Not great but good enough

Rating: 7/10 (10 August 2010)

The Blind Side is another one of those inspirational sports movies we've seen time and again. Football is the sport of choice this time as we follow the more or less true story of Michael Oher. His story is a remarkable one, a thoroughly compelling life's journey. And this movie, while nothing spectacular, does an adequate job of telling that story. What we ultimately end up with is a movie that's just entertaining enough to get by. The best sports movies have a crackling energy to them which drives the story forward. This movie, with its leisurely pace, lacks that element. Some might say that is because it's really not a sports movie at all. It's a movie about life that just happens to have some football in it. Maybe so but the movie still cries out for some excitement along the way. You may like this movie. But it's not one of those movies that makes you want to jump out of your chair and cheer. It's inspiring but in a more subtle fashion than one might expect. The movie works but it probably could have worked better.
The movie tells the by now familiar story of Michael Oher's rise from a life of poverty, neglect and misery to football stardom. The story's obvious hook is that of the troubled black teen being taken in, and ultimately adopted, by a wealthy white family. A fascinating true story, one recounted pretty faithfully here by the filmmakers. A few things from the real life story have been tweaked to give the movie a little added drama but that's the way the movie business works. And the movie could use the extra drama because if there is any one failing here it is that this great story at times comes across as being a little mundane. It's that troubling lack of energy, the movie really could use a little more pep in its step.
This is the Michael Oher story but the movie's star is of course Sandra Bullock playing Michael's adopted mother Leigh Anne Tuohy. It's a very good, strong-willed performance by Bullock. Nothing about the performance which absolutely screams out Oscar but there's certainly no reason to begrudge her the award. Like the movie itself you may hesitate to label her performance great but it's more than good enough. Quinton Aaron plays Michael and you kind of wish he was given more to do. He does well with what he's given to work with but there are long stretches of the movie where his character is essentially mute and appears rather bewildered. Michael Oher is often shunted to the background in the movie which purports to tell his life story. It's Bullock as Leigh Anne who's really at the heart of everything going on.
While Bullock is definitely pushed front and center there is room for some other performers to make an impression. Lily Collins and Jae Head are very good in portraying the Tuohy children, with Head in particular having some memorable moments. Tim McGraw is solid if unspectacular as Leigh Anne's husband Sean, spending most of his time reacting to or getting out of the way of Bullock. Kathy Bates, Kim Dickens and Ray McKinnon do well with their respective supporting roles. And of course there's Big Mike himself. On the rare occasions Aaron is allowed to come out of his shell he's a revelation. And he does a great job in making his character utterly sympathetic, so easy to root for. But in the end, for better or worse, it's Bullock's movie. She carries it well enough to make the movie work. But you're left with the nagging sense the movie probably should have been a little better. Ultimately you're satisfied but not thrilled. It's a sports movie which comes out a winner by the slimmest of margins.