Kelli McNeil
Felicia Hilson
SOCI- 1101
Spring 2011
The Blind Side
In the movie The Blind Side The main character Michel Oher faced many
challenges and hardships in his childhood years; He went from growing up poor to be
taken into a wealthy white family. The film, written and directed by John Lee Hancock
and adapted from a book by Michael Lewis, is very entertaining with great actors that
redefines the true meaning of family values, a truly heart-warming and inspirational
movie that puts aside all our cultural differences and illustrates the goodness that we
hope in all humankind.
The movie The Blind Side is very entertaining from beginning to end simply
because it has a compelling coming of age story with a nice balance between drama
and humor. The movie the blind side was set in Memphis, Tennessee and Oxford
Mississippi. The main character Michael Oher is a homeless teenager whose life had
been a living hell. He was taken from his drug addicted mama at an early age and spent
his life changing foster families since. Luck smiled at him when he met Leigh Anne
Tuohy, the character played by Sandra Bullock. She and her whole family gradually
adored him and eventually he became a part of that family. As time was passing by he
adapted to his new life and with his will and support he had, he became a NFL athlete.
The acting was high quality, Sandra Bullock did a fabulous job as Leigh Anne,
and she portrayed her as tough, loving, selfless person as well as a sensitive and wellmeaning where she could have just gone overboard with southern bell housewife
stereotypes. The rest of the cast did an amazing job too: Tim McGraw as the perfect
husband, Lily Collins as the sweetness personified teenage daughter and, best of all,
Jae Head, the role of SJ as the know-it-all little brother who loves attention. Finally, in a
small role as Miss Sue, Michael's private tutor (and heavens forbid, a Democrat). The
film shows the audience a true meaning of a Christian family, throughout the movie
Tuohy family teaches Michael Oher manners, the importance of life, what it's like to
have a family and to be loved. One day at football practice Leigh Ann tells him the
football team is like their family and you must protect them. From that moment on he is
unstoppable. Michael learns a good lesson about never letting his family get hurt and he
sticks to that for the rest of his life.
“This film is a powerful inspiration to us all. It makes us want to get out there and
help by showing us the power of love, family, and kindness”.(IMDb) The first third of the
movie is perhaps the most moving as it shows Leigh Anne's Tuohy's growing realization
that she has led an isolated life. In a most touching scene, Tuohy is startled when
Michael reveals that he's never slept in a bed before. Leigh Anne's willingness to take
Michael in is tested in the scene involving the car accident. After Sean Tuohy Sr. buys
Michael a new car, he gets into a car accident while the young SJ is in the passenger
seat. Somehow all is forgiven when it's revealed that Michael prevents the full force of
the air bag from hitting SJ.
The film is based on a true story aiming to all different levels of audiences and it
succeeded it box office and even nominated for two Oscars including best picture and
won the best actress award for Sandra Bullock. I think the best line of the movie is when
one of Leigh Anne Tuohy's friends says to her “You're changing that boy’s life” and she
replies “No, he's changing mine”. I wouldn't say that it changed my life but it sure made
my day!
You’ll never know if you could make a difference in someone’s life unless you’re
willing to take that chance that was the message of the whole movie. But what makes
The Blind Side so powerful is not only the fact-based message but its ability to connect
with the audience on a personal level, mostly thanks to writer/director John Lee
Hancock’s heartwarming adaptation. The Blind Side is one of the most remarkable
stories this year!