The Blind Side – Review

Reviews, Theatrical Reviews

Apparently Sandra Bullock wants her Oscar now

Blind_side_poster
Image Courtesy of IMPawards.com

Director: John Lee Hancock
Notable Cast:
Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, Quinton Aaron, Lily Collins, Jae Head

With a weak Oscar field for Best Actress in 2009 bound to be had, Sandra Bullock might have a shot at getting her first Oscar nomination ever. For an actress who’s had such a high profile and hit films, the fact that she’s been nominated for nearly everything else but an Oscar is surprising. While never viewed as a top level actress in terms of ability, nor in drawing power, she’s always been able to carry a film as an actress and get just enough of an audience in to keep it worthwhile. And with one hit on her hands this year already in The Proposal as well as a flop (All About Steve), Bullock burnishes her dramatic credentials for The Blind Side.

Following the true to life tale of Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron), currently the left tackle for the Baltimore Ravens, from homeless teen to college bound high school superstar, Oher’s story is incredible and remarkably true. Adopted by Leigh Anne Touhy (Bullock) and her millionaire husband Sean (Tim McGraw), the massive African American tackle would end up becoming part of their family after what was supposed to be just a one night stay on their couch.

The film follows his transition from being a subpar student, admitted in part because of his freakish athletic ability, to an elite Christian academy in Memphis, TN, to an Honor roll student accepted at Ole Miss. From there he would end up being picked at 23 by the Baltimore Ravens as their left tackle of the next decade, and many people unfamiliar with his story were surprised to see the white family with him as he celebrated his ascension to the professional ranks.

Adapted from the book of the same name, the film is nothing more than Disney schlock about overcoming odds and whatnot. But The Blind Sideis something few films in the genre are: it’s really good. Not brilliant, Oscar winner type good but good enough you don’t notice that it’s a retread of nearly every underdog film that’s come before it.

Bullock, usually known for lighter role, is interesting to see in a role that has some meat to it. The Touhy family did something out of the goodness out of their hearts, nothing more, and the film is about the inherent ability of humanity to be kind to one another for no reason other than then altruistic ones. John Lee Hancock, no stranger to the formula with The Rookie already under his belt, has taken the usual formulaic sports flick and given it a bit of twist by focusing on the family aspect as opposed to purely the sports aspect.

But to call this Oher’s story would be a misnomer, as the film focuses on Leigh Anne and her trying to help out the young man much more then it is about his ascension to the top of professional football. Her dealing with Michael and his unique assortment of problems, both emotional and learning, make for engrossing viewing. Bullock is in her element and really brings out a fully fleshed out character in a film and genre that normally doesn’t demand or require one. We want Michael to succeed because we see her passion and focus on her own family, and its extension to their newfound member.

The interesting moments of the film occur outside of the sports moments as well, which feel perfunctory at best. When Michael is on his recruiting trips, especially with actual college coaches reprising their roles in Oher’s recruitment, it gives an insight into a world that’s otherwise out of reach unless one happens to have been directly involved in it. Sadly there isn’t enough of this, as we get to see just enough to want to see more but not enough to be fully satisfied.

The Blind Side doesn’t transcend the genre, but it reaches for those heights and comes oh so close to getting there.

FINAL RATING (ON A SCALE OF 1-5 BUCKETS):