The Blind Side Review

Published by Jeff Leins on: November 18th, 2009

From the trailers and TV spots, it is easy to assume John Lee Hancock’s latest is yet another tale of well-off white rescuing broken black.  Given Hollywood’s track record of thinly-veiled political pieces, it’s obvious where the cynicism comes from.  Luckily, The Blind Side is color blind and based on a true story.

Hancock deftly sidesteps the drive to tell a typical “white guilt” story where Caucasian saves African-American and other condescending racial stereotypes.  It also avoids a telegraphed playbook of allegorical material and deeper sociological meaning for a lighter, feel-good tone with mainstream, family-friendly appeal for the holidays.

Aside from any assumptions, the film is heartwarming as advertised, a dramatization of how the upper-class Tuohy family took in “Big Mike” Oher off the streets, gave him a home and an education, and introduced him to his career as a left tackle.  Fair warning, this is not a pure sports movie, though football fans will appreciate the occasional grid-iron clash or familiar faces of college’s top coaches.

The film opens on stock footage of a play in 1985 by Lawrence Taylor, whose brutal quarterback sack ended Joe Theismann’s professional career.  The passer’s painful injury taught a valuable lesson about the importance of a reliable left tackle protecting the blind side, narrates Sandra Bullock in a Tennessee drawl and paraphrasing from Michael Lewis’ 2006 novel.

Setting aside the usual screwball comedies, Bullock is at her best portraying Leigh Anne Tuohy, a wealthy Memphis socialite accustomed to getting her way.  She’s feisty, but endearing and meshes well with country-singer-turned-actor Tim McGraw as Sean Tuohy.

On a BMW ride to their mansion estate, the Tuohys come across Michael Oher (newcomer Quinton Aaron), an oafish, pathetic-looking teen desperately in need of Leigh Anne’s Southern hospitality.  Although he’s quiet through mostly one-sided dialogue, Aaron is convincing as the gentle giant and his comic scenes with little S.J. Tuohy (Jae Head) are entertaining enough.

Michael is coached on and off the field, taking blocking tips from Leigh Anne and tutoring advice from a Democrat (gasp) played by Kathy Bates until he’s ready for college ball.  A few twists keep the journey to redemption satisfying.

The plot isn’t without conventions, however, sometimes settling in for predictable play up the middle for cheap emotional yardage.  For example, a brunch with the bourgeoisie turns to the subject of Oher before one country club member tells Leigh Anne, “You’re changing that boy’s life.”  She responds, “No. (pause for dramatic effect) He’s changing mine.”  Crank up the sentimental music and break out the Kleenex.

These sort of obvious, melodramatic moments, regardless of their veracity, could have been edited to fix the film’s pacing problems.  An otherwise uplifting film sags in the middle when a parade of coaches stop by for their cameo, contributing to the over two-hour runtime.

The Blind Side didn’t inspire me to house a random stranger, but this parable has enough lighthearted spirit to elevate it above racial and political lines.

3.5 out of 5.