Moving and strangely peaceful.

Rating: 9/10 (27 February 2010)

Diane and I have just returned from this lovely film. Please, fellow commentators do not rag me about this film's lack of characterization, trite plot moves or done-to-death script lines and situations, I really understand all that high school English class criticism but I believe that we must move beyond puerile critiques of fundamentally good films that are enjoyable to watch. The Blind Side (and I have yet to read the negative comments) is heart-warming, gentle and very well acted by all concerned. There is room for movies like this one; movies that allow the audience a look into two hugely different lifestyles but interestingly seemed not to dwell on these variations. To me these massive differences formed a strange canvas upon which the film was painted but the substance of the film was elsewhere. I expected, after reading the movie fliers that Sandra Bullock's character, although telegraphed to do so, would not play her role in that way, that she would pass over these massive differences and not be at all troubled by them. She was from the Old South, she was a conservative (a Republican) and she was very well off. However, that is exactly what happened; she grew as a person during the film and she did genuinely, through meeting Michael Oher, saw parts of life that were unknown to her. Leigh Anne Tuohy's natural son, by Diane's judgment, stole every scene that he was in and I must agree. Everybody played their roles excellently well and we enjoyed their work to the max. I hope Sandra Bullock receives her much deserved Oscar for this role.