"Precious" in a More Positive Light

Rating: 8/10 (19 January 2010)

One of my favorite actresses finally gets a Golden Globe Best Actress award, and most likely an Oscar nomination will follow, with a role in this movie. So with that incentive, I went and sought out to watch Sandra Bullock in "The Blind Side."
This movie is a true story about an abandoned black gentle-giant teenager Michael Oher adopted by a wealthy white Southern family, the Tuohys. It is a story that is pushing the boundaries of racial relations. It is amazing in that this unlikely story actually happened in real life. A fictional story like this could potentially be offensive. However, with genial storytelling and the general good will of the stars, a warm feel-good message is sent across to the audience. I personally felt that this movie is like "Precious", in an infinitely more positive and watchable, albeit somewhat sugar-coated, light.
Sandra Bullock is very much herself here in the role of Leigh Anne Tuohy. I do not really see anything special that she did to merit awards consideration. She is her reliable good-natured persona that made her star since "Speed". But that said, I am glad that she is recognized for her fine work. The other members of the cast were also very good. I did not recognize country star Tim McGraw without his hat, but he held his own against Sandra. The youngest Touhy kid is scene-stealing cute without verging into annoying. The actor who played Michael is well-cast, a charming embodiment of the meek yet tough character.
For the general local audience unfamiliar with American football, these scenes may be lost on most of us. They did try to explain in layman's terms what the left offensive tackle (Michael's position on the football team) does. The actual cameo appearances of real American college football coaches will certainly be lost to us as well. However, the very heart and soul message of the movie, that of helping out the less fortunate among us despite social repercussions, will surely reverberate.