This is the true story of Baltimore Ravens tackle Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron), who was a homeless teen in Memphis before he was saved from the streets and, eventually, “adopted” by well-to-do Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock) and her family.

CRITIQUE

The Blind Side is what I like to call, a “nice” movie.

Unless you have a heart of stone, you can’t help but feel good about the world after watching it.

I’ve read a couple of reviews that have called the film “sappy,” and to those reviewers I say, “So what?”

It is, essentially, a true story about good people going far out of their way to do good things for other good people.  And, what’s wrong with that?

Leigh Anne Tuohy had a fine life before she met Michael Oher, an orphaned African-American boy from the Memphis projects who, because of his athletic potential, had been given a scholarship to a private Christian high school. 

Leigh Anne was a successful interior designer and her husband (Tim McGraw) owned a bunch of fast food restaurants.  But, when she saw this large teen, walking along the road on a cold winter night, wearing only shorts and a light shirt,

there was only one thing that this very head-strong lady could do.

She picked him up, took him home with her and, with virtually no resistance from her husband and two children, made him a part of her family.  Over the next two years, she not only encouraged (and even coached) him to become a star tackle on the school football team, but when dozens of college coaches came to entice Michael with football scholarships, she hired a tutor (Kathy Bates) to help him bring up his academic grade point, so that he could get into college.

Sandra Bullock certainly deserved every honor she received for her performance as the tough-minded Leigh Ann Toughy, a woman afraid to let people see her tender side.

She has many memorable scenes in this film from writer-director John Lee Hancock (adapted from Michael Lewis’ book).  One that particularly stands out is the sequence in which Toughy, before she and her husband become Michael’s legal guardians, goes to the projects to meet the teen’s guilt-ridden, drug-addicted biological mother (Adriane Lenox) and, to an extent, “bonds” with the woman.

I also loved the scene in which Tuohy stands up to a nasty and seemingly very dangerous gang-banger.

Quinton Aaron is perfectly cast as Michael, the gentle giant, and Jae Head, “a young Mickey Rooney,” steals virtually every scene he’s in as the Tuohy’s precocious young son.

The very gifted Kim Dickens is also quite touching as Michael’s high school teacher, the first instructor who finds a way to tap the teen’s inner potential.

The Blind Side is a movie that you can’t help but like.

[According to the imdb: The real Michael Oher was an experienced football player when he enrolled at the private Christian high school. He developed into a premier left tackle, and was heavily recruited by top schools in the Southeastern Conference. Oher, however, was less than pleased by the movie's depiction of him as passive, unskilled big guy who was only barely acquainted with football.]

THE VIDEO

The anamorphic widescreen picture is razor sharp.

THE AUDIO

The 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound is without flaws.

THE EXTRAS

As successful as the film was at the box office, the studio really skimped on the bonus material.

4 Deleted Scenes is all there is.

Makes one wonder about a Special Edition being in the works.

FINAL THOUGHT

The Blind Side is an excellent film that will warm your heart.