The Blind Side was a compellingly filmed version of the true story of Michael Oher and Leigh Anne Touhy

Rating: 8/10 (2 December 2009)

Whenever my movie theatre working friend sees a trailer of an upcoming film and likes what he sees, he always says, "That's going to be good." He said that when we watched the preview ad for this one and when he does that, I sometimes have a skeptical mind about it since I don't always share his tastes in entertainment (his favorite form of such is pro wrestling of which I can do without). Such it was for this movie especially when the new critics of "At the Movies", Michael Phillips and A. O. Scott, both gave good reasons for saying, "Skip it." But while it seemed to be more about Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock) and her family than it seemed to be about Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron) and his background, that's only because we don't find out about his past until later on. And I did disagree a bit with Phillips and Scott about not seeing Ms. Tuohy actually mean it when she says to her lady friends, "I'm learning from him." She seems to be the smartest one in the whole picture with the way she convinces nearly everyone to her point of view. Oh, and as an Independent, I can appreciate the different ways a conservative, religious, and wealthy family can seem so compassionate toward both a poor, seemingly mentally slow, African-American teenager and a Democratic, possibly liberal, tutor (Kathy Bates). In fact, there was quite a funny line about that and one toward former president George W. Bush at a motor vehicle place where Michael was trying to get a driver's license. It wasn't a nasty one though, so I don't think anyone should be offended. What really impressed me, however, was Michael's turning point after having doubts about his choice of college seemingly based on his adopted family's history there-not to mention his trip back to his former neighborhood in which he sees how wasted his former "friends" truly are-and really sticking up for himself about why he made that choice. So, fine performances on both Ms. Bullock and Mr. Aaron's behalf, and good ones on the rest of the cast's especially that of Ms. Bates. Okay, maybe not so much on the actual university coaches' scenes especially that of former LSU coach Nick Saban who's on the longest (though if he was still with the Tigers and not at rival Alabama, I might be a little more lenient, LOL). But with all that I've said, I highly recommend The Blind Side.