the best in her career, but the real life person she portrayed was second in the true story to the real focus of half the book.

Like the book by Michael Lewis, the film showcases Michael Oher's (Quniton Aaron) journey from being a loner at a Christian school to being a college football linebacker. However, the story is primarily told from Tuohy's perspective, as Oher remains silent and obedient most of the time. Granted it went along with reality, it didn't include much of Oher beyond his physical abilities and protective nature, when more was present in the book. His friendship with Tuohy's son S.J. (Jae Head) is typical of the new kid being shown how to do everything. And like here, such a 'mentor' is usually far younger. Though they play off each other well, unlike Tuohy's daughter Collins (Lily Collins) who gives Michael the silent treatment throughout for no real reason. Tuohy's husband Sean (Tim McGraw) on the other hand isn't totally supportive of the idea of Michael living with the family, but is more vocal about it than Collins, though not to Michael himself. While living with the Tuohy's, more and more opportunities for a potential football career open up for Michael, his social abilities slowly come to light, yet his ability--or apparent lack thereof--to make his own decisions is held off till the end.

While the film wasn't bad, as there were great performances all around--especially for Bullock--it just felt offbeat given that all the hype and true story centered around Michael Oher, and not Leigh Tuohy's attempts at getting him a football scholarship like the film did. Hence, one wonders if Director/Screenwriter John Lee Hanc*ck had this correctly in mind. Or if he was just interested in revitalizing his career after the failure of his far better film "The Alamo" (2004) by twisting a true story around to make a feel good film about some upper class white woman taking in a homeless black kid for the sake of flipping him from failure to football star to feel good about herself. The truth isn't relevant either way, as it still technically doc*ments actual events, but chooses to omit other times in Oher's life with the Tuohy's which probably would've showcased his character more rather than having him seemingly fade into the background.

Being not a fan of sport's movies that often, unless the story is truly unique, then this film is an exception on some parts. But the twisted reality makes for an inaccurate look which portrays Leigh Anne Tuohy so favorably that it comes at the expense of Quinton Aaron's acting talents. And then there's the fact that he, and his briefly seen brother and mother are the only favorably featured African Americans in the film, as the others are stylized gangbangers just because they live in a housing project. So such blatant lack of balance in favorability was annoying, but the story, and Bullock's acting is what saves the film.

Overall, if you read the book or know enough about it, then you'll like this maybe two thirds of the time. If you watch all sport's movies, then you'll really love this, as will fans of Sandra Bullock. But if you're like me, and are aware of the truth behind the facade, though view it objectively, then you'll find more flaws than most after seeing this 'moving' film.