(2012-04-26 18:36:21)

The Blind Side

This review is from: The Blind Side (DVD) One of the best movies I've seen in a Long Time! Sandra Bullock was Awsome! Truly an inspiration!

DavidP

(2012-04-26 10:35:25)

Public - A ; Critics - C+

If you read the critics reviews and much of the general publics, you will see a huge gulf between them. Especially the critic that works for the NY Times. It seems some critics have difficulty putting their ideological blinders aside. This is a true story about a white, conservative christian family helping a young black man. Apparently, there are some people on the left, that are so locked into their stereotype views of conservatives and their anti-christian bigotry, that they resent a movie that shows their enemies in a positive way. And this emotional resentment keeps them from judging the movie objectively.I've never been a Sandra Bullock fan, but I have to say that she was absolutely magnificent in this film. Her sassy, take charge performance dominates throughout and lifts the movie into the A category. I hope Hollywood recognizes her performance and nominates her for an award. She really does deserve it with this one.This is one of those movies you can't go wrong with. No matter who goes with you, they'll enjoy it. Unless of course, they're professional movie critics.

jsalexan

(2012-04-26 14:48:28)

What some people have overlooked or forgotten

What many people forget is that this is based on a true story....before anyone can claim that something like this can never happen,please do some research on the matter because it did happen.The movie & Book that it is based on is on how Michael Oher started outin a private school and how he got into The University of Mississippi,the acting in most cases is decent, I didn't care for the kid playingSean Jr., ...the cameos are funny, and the story appeals to what isgood in human nature.Mrs. Tuohy admits that the movie is slightly, and I do mean slightlydifferent from how it actually happened in one aspect, the thanksgivingthing, Michael did not sleep on their couch that night but a week or solater. I highly recommend the book, it's a nice read, and the story isgood and I personally hate football so that is saying something that Ilike this movie, as for people reviewing it and complaining that SandraBullock should not have won and all that blah blah blah... that is youropinion and save it for the People's Choice Awards because her peersdecided she was the best this year.

isaac-cady

(2012-04-26 08:41:12)

A typical feel-good movie with practically no conflict.

"The Blind Side" is a typical "feel good" movie with moderately strongreligious overtones and very little conflict. There is so littleconflict, in fact, that it's hard for the abundance of warm, happymoments to have very much effect. In short, the movie to come off ascheesy and insignificant."The Blind Side" opens with the climax of the movie, which is probablythe moment with the most conflict; the only one to piquГѓВ© my interest toany degree. The opening is vague and makes things seem much moreserious than they really are. Then the movie flashes back to thebeginning of the story it has to tell.Michael Oher is a bastard son, born to a crack-addicted mother, livingwith the father of his friend. He sleeps on the couch and has never hada bed to himself. Sounds tragic, but don't expect the filmmakers toreally show you this. Michael's caretaker is a mechanic and convinces aChristian private school to accept Michael and his son into the school.He talks to the coach and convinces him to push for Michael'sacceptance based on a one on one game of basketball that he was playingwith the mechanic's son. And for some reason this game convinced thecoach that Michael would be good for the football team. I never gotthat.After this no more is really heard of the mechanic or his son. The songets accepted but not even Michael is seen socializing with him. Theyboth just disappear. This is so that Michael Oher seems to be the onlyblack student at the school, but it left me with a lot of questions. Michael's crack-head mother lives in a ghetto run by gangs in middleTennessee. Very little is shown of this ghetto and the gang and ofMichael's mother. These were some of the moments where there was a lotof potential for strong and meaningful content but everything wasglossed over. There could not have been four or five scenes in theghetto and all of them were less than 5 minutes in length. The focus ifthe entire movie was the warm happy-go-lucky family moments where thegood-Christian white family accepts a poor, uneducated black kid intotheir home and as a member of the family. Why should I care about thisun-dynamic and trite situation. Even if it is based on a true story,it's all been seen before.The acting ranged from terrible to mediocre to decent. The worst wasSandra Bullock's son and the best was her husband (sorry I'm terriblewith names) who felt the most natural. The film focused on SandraBullock, but I wasn't convinced by her character as a southern,high-energy republican. The actor who played Michael Oher was flat, butat least it was hard to tell because he had very few lines.The Christian over-tones at the start of the film urged the mostresistance from me, but I realized that just because I'm atheist, doesnot mean the director and writers are too and eventually grew used toit, even though I'll still always find it cheesy. I could have liked this movie, if it was more dynamic, but this lackingelement caused the story telling to be weak and left little room forany of the actors to shine. It was "meh".

(2012-04-23 12:28:25)

MUST see----16 year old's identity crisis ---well-written script

This review is from: The Blind Side (DVD) The movie,"Blind Side", was well written. Showing an aspect of children/teens often neglected---their own identity crisis. For whatever reason, a lost identity is a real loss---similar to death---in its emotional impact on the person's whole life. And, when it's a child/teen, it's a tragedy. MUST SEE with open eyes---maybe several times---to feel the impact of one of Life's Blind Sides.

(2012-04-23 02:48:56)

The Blind Side

The Blind Side is a 2009 sports film. It was written and directed byJohn Lee Hancock. This movie was based on a true story.Spoiler TheBlind Side is about a homeless and traumatized boy named Michael Oherwho has been in foster care with different families for over 17 years.His life turned around with the help of a caring woman named Leigh AnneTuohy and her husband Sean Tuohy. They took Micheal in as there fosterchild with the acceptance of there biological son and daughter named SJand Collins. They enrolled him into a Christian school and his fatherconvinces the coach that "Big Mike" is a natural athlete in football.Michael performs exceptionally on the field and catches the eye of manycollege coaches from around the state. With his foster family supportand well-being for Micheal, he became an All American football playerand first round NFL draft.

phd_travel

(2012-04-20 11:25:28)

Feel good

You don't have to be a football fan to enjoy this story of helpingothers. Its competent for what it is.Bullock is good. She does not overact. Lucky it wasn't a heavycompetition year or she might not have won for this role which didn'trequire that much acting.The movie avoids sentimentality. The only thing is the saintliness ofLeigh Ann and her family is almost hard to swallow. Maybe it shouldhave shown some more of the difficulties of the family's acceptance ofthe adoption to be more balanced.The actor who plays Michael seems a bit impassive. I guess it wasdeliberate.Worth watching once.

TOMASBBloodhound

(2012-04-19 19:18:58)

Delivers what you'd expect.

A quintessential feel-good movie, about the only thing unexpected hereis that Dennis Quaid didn't play the father! Instead we get Tim McGrawhiding under a wig and delivering a fairly decent performance as thesuccessful hen-pecked husband of Sandra Bullock. The Blind Side is themostly true story of Michael Oher, a disadvantaged Memphis teen who istaken in by a wealthy family and turned into a good student and a greatoffensive tackle. I just watched Oher and his Baltimore teammates runwild over Tom Brady's Patriots today, as a matter of fact.Obviously when you go to see a movie like this, you already know theending. Unless you don't watch football or have no idea who MichealOher is. So the challenge for the filmmakers is to construct acompelling story of how he got to where he is today. And for the mostpart John Lee Hancock and company make it worthwhile. Not only do wecome away understanding Oher's very difficult childhood, be we also geta feel for just how big a risk the Touhy family is potentially takingby inviting him into their home. Though it is suggested at one pointthat they are only grooming a great athlete for service at their almamater, we can clearly see that the Touhys care about Michael as astudent and a person as well.The cast is generally up to the task at hand. Bullock is fairlyconvincing as an attractive southern belle whose idea it originally isto offer Michael a place to stay. Will she get any Oscar consideration?Probably not, but who knows. Quinton Aaron as Michael Oher might havebeen a bit too pudgy for the role but his portrayal will make you careabout the man's plight. There are also quite a few real-life coachesplaying themselves to varying degrees of success. None of these mencurrently hold the coaching positions they did when this movie takesplace. Congrats to Tommy Tuberville on his getting the Texas Tech jobthis weekend. He's a good man who won't be locking any players inclosets like someone we know. Football fans more than anyone else willlike this movie best of course. 8 of 10 stars.The Hound.

karenbaughan

(2012-04-19 01:00:26)

BLIND SIDE Worth watching

I loved this film its nice to think people do still help each other.Also I congratulate the film makers on the scene when Michael Oher waspushing the two little girls on the swings, it was good to see a lovelygesture not made into something more sinister, its sad that I noticethis. I really enjoyed this film and its not often you don't want afilm to end . It was nice to see the family photos on the end credits.Another thing I loved was Michael was loved by his new family and itdoes not matter about blood or the colour of you skin . I shall go tobed with sweet dreams. Sandra Bullock was amazing as always, she reallymade me forget that she is an actress and not Micheals mama . The twoyou actors that played SJ and Collins were very talented especial SJ .Tim McGraw was very good and like every good man he made sure he agreedwith his wife or are they so close that he just knew. I really enjoyedKathy Bates I admit was a bit worried about her character at 1st but itwas set perfectly .

(2012-04-18 12:52:39)

The Blind Side

This review is from: The Blind Side (DVD) The DVD arrived prior to the date I expected it and it seems to be in good condition, although I have not played it yet.

TxMike

(2012-04-18 02:33:40)

Uplifting story of a future NFL lineman adopted by a Memphis sports family.

Sandra Bullock won the Oscar for best actress in her role as Leigh AnneTuohy who became "mom" to this extra large boy without a family orhome.The movie begins with film clips of the 1995 incident where linebackerLawrence Taylor puts quarterback Joe Thiesman out of commission, forgood, hitting him from his "BLIND SIDE", and thus making the lefttackle (for right handed QBs) the most important lineman. This movie isthe story of a lost oversize boy who became a left tackle.Quinton Aaron, a young 6-8 actor from the Bronx, is Michael Oher, agentle giant of a boy whose mother and father were always in troubleand he finds himself homeless. The Tuohy family notices that he attendsschool basketball games and stays to pick up food, uneaten popcorn etcso that he can survive. Leigh Ann is a generous person and, with twoschool children already, decides to give Michael a couch for the night,then eventually a shopping trip for clothes and his own bedroom. TheTuohys eventually also become his legal guardian.Factually Michael became an all-star high school football tackle, andplayed at Ole Miss, the alma mater of the Tuohys. And now he has becomea first-round pick in the NFL draft. But the story isn't aboutfootball, it is about how much can be done when we allow ourselves tolook beyond ethnic, racial, and economic differences to actually helpothers and make a difference.Tim McGraw is very effective as the dad, Sean Tuohy, former star OleMiss basketball player and now the owner of a large number of fast-foodoutlets. His son SJ is Jae Head. Brit Lily Collins (daughter of singerPhil Collins) is good as the daughter Collins Tuohy.Part of the story is the task of getting Michael's grades up to a 2.5average so that he would be eligible for division 1 sports, and KathyBates is excellent in the role of Miss Sue who the Tuohys hire to beMichael's personal tutor.Excellent, touching story.

Hunters_Souffle

(2012-04-17 06:43:43)

Decent Feel Good Movie

In the south, a wealthy white woman offers a helping hand to a homelessblack teenager. She and her family eventually consider him one of theirown, giving him a roof over his head, a private tutor and getting himinvolved with football.At times the movie does seem pretty manipulative and 'feel good,' butdespite the cynic in me, I enjoyed it. I don't think Sandra Bullock hasever been better and I think it's her performance that makes thisenjoyable.I read that Julia Roberts turned down the chance to be in this, and Icannot imagine how awful this would have been with her in it. Oh God.

(2012-04-11 22:17:24)

This movie is not...

A racist movie. It's not about a white family who's on a phoney quilt trip and take in a Black kid to makethemselves feel good. This is a story where A REAL CHRISTIAN FAMILY does the right thing - not a family who spent a night at a "motel six", and then call themselves Christians. This is not a football movie. It is not a mushy movie with overkill on sentimental values.This is a true story based on the early life of Michael Orr who plays for the Baltimore Ravens.Some say, (sarcasticly), Sandra bullock won awards for this, WELL DUH. Yep, you usually get awards for fine acting and FINE ACTING is what she did. This ain't no avatar thank god! This is what movie making is all about, that is telling a compelling story with lovable and believable characters.This is a feel good movie and it re-enforces my belief that there are still really good CHRISTIAN people outthere who care about others. NO MATTER WHAT COLOR THEY ARE.

(2012-04-11 07:42:55)

One of the best movies out

This review is from: The Blind Side (DVD) You don't get many movies these days that are really good, no sex, no cursing, and no violence. It's a true story to boot! What a great family movie and so heart warming. Even my college son loved it.

jgregg42

(2012-04-11 02:56:13)

Blindsided

OK, OK, so I was your typical reviewer who saw the trailers to "TheBlind Side" and expected another football movie where a"one-in-a-million shot" with a lot of heart goes on to win the SuperBowl or national championship. And, when everything was said and done Iwould come home and write a review using the words "tear jerker" or"uplifting" or "scores a touchdown." Then I started to write thisreview and realized that it was all of those things plus a lot more."The Blind Side" is the story of Michael Oher, (played by QuintonAaron), a teenager from a broken home with a troubled past who goesonto become an NFL draft pick. His story, as portrayed in thisparticular film, is not about how he laid awake every night dreaming ofsomeday playing in the NFL. In fact, the NFL was only mentioned at theend of the movie where it actually showed the real Michael Oher beingdrafted by the Baltimore Ravens. This movie was all about the journey.It starts with Sandra Bullock's character, Leigh Anne Touhy, narratingand describing the importance of an offensive tackle (something I knewvery little about) and moves into Michael being allowed a shot to go toa private school in Memphis. The young man does have a rough life,pretty much homeless, no family, no friends and extremely introverted.By fate, Leigh and her family take Michael in for a night and theybecome his surrogate parents for a while. They clothe him and shelterhim and help him bring his grades up in school.All along, Michael isn't saying more than a few words at a time. Ithink this was the strong area of the movie. This gentle giant broughtout the best intentions around a lot of the characters in the story.We've all seen the football movies where the gifted athlete comes inand says a lot of smart-ass lines then butts heads with the coach andrealizes he needs to listen in order to learn. Well, this movie takes adifferent approach (and since it was based on a true story I think thiswas the only approach he had to work with). Michael kept quiet most ofthe time and the people around him learned a lot about helping anotherhuman being.Should you see this movie? Definitely. Yes. Even if you think you haveseen this football formula before, you haven't. The movie used comedyto bring it to life. It used Michael's silence at the right times tomake it stick. They thought this movie through before they startedfilming. Why else should you see it? Because it was an uplifting,tearjerker that will score a touchdown. (There, I typed the words and Ienjoyed doing it).

(2012-04-10 15:00:16)

great, heartwarming movie

This review is from: The Blind Side [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray) Loved this movie though I was a little skeptical about Bullock's character showing up in the tougher part of town on her own.

Nitro_Express

(2012-04-08 14:18:20)

acting merit

There's a lot of accolades out there for Sandra B. She does a fine job.But if this is her best role ever: She still has a lot of room forimprovement. We're not certain about her Southern accent: Why does itcome and go? We're not sure why she is getting a lot more positivecritical press than Quintin Aaron (Big Mike). After watching the movie;one feels that Quintin WAS Michael. He transformed. That is what actingis all about. If 'acting' were the football field; Sandra gets slammed.Seems rather ironic that just because Sandra Bullock has a 'name' thatall the acting accolades are pointed towards her. In fact; I would sayall four main actors (including the young boy) actually did a betterjob than Ms. Bullock. But the winner is clearly Quintin. Hmmm. Is theresomething 'stinky' about Quintin not getting much attention? Is itpossibly because he's not pretty and white? MbF

Jackpollins

(2012-04-08 01:02:59)

Totally uninvolving

I may sound like a loner, but going into the new drama The Blind Side,I had no idea who Michael Oher was. That's why I did not know what toexpect. It was an overused premise, but the trailers looked kind ofpromise. Unfortunately, the film is an uninvolving, soggy mess fromstart to finish. The main problem is that they did not focus on thecharacter of Michael Oher (played by Quinton Aaron, who's good in thelittle screen time he gets.) Instead, they focus on the character ofLeigh Anne Tuohy (played by Sandra Bullock, who's annoying in theludicrous amount of screen time she gets.) The film felt like it was agood star vehicle for Sandra Bullock, but they're dead wrong. The filmshould of been the Michael Oher story, not the Leigh Anne Tuohy story.The film also feels too old-fashioned for its own good. It feels like Iwas watching stock footage from the 1930s. The cast, besides Aaron,doesn't feel like they're trying at all. The character of S.J., the sonof Leigh Anne and new found friend of Michael is a good character, butnewcomer Jae Head who plays him feels like he knows he's in a badmovie, so he stopped trying. As for Tim McGraw and Lily Collins asLeanne's husband and daughter Sean and Collins, they're both seeminglytalented people stuck in lame roles in a lame movie. On second thought,that's everyone in the movie.

(2012-04-05 08:53:34)

Everything They Say It Is!!---A Great Feel Good Movie!!

This movie delivers on everything that they say it is...It's entertaining, has substsance, leaves you feeling good at the end,and most of all, it's a true story! (-: It kinda restores your faith in humanity to a degree.Sandra Bullock, Tim Mcgraw, Quinton Aaron and all the other actorsand actresses deliver great performances and Bullock's best actressOscar win was well deserved I believe. The kid who plays Sandra Bullock'slittle boy (Jae Head) is by far the most charismatic pint-sized scene-stealer that I've seen in a long time! He had me laughing throughout. Just a great movie and definitely worth buying for your home collection!

(2012-04-04 18:52:20)

Biased as I am a relative of one of the actors!

This review is from: The Blind Side [Blu-ray] (Blu-ray) Everyone should see this film! It is very close to the true story and Sandra Bullock did an amazing job! Please tell everyone this isn't a 'FOOTBALL" films, for those who aren't sport's enthusiasts!