Michael truly provides encouragement for many. (Spoiler)

Rating: 9/10 (28 July 2012)

In the film The Blind Side, Leigh Anne Tuohy, played by Sandra Bullock, takes in a young man who was out roaming the streets. Michael Oher, played by Quinton Aaron, was a young homeless boy who grew up in a family who used drugs. He was taken from his mother when he was a child. He did not do well in his school work so he just didn't go to school. When a man finally thought he saw potential in Michael, he convinced him to start going to school. Michael still wasn't doing well in his studies but he was excellent in sports. He became friends with Leigh Anne's son and eventually he becomes part of their family. Leigh Anne includes him in their family photos and takes him to buy new clothes for school. When she found out he wasn't doing well in his studies, she goes to the school to see what she can do to help. She learns that he understands a lot about how to protect someone so she tries to relate things to that in order to get him to get interested in learning new things. The Tuohy family convinces Michael to join a football team and encourage him to continue with it. Leigh Anne teaches him that he can make something good out of himself even if he had a rough childhood. Michael goes on to become a famous football player and loves what he does.
The theme for this movie is that anyone can become what they want to be in life if you are willing to work hard, it doesn't matter what your background is. It also teaches you to help people when they need it. Michael was taken from his mother when he was just a young child and he didn't know what to do after that happened, he was on his own. He just felt like he wasn't worth anything and he didn't believe anyone really cared about him. You could see this on his face when the cameras showed him from a specific angle. They would focus on his face up close so the viewers can see the hurt in his eyes. Lighting was also used to show Michael's feelings and emotions. Many times when Michael was down and out or feeling bad, the light of that particular scene seemed to be darker than normal. For example, when Michael was walking down the road on a cold night with shorts and a t- shirt on, he was feeling bad and lonely. The setting was on a bit of a dark street and it was late at night so there was not much light at all. After Leigh Anne asked him to come stay at their house, as soon as they walked in the lights got a little brighter. Michael was still not feeling very self-confident but he was happy to be able to stay in a warm place for the night. This helped to show Michael feeling sort of sorry for himself and not even trying to better himself because he knows what his background it.
Throughout the film, Michael must work hard to prove to himself and others that he could be something better. He had to work hard in school and was lucky to have help from Leigh Anne and her family. Just like Julie in Julie & Julia, Michael had many struggles to work through but both Julie and Michael eventually reach their dream goal of becoming what they wanted to be in life. In the end, the lights are shining bright on Michael as he is accepted to play for a professional football team. This had become Michael's dream in life. Once again, the cameras angle in on his face to show how happy he is. It also shows how proud he is of himself because he never thought he would become anything good during his lifetime. He had worked hard to become what he wanted to be, regardless of his horrible childhood. He is an encouragement to anyone who may find themselves in the same situation.