Should have been better ** Possible Spoilers**

Rating: 6/10 (30 May 2010)

Initially this film was not really on my list to see of the Oscar nominee best pictures. Why? Not a big fan of Sandra Bullock and kind of thought this might be a maudlin, sentimental, schmaltzy Disney kind of flick. Okay it was not overly maudlin or sentimental but the schmaltz came out and a Disney kind of flick it was.
So what was wrong. First what was right. Yes the story was uplifting. Never knew about Michael Oher but his story was an inspiration. But so was the film Precious where while Precious wasn't homeless her story was just as uplifting and her background just as difficult. And Quinton Aaron did a good job with the part. May have even got it right.
But folks come on. This ain't Father Knows Best or Leave it to Beaver. But it felt like it. We felt like we had been dumped into some 60's sitcom where all the family was just perfect. There was no tension, no grit to this film. Everyone was darned near just nice. Even the daughter who clearly was a bit out of joint acted as if she was just in a nice sitcom where everyone makes nice. And the younger brother - well he just became annoying. The father played by C&W star Tim McGraw - this guy is clearly a lightweight. The love scene between McGraw and Sandra was laughable.
Even the tension scenes such as when Sandra had to confront her Republican matron lunch-mates and their racism was like something - well we don't want to make this real serious or anything. Closest otherwise we came to tension was just after Michael left the NCAA lady and confronted with Sandra and during his visit back to the projects and wound up smashing a few heads. Even Kathy Bates was just too nice (I am a Democrat she says). Wow these Republicans live in a Disney world. They really do.
Finally Sandra Bullock. Okay Sandra you weren't bad - but Best Actress? The Razzies probably got it right the night before when they gave her a Razzie for "All about Steve". What an accomplishment - a Razzie and an Oscar all in the same year. I guess the other nominees couldn't cut it. But I gave high marks to the girl that played Precious but I guess giving it to a 200 pound plus black girl who actually played a gritty role wasn't on the agenda when you could give it to Sandra who I suspect played herself. Tough Republican Mom with a heart of Gold.
And Best Picture??? Well I guess they needed a feel good filler. And feel good filler is about all this was. 6 out of 10 which is probably about right.
Dchap