Bullock rocks!

Rating: 10/10 (27 November 2009)

I have enjoyed Bullock's work for the last two decades, even since her fresh face showed up in "Speed". She was the perfect damsel in distress in "The Net", and she has shown a comedic side more than once, most recently with good results in "The Proposal". Her latest entry is mind blowing, as she takes on a real life inspirational icon and walks away a winner.
What this film gives is more than an inspirational tale and a positive message, one that one rarely hears in a crowd-pleasing movie. It's a proved formula, but one that is botched more often than one would expect. Here we have the underdog and a protégé, a story that we know will usually result in a few tears and quite a thrilling conclusion. This time out, the formula veers a bit and it works well, as the focus is not placed on our underdog but on the forces that shape him and help him succeed. There is also plenty of love thrown around, and the most interesting thing is how sincere the whole mix feels.
Bullock plays a wealthy southerner who takes it upon herself to rescue a most unlikely prospect; with her tough love and support, he eventually reaches his goal, not without giving us plenty of opportunity to see that her road will be a little bumpy. What is most satisfying about Bullock's performance is how deep and complex her approach is. She conveys several emotions simultaneously as we listen to her deliver lines that are close to a bit overdone, but take on interesting tones with her looks and gestures. In one of my favourite scenes she must face a group of thugs and the steely delivery is as much as crowd pleaser as Dirty Harry's "Make my day".
There is a lot to like in "The Blind Side", with strong support by the secondary characters, and the way the story is kept from becoming over-sentimental. It moves well, and it does give you a refreshing twist on something we have seen before. Here it all depends on how it is executed and much of the strength lies in Bullock's inspiration both on and off the screen.