Bullock elevates the movie.

Grade: B-

The Blind Side

Indian Release Date: 29/01/10
CBFC Classification:  U/A
Running Length: 2 Hours 06 Minutes

Cast: Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, Quinton Aaron, Jae Head, Lily Collins, Ray McKinnon, Kim Dickens, Kathy Bates
Director: John Lee Hancock
Screenplay: John Lee Hancock, based on The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game by Michael Lewis
Cinematography: Alar Kivilo
Music: Carter Burwell

Fact can be stranger than fiction sometimes. ‘The Blind Side’ is based on the book by Michael Lewis ‘The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game’ which includes the true story of Michael Oher, who now plays NFL football but some years ago was severally down on his luck. The story joins him as he manages to get accepted into a predominately white Christian school. No one knows of his hard upbringing and no one knows that he has no place to stay. That is until Leigh Anne Tuohy played by Sandra Bullock and her family notice him in a pair of shorts and t-shirt in the depths of winter and they decide to take him home and shelter him for the night. Leigh Anne soon realizes this kid needs help and he is told he is welcome to stay with her family.

Michael (Quinton Aaron) struggles in school and has to up his grades before he is allowed to play school sports. But with the help of the some of the teachers who realize the kid is not stupid he manages to reach an acceptable level to get him on the playing field. He is told that he can play football and having never played the game before it’s a shaky start. But once he gets the hang of it everyone is shocked to see just how good he is.
But will he make the right choice for his future and are people really helping him for his good or for their own?

Directed by John Lee Hancock ‘The Blind Side’ looks and feels very nice. It’s an ‘’up’’ movie as most ‘’rages to riches’’ stories are. If you remember, Hancock directed a similar movie back in 2002 called ‘The Rookie’ which was also based on a true story but this time it was about baseball. It didn’t quite cut it as well as ‘The Blind Side’.

Sandra Bullock obviously realized that this was her golden ticket especially after the generally poor movie ‘All About Steve’, you can really see her grabbing the character of Leigh Anne with both hands. She is a pleasure to watch in this role and it makes you smile when you remember that this is a true story and that there is a real strong and gutsy Leigh Anne Tuohy out there. Leigh Anne’s husband Sean is played by country singer Tim McGraw, his role seems minor and he is over shadowed by Bullock, as everyone seems to be in this movie even Michael who is played by Quinton Aaron. Aaron is ok in the role but I’m interested to see what he does next.

The soundtrack to ‘The Blind Side’ is enjoyable. Check out the opening track, it is a cover version of a Nick Drake song. Nick Drake was an extremely talented musician who sadly passed at a young age back in 1974. It’s amazing how much his music is used in the movies. I would definitely recommend getting your hands on some of his albums and hear the real music, not any cover version.

So let’s talk Oscars, there is no doubt that Sandra Bullock is good in this role and deserves the praise for pushing herself. I’m sure she has breathed a sigh of relief to have landed such a spot which got her off the shaky road she was on and has opened up new horizons for her. But hand on my heart it is definitely Meryl Streep who deserves the Oscar this year for Actress in a Leading Role. She was spellbinding in her role as Julia Child in the movie ‘Julie and Julia’.

So who will get it? Bullock is tipped to; perhaps Hollywood just wants to spread the love around a little bit.

Final Verdict: Sandra Bullock's amazing performance elevates an otherwise mediocre movie.

Grade: B-

 

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