As a book, The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game, is a study through stories about the importance of protecting the most important asset of a football team. Plays cannot start without someone calling for the snap. And the better the player making that simple call, the better your team, season and franchise... If you need proof, look at the New England Patriots' 2008 season. Tom Brady was severely injured in the opening quarter of the first game of the season. The rest of the season was good, but nowhere near the level of the 2007 perfect season. It was a sloppy 11-5 winning season.
Rules have been put in place to make sure that this sort of injury doesn't happen again, especially to such a high-profile athlete like Tom Brady. And just like this incident, the importance of the left tackle position was brought to the limelight one night in Washington, D.C. And that's where our movie begins...
The Blind Side is a movie depicting Michael Oher's half of the above mentioned book. It was nominated for 10 very different awards including an Oscar for Sandra Bullock and an Espy for Best Sports Movie. And in my opinion, it is one of the best sports films I've seen, not to mention one of the best biographical films I've seen. Why does Michael Oher deserve his own half of a book and a movie based on his life? Because Lawrence Taylor ended Joe Theismann's professional football career because he slipped through the Redskins' offensive line on the quarterback's blind side and destroyed his right leg. Now teams need a great left tackle. So now, when football defense cannot go for the legs of a quarterback because of Tom Brady, long before that Lawrence Taylor made football teams need Michael Oher.
From the moment you meet Sandra Bullock's Leigh Anne Tuohy, you know she means business. Sticking it to a vendor over a cell phone, you can just get the feeling that whoever is on the receiving end of that phone call most certainly has their tail between their legs. And that is probably the best way to introduce this character. All you have to do is search for any YouTube video of the real Mrs. Tuohy and you will immediately realize that Mrs. Bullock's performance is more like Leigh Anne came to the set, acted out the scene and then Sandra Bullock simply mimed her entire act. I've seen numerous best actress winners, and I promise you that no one outside of artsy films or your typical Oscar-nominees, this is one of the best performances I've ever had the pleasure of seeing. Truly a deserving win for Sandra Bullock.
Quinton Aaron, who plays Michael Oher in the film, has a wonderful aura to him. You want to see him succeed and to be happy. He sells this role like it is happening to him. I know it's an odd thing to point out, but too often actors rely on their acting school to suspend your disbelief and that's about it. Mr. Aaron has us believe that he is Michael, he's had a hard life and that he truly appreciates everything the Tuohys have done for him. He plays the perfect protagonist for film: quiet, full of potential and truly likable.
The rest of the cast is fantastic in their roles. The plot is solid and it keeps you engaged the entire duration. There's plenty of humor, drama and heart. It's great to see this young man grow in his education and his family and athletic abilities. In true Oscar-worthy fashion, the character of Michael Oher goes through a wonderful transformation. And unlike your other biographical films, he doesn't have the "rock bottom" portion where the lead has problems with drugs or fame getting to his head. While it is important to show the darker side of celebrities in their life stories, especially if those events did happen, but unfortunately in a movie-sense, it usually slows the plot. And usually when these movies show the "rock bottom" portion, they spend so much time showing the ugly side of these people that the climax comes and goes, and the resolution is usually a little song and dance number to make everyone remember that they do love this person with a questionable background.
The Blind Side 2: Even Blinder
I would definitely recommend this film to anyone. Sandra Bullock and her strong-willed matriarch character will have any fan of the classic "chick flick" genre satified. And sports fans, that doesn't even need to be built upon... But I will say this: I will recommend this film to any Steelers' fan I come across. Why? Because while Michael Oher is a Raven now, he has been and always will be a great football player and an inspiration to all who love football.
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