Film Appreciation

Rating: 9/10 (1 April 2020)

The Blind Side is the story of Michael Oher who overcomes incredible struggles as a youth and eventually finds himself playing professional football for the Baltimore Ravens. Quinton Aaron plays the gentle giant, Michael Oher. Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw play Michael's adoptive parents, Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy. Kathy Bates stars as Michael's tutor and friend, Miss Sue. Many actual college coaches make appearances through out the film such as Lou Holtz and Nick Saban.
To say that Michael Oher is an overcomer would be an understatement. From a young age, Michael had to deal with a mom that was a drug addict. His father passed away and he was left on his own. Being passed from one foster house to another, then living on the streets, he eventually crosses paths with a man named Burt Cotton that was the coach of a high school football team. Michael's size and athletic ability made him a perfect fit to join Coach Cotton's team. Michael becomes friends with a younger student named SJ, and is eventually taken in by SJ's family, the Tuohy's.
Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy care for Michael as if he were one of their own children. Leigh Anne connects with him like any mother connects with her son. She fights for him and pushes him to grow academically, with the help of Miss Sue, as well as on the football field. The Tuohy's make sure that Michael is not only on track to get a high school diploma, but that he also will be able to continue his education while playing college football. Their alma mater, Ole Miss, would be their top choice for Michael but knew the decision had to be his own. He meets with many different Division I coaches and struggles with what would be the right decision for his future. Some people in the NCAA thought the Tuohy's care of and interest in Michael was born out of their desire to make sure he played football for Ole Miss. The NCAA authorities even begin to make Michael question the Tuohy's sincerity. Eventually, after returning to his old neighborhood and realizing how far he has come with the help of his new family, Michael casts away all his doubt of Leigh Anne and Sean and returns home.
Michael does eventually pick Ole Miss, but not because the Tuohy's wanted him to. He does it because he felt like it was were his family goes to college. He had found his true home with his forever family. Not since Remember the Titans had a sports film had such a strong impact on so many viewers. Michael Oher's strength in character shines through the actor honored to portray him in this movie. He deserves all of the success that he achieved through his perseverance and hard work.
The director does amazing work showing the contrast between Michael's original neighborhood and the surroundings that he is eventually brought into. The settings make the viewer feel that the scenes were actually filmed in Michael's home town. Pulling the actual college coaches in to meet with Michael for recruiting purposes was another incredible aspect of the film making it feel that much more true to real life.