The Blind Side

Plot synopsis:
The Blind Side is based on the remarkable true story of Baltimore Ravens' offensive left tackle Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron). Michael grew up in the inner city housing projects with his mother in Memphis, Tennessee aptly named "Hurt Village." Michael's story begins with his being homeless and coming from a broken home with a drug-addicted mother, and an absentee father. Because of his family circumstances, Family Services took control of his life as he was growing up. Unfortunately, he was being bounced around in and out of foster homes, and now as a teenager he finds himself discarded by the people he has been living with. By a stroke of luck, and the coach's wish for a player the size of Michael, he ends up being enrolled in a private Christian school where the Tuohy kids go. Michael is a quiet person. He is shown to have a kind of childlike personality, because he tries to play with kindergarten children (Rachel St. Gelais) who reject or ignore him. Michael is befriended by S.J. Tuohy (Jae Head), the youngest Tuohy, whose connection to Michael starts the ball rolling.Mike, having no money for food, lives by scrounging half-empty containers of snacks after school games, which Mr. Tuohy notices, after which he pays for a meal ticket for the boy. One icy winter night, as Michael is walking down the road to the school gym, where he has been sleeping; Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock) with her husband Sean (Tim McGraw) and children JS.J. and Collins (Lily Collins), pick Michael up and take him home for the night. However, when he tries to leave in the morning, Leigh Anne insists that he stay for dinner, and the children accept Michael matter-of-factly. Soon, Leigh Anne offers him a room and bed. As she starts offering him greater and greater favours, she begins to research Michael's records, including his career aptitude test results, where the only positive score was on protective instincts. Leigh Anne will use that to explain him how to play in the field. Up to that moment, he wasn't able to get the hang of the game and its rules, and he wasn't able to understand what his role on the field was.From that moment, Michael starts to play well and be useful to his team. At the traditional Christmas card photograph of that year, Leigh Anne invites him to appear in the family photo. Leigh Anne's friends Beth (Rhoda Griffs), Elaine (Eaddy Mays) and Sherry (Ashley LeConte Campbell) meet regularly at a local expensive restaurant. The friends laugh about Leigh Anne's "project in the projects," but she cuts them off, saying that if they don't respect what she does, she will stop seeing them.An opportunity arises for Michael to play at university level. However, he needs his grades to improve, so the Tuohys hire a private tuition teacher, outspoken and kind Miss Sue (Kathy Bates), who is determined to succeed, because she, like Mrs. Tuohy, wants him to play for Ole Miss. During their Geography lesson, she makes a remark about University of Tennessee burying the body parts of dead people under their football field, which Michael seems to believe blindly. While he had been leaning toward Tennessee, this event decides him ultimately to sign on with Old Miss.There comes a moment when Leigh Anne wants to have a face-to-face conversation with Michael's mother (Adriane Lenox) to enable her to adopt Michael. Although she seems unresponsive in the beginning, the mother finally wishes Michael the best. She says that social services had branded Michael "a runner," and she forecasts that Leigh Anne will find one day that he has run away for good without giving any previous notice. Leigh Anne also faces some tough guys from the projects who had made ugly insinuations about her before. They are left speechless when she threatens them and is not afraid of them at all.Many universities want Michael to play on their teams. S.J. talks to the coaches, and leads the negotiations on Michael's behalf-- and his own. When Michael gets his grades high enough, he must make a decision, and he does. He chooses the university where Sean had played for, and where Leigh Anne had been a cheerleader. That causes Investigator Granger (Sharon Morris) to move onto the matter before Michael arrives there. She questions him as though they were holding interrogatory preceding at a police station. She thinks that the Tuohys and Miss Sue are using Michael to benefit Ole Miss, their alma mater.Michael runs away before the interview is over, and goes to find his birth mother. The leader of the tough guys welcomes him back to Hurt Village, offers him a beer, and insinuates that Michael has had sexual relations with Leigh Anne or her daughter. This rouses Michael's protective instincts, as the gang leader threatens to go after the two ladies himself. Michael shoves him into a wall, knocking his gun aside. After thinking and questioning Leigh Ann on the matter, Michael realizes that the Tuohys are now his family, and tells Granger that that's the reason for him to choose that Ole Miss.The film ends saying that he'll succeed and become a professional player later on. S.J in seen leading the players onto the gamefield with Michael before all local games.

Tags: inspiring, action, feel-good, sentimental, flashback

Review:
He took the material he was given and played the role very well.However, this film is pure Hollywood sap, a "feel good" movie that picks and chooses factual elements and builds a fictional tale around them.
It resonates with white suburban do-gooder audiences, but it's just not accurate.In truth, Michael Oher was already a very good football player when the Tuohy family took him in.
Whether you like Leigh Anne Touhy or not in the end, she is certainly entertaining and Sandra Bullock does a great job of bringing her onto the screen.
In the fact-based film The Blind Side, a burly homeless black teenager Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron) is taken in by the family of Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock), a spunky white Christian mother of two and assisted through school until he achieves success as a football player in high school and college, eventually being drafted in the first round by the professional Baltimore Ravens.
The film, written and directed by John Lee Hancock and adapted from a book by Michael Lewis, is undemanding entertainment that lacks a great deal of subtlety but is continuously entertaining and emotionally involving and redefines the true meaning of family values.Michael who is known initially as "Big Mike" has been abandoned by his drug-addicted mother and survives in the slums of Memphis, Tennessee only by his wits.
Seeing Michael alone wandering the streets, he is given a lift and taken home and made a member of the family by Leigh Anne, an interior designer who lives with her husband Sean (Tim McGraw), teenage daughter Collins (Lily Collins), and SJ (Jae Head) an expressive little boy who provides most of the film's comic moments.Living with the Tuohy family allows Michael to learn to trust and to begin to express some of his feelings from a life of poverty and neglect.
To raise his grades to be eligible for a college scholarship, the Tuohys hire Miss Sue, remarkably performed by Kathy Bates, who admits to the Republican family that she is a Democrat, prompting Sean to remark that he "never thought they would have a black son before they met a Democrat." Besides his grades, however, Michael must overcome several more obstacles that stand in his way before he can enter college.The Blind Side shows Michael Oher achieving a transformation in his life based on his relationship with the family who took him and nurtured him to independence and self-respect.
I love sports movies as well as movies based on true stories, so this film hit multiple buttons for me personally, but reactions of others leaving the theater seemed equally positive.As with any sports movie, you must have an underdog to cheer for, and Michael Oher is that underdog.
Quinton Aaron's portrayal of Oher leans heavily to the strong, silent type, but there is a quiet grace and gentleness that comes through.Obviously, nothing is quite as slick and clean as Hollywood plays it in movies like this, and there were issues and controversies surrounding the Tuohy family and the assistance they offered Michael Oher.
This was a well made film, perfectly filmed,and great performances by everybody.Leigh Ann Tuohy(Sandra Bullock), seems to have the life most women would envy, a wonderful supporting husband(Tim Mcgraw), and two great kids(Lily Collins and Jae Head).
But one day while driving home, she sees, a larger then life teenager which everybody calls Big Mike(Quinton Aaron), when she tries to talk to him, he comes across as a little withdrawn, and is nearly homeless, she decides to take him in, with her supporting family behind her.
The inspirational story of Michael Oher, the performance from Sandra Bullock, and the good camera work, so why did it not come together?
Oh wait, that would have taken time away from showcasing what a wonderful, wonderful person Leigh Ann was.Okay, one of my biggest pet peeves in film is when little kids talk like adults.
It is full of melodrama, stupid clichés and unrealistic events.Take the scene where Leigh Anne is looking for Michael and she is talking to the guys Michael just had a fight with, and she say, "You listen to me, bitch," and then goes off on an angry rant, and the guys just sit there and seem scared.Yeah, right.Another problem with the film is the way it treats black people.
It is one of the best movie I have seen the whole year.Tim Mcgraw was great in it and Sandra Bullock was excellent although I never liked her acting.Dhe was great in it.
With that being said, this movie brought a tear (one tear) to my eyes seeing the compassion that Leigh (Sandra Bullock) and her husband Sean (TimMcGraw) showed this young man who had been abandoned my his drug addicted mother.
It really did attempt to be a tear jerker.If it weren't for an interview I heard/saw from the real-life Michael Oher (played here by Aaron) who said barely a scene actually happened – stating most were for, well, dramatic effect, it still would fail at being 100% interesting.Oher's homeless after his druggie mother (of, like 15 kids she may/may not remember giving birth to) doesn't want anything to do with him, as are the other caretakers, he runs into stuck-up rich wife gal Leigh Anne (Bullock) and she takes him in.
Between the phenomenal true story, the emotion, and the amazing cast, it was almost impossible to not fall in love with this movie.Michael is a poor black boy from the hood, while the Touhy's are a rich white family from the suburbs of Memphis.
Seeing Michael's transition academically and athletically all because the Touhy family gave him a home is truly inspirational.To go with the great story, John Lee Hancock needed an excellent cast to help sell the story, and he got that with award winning actress in Sandra Bullock.
Sandra Bullock did an amazing job being a mother in this movie and showing true compassion for Michael's Character.
The whole supporting cast was great, and showed a true family bond, but Sandra Bullock is really the main factor in the movie that makes the love so believable.
The way Mrs. Touhy treated Michael like one of her own kids made me fall in love with the story the first time I watched it.
Just watched this after reading a news article in the entertainment section of an online newspaper and thought I'd look it up.Went onto YouTube because the newspaper's video clip wouldn't work, YouTube didn't let me down and I was able to watch a clip.I have to admit that although I have enjoyed all the films that Sandra Bullock has made and have a bit of a soft spot for her, which means that I will watch anything that she is in, I've always thought of her as a bit of an acting lightweight, always seeming to be in those slightly off, quirky type of acting roles in the films she's appeared in.In The Blind Side she's had me change my view of her as an actress, as in this film we get to see her really act seriously, making the role her own and showing that she can really act.Her character is so believable and I so hope true to life of the real person that she was playing in the film - and to me showed a different side to her acting talent that really up until now I haven't really seen before.This film is worth watching for the story and all the great acting in the film from all concerned.If you have a couple of hours to spare this film is well worth the time to watch and enjoy and end up feeling warm and cosy by the end :).
Leigh Anne hires Miss Sue (Kathy Bates) to work as tutor, giving private classes to Michael to improve his grades and be successful in life."The Blind Side" is the wonderful heartwarming true story of a lonely homeless teenager that moves to the house of a Caucasion Christian family that follows the principles of their religion helping the others.
Movies like this perpetuate racist thinking and behavior.The plot: good, rich, Christian, white, paternalistic family civilizes dumb, helpless black kid.
Quinton Aaron, who plays "Big Mike" does as good a job as he's let, given that he dare not steal attention from Sandra Bullock's dominance.
The only thing separating "The Blind Side" from a made-for-TV movie on the Hallmark channel is the fact that Sandra Bullock is probably too expensive for Hallmark.I know this film is based on the true story about an affluent white family who take in a homeless black youth and raise him as their own.
Then the movie flashes back to the beginning of the story it has to tell.Michael Oher is a bastard son, born to a crack-addicted mother, living with the father of his friend.
Perfect white family, Christianity, stereotypes of black people and projects, they even threw in some Republican politics.And it's not even close to the facts, to the real story of Michael Ouhry.
But if you view it like I did, you'll be glad you saw it, and after turning events over in your mind, see how it appeals to your finer senses.I wrote this, not because I'm expecting anyone to read it (I don't think anyone will go through over 60 prior posting just to get to mine), but just because I wanted to give it a 10, so well deserved, and I wanted to thank Sandra Bullock and the entire cast for such a wonderful story, the kind that can make you believe in life all over again..
Yet "The Blind Side" is more than a story of a down on his luck kid that rises to fame, it's main showcase is the tough love of Leigh Anne Tuohy(played to perfection by Sandra Bullock her best performance ever)Sandy really steals the show.Based on the true story of Michael Oher(Quinton Aaron)who's orphaned from a young age by having a runaway day and a drug addicted mother.
It's when the backbone of the clan Leigh Anne(Bullock) says right in front of her two children and husband Sean(nice appearance by Tim McGraw)to pull over and take the boy home as her children have noticed him from school.The adaptation is tough at first only to narrowly grow as one by one they get to know Michael and Leigh Anne with her good Christian heart decides that the Tuohys will become his newly legally adopted family.
Yet all along his desire to do well comes from his new loving family the Tuohys who give him inspiration mostly Leigh Anne who struts her stuff in memorable scenes by telling Michael on the scrimmage field how to block by giving him words of encouragement.
This movie is about doing what is right even if it's the harder thing to do.This is the real-life story of Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock), her husband Sean Tuohy (Tim McGraw) and their unlikely new "son" Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron).
I think that this movie was pretty good as far as real-life sports stories go.
One thing that I did not like however, was that the film focused more on the mother (Leigh Anne Tuohy) than the boy she was helping out (Michael Oher).
It was also poignant to see the life Michael Oher came from - and how both he and his new family were transformed in their relationships.I heartily recommend this movie to those with an open heart, a desire to laugh, and to really see how things can absolutely change when we give of ourselves to others.A feel-good movie based on a true story- something we all need these days!
Based on true events, The Blind Side chronicles the story of Michael Oher, a homeless boy who, as a result of the kindness of a caring woman and her family, becomes an all American football player.
'The Blind Side' is a feel-good movie about a rich white Nashville, Tennessee family (the husband is a former athletic star and restaurant magnate, the wife an interior decorator with posh city contacts) that rescues a poor orphaned black boy and nurtures him into becoming a great football player.
But it's more memorable than 'The Blind Side'.I'd like to know how the real Michael Oher feels about this movie -- and about his own story, for that matter.
Michael's relationship with the four (4) Tuohy family members especially the mother, Leigh Anne Tuohy played by Sandra Bullock was a relationship that exuded generosity, compassion and understanding.
Though I thoroughly enjoyed this film and would recommended to anyone, it focuses much more on the "human drama" angle and very little on the actual football.For a basic plot summary, "The Blind Side" tells the story of Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron), who is adopted by Leigh Anne & Sean Tuohy (Sandra Bullock; Tim McGraw) and given a respite from life in "the projects".
A giant of a boy, Michael shows an aptitude for football, learning, and family values under the guidance of the Tuohys, and eventually obtains both a college education and a shot at football's biggest stage--the NFL.Because this is a movie based on a true story, it is tough to know how much of it is actually true.
There was this lady Mrs. Tuohy, Sandra Bullock mother of two kids one named Collins, Lily Collins, and S.J., Jae Head, and her husband name was Mr. Tuohy Tim McGraw the owner of a many Taco Bells who took Michael in has a family member to stay one night, but that one night turned out to be a lot of extra days, to weeks, months, and years of love, and emotions for both.
This story of Michael Oher a 17yrs old boy who was homeless, and came from a broken home, and needed some guidance in the right direction to become a NFL draft pick behind love, kindness, and care coming from Mrs. Tuohy, and the family.
The film tells the true story of Michael Oher, a homeless teenager who became an NFL player and college graduate with the help of a loving family (played by Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw).The story runs into the same problem as another 2009 film, Invictus, in the sense that by being true to the events as they happened, there is a lack of conflict.
Quinton Aaron is great as Oher, but it is Sandra Bullock who rightly got the attention of the Oscars committee for her role as well-to-do teacher and mother Leigh Anne Tuohy, who takes in a vulnerable black boy and then realizes his potential.The American football scenes are actually remarkably sparse, which is good, because I know very little about handegg.
The Blind Side tells the true story of Michael Oher's life.
Both Sandra Bullock and Quinton Aaron, who plays Michael in the movie help one another to realize how much they need each other.
The story of Michael Oher, a homeless and traumatized boy who became an All American football player and first round NFL draft pick with the help of a caring woman (Sandy Bullock) and her family.The highlight of this film is the scene with S.J. serving as Michael's manager.
Sandra Bullock played the role of Leigh Ann Tuoly, Quinton Aaron played the role of Michael Oher also known as Big Mike and Jay Head played the role of Sean Jr. Tuoly also known as S.J. The cast made me forget I was watching a film that was based on a true story.
The Blind Side is inspired and based off the true story on how Leigh Anne Tuohy Played by Sandra Bullock who took in a young homeless teen Michael Oher played by Quinton Aaron.The film showcase Michael Oher's life story a story that has to be seen to believe.It tells a amazing story about how a family's kindness and a little faith anything is possible.
The film is just one of those rare but powerful life stories where we see the good in humanity.The film has strong and powerful performances by Sandra and Quinton, Tim McGraw also did a strong acting job as Sean Tuohy, Leigh's husband.It shows that the film is about Football but it also shows the good in helping others who with a little direction and hope any thing can happen.If you want a strong drama film and one that really can make you appreciate the good in all of us then The Blind Side is a must see I give The Blind Side an 9 out of 10Well All Right Then.
As far as that goes, I thought Sandra Bullock was good as Leigh Ann Tuohy, but Oscar worthy?
The blind Side is a very touching movie inspired in true story of Michael Oher, a homeless African-American youngster from a broken home, taken in by the Touhys, a well-to-do white family who help him fulfill his potential.
Sandra Bullock giving the performance of her life, no wonder why she took the Oscar home, Quinton Aaron in the role of Michael Oher was a really pleasant surprise, Kathy Bates in a short appearance as Oher's professor was quite convincing and Jae Head, the kid that performs as Bullock's son was and excellent comic relief for the movie.
At the story arc, Michael tells Leigh Anne, "Don't you dare lie to me!" Really this is Bullock's movie.
The film is based on a true story and was written and directed by John Lee Hancock (The Rookie, The Alamo).Sandra Bullock plays Leigh Anne Tuohy a wealthy Memphis decorator.
The Blind Side is based on a true story staring Leigh Anne (Sandra Bullock) and Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron).
Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw and Quinton Aaron are great in this movie.
I think it is suitable for anyone 10+ and I strongly suggest you go as a family.I wanted to see this movie the first time I saw the trailer because I'm a sucker for a good underdog story and my Dad filled me in on Michael Oher.