love is blind, spirit is not

Rating: 7/10 (1 June 2010)

Sandra Bullock won an Oscar for her role as Leigh Anne Tuohy, who took the destitute Michael Oher under her wing. I certainly found "The Blind Side" to be worth seeing. Maybe not the ultimate masterpiece, but it is one that I would recommend. Criticism that I read about the movie is that it depicts a white family heroically helping an African-American. Well, even if that is the case, it's still an important story.
Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron) grew up in foster homes in Memphis, always running away. When he got sent to a Christian school, he met Sean, whose mother Leigh Anne allowed him to stay in the house. On the tests, Michael scores in the 98th percentile in protective instincts, and it's clear that football is his talent. But both Michael and Leigh Anne still have issues to deal with on both their sides of the tracks.
While the film does have its weaknesses, I still wish to assert that everyone should see this. Not just because it's a true story. Hell, I'm not even going for the whole "triumph of the human spirit" routine. I think that the most important thing portrayed in "The Blind Side" is the current state of race relations in the United States, and how each side has to deal with its own stereotypes. So definitely see it.
Also starring Tim McGraw and Kathy Bates.