The Blind Side Movie Review
THE BLIND SIDE: MUSHY, BUT BULLOCK SHINES
The Blind Side is a true story based on NFL player Michael Oher and the woman who helped him get him to where he is. It has the potential to be a heartfelt story. But it just ends up having a movie of the week feel with corny dialogue and predictability. Sandra Bullock as Leigh Anne Tuohy is the one bright spot.
Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock) is a good Christian woman who works as an interior decorator in Memphis, Tennessee. Her husband Sean (Tim McGraw) owns numerous fast food restaurants. She has two kids, S.J. (Jae Head) and Collins (Lily Collins). When she sees Big Mike (Quinton Aaron) walking down the road on a cold night, her life takes an unexpected turn. Mike is homeless and spends his nights in the local laundromat. But he attends the same Christian school as S.J. and Collins. Leigh Anne takes Mike into her home. And they change each other's lives.
The story almost seemed to follow a formula. Boy in trouble, check. Strong, no-nonsense woman comes to his rescue, check. Flashbacks showing boy's painful childhood, check. Strong woman showing him what love means, check. The only redeeming quality is that it is based on a true story. This movie is a vehicle for Sandra Bullock, plain and simple. She is feisty, blunt, and heartfelt as the real life woman who had such an impact on this young man's life. From a look that she gives her husband when she means business to the pat on her purse to show that she is carrying a gun, this woman is instantly lovable. The movie is set in Memphis but was filmed in Georgia. It has that old Southern feel. With the prestigious churches, the brick buildings, and the abundance of forestry.
The movie follows a conventional storyline that didn't really need to be sugarcoated into a typical Hollywood film. The story could have spoken for itself.
Baltimore Ravens' football player Michael Oher is the subject of The Blind Side. The movie focuses on how Leigh Anne Tuohy invited him into her world and showed him that he was worthy of love. If that sounds too corny, its because the movie is. But Sandra Bullock makes it work for her and brings the positive.
Report Card:
Story-C
Acting-B
Visuals-C
Originality/Innovation-C-
Enjoyability Grade–C
Overall Grade-C+
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