| HeraldNet - Snohomish County's online news source |
 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2010 11:10 am |
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Entertainment 
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‘The Blind Side': Nice story gets bogged down by tactics The first thing to note about “The Blind Side” is that it is not as bad as the trailers make it seem. If you've seen the ads, you know this movie looks so uplifting it might lift your lunch right out of your stomach.“The Blind Side” is based on the story of Michael Oher, a football player with a genuinely remarkable biography. That this tale has been turned into a Sandra Bullock vehicle is certainly cause for concern, but let's give it a chance. As the movie depicts it, Oher (played by Quinton Aaron, a talented big fella) is adrift in the Memphis school system, failing at his grades and essentially homeless. His mother is a crack addict and his father is not on the scene. Bullock plays Leigh Anne Tuohy, the real-life suburban mom who brought Oher into her home; country star Tim McGraw plays her patient husband. The collision of worlds is effective: Oher comes from the slums, and his introduction to the white world of the well-groomed Tuohys is good for some homely jokes. Before long, he's part of their family — two other kids are in the house — and his grades are improving at his new high school. It doesn't hurt anything that Oher is a giant of a guy with huge football potential. Nautrally, the movie would have us believe that Leigh Anne is at least as much of the reason for Oher's on-the-field success as the coach. Director John Lee Hancock (who did the true-life sports movie “The Rookie”) goes for some fairly easy comic relief, but manages to keep the schmaltz level down. Under the circumstances, that's some kind of achievement. He hands the movie over to Sandra Bullock, in her bossy-britches mode, who takes over just as surely as Leigh Anne Tuohy takes over her family's affairs. Poor Tim McGraw, not an accomplished actor by any stretch of the imagination, appears bowled over. The film delves into controversy that surrounded Oher's decision to attend Ole Miss — which just happened to be the college alma mater of Leigh Anne Tuohy. The NCAA investigated whether the Tuohys' generous treatment of Oher constituted pressure on him to pick Mississippi for his school. Like much else in the picture, this is handled by setting up the investigator as a meanie, the better to knock her down. Too many of those tactics turn the film into a cardboard version of a perfectly nice true story. A nice story we don't need to be force-fed. “The Blind Side” 1/2 Sandra Bullock plays a real-life Memphis suburbanite who took on a struggling teenager and helped him become a highly prized football player. The story of Michael Oher (played by Quinton Aaron) is a very nice one and would be even nicer on screen if the movie didn't turn it into the cardboard version. Rated: PG-13 for subject matter Showing: Alderwood Mall, Cinebarre Mountlake Terrace, Everett, Galaxy Monroe, Marysville, Stanwood, Meridian, Metro, Thorton Place, Woodinville, Cascade Mall |
- A revolutionary 747
- Fire breaks out at Everett car dealer
- Everett rethinks boutique wineries
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- Boeing's 747-8 takes off after weather delay
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(9) - Vote on school levies by Tuesday (9)
- Everett police officers cleared in 2008 shooting death (5)
- 1949 travel aid shows how few places blacks were welcome in Washington (4)
- Everett rethinks boutique wineries (4)
- Life story: Man fought depression courageously, family says (3)
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- Snohomish County's bargain housing won't last (2)
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- Edmonds educator, famous announcer dies
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- Arlington's Cascade Valley Hospital celebrates expansion, national award and 100 years of service
- Business Licences Feb. 2010
- Technology tips for launching your own business
- Business Events Feb. 2010
- Tech Talk: No excuse today for going without a Web site
- State already raising fees and rates that restrict business growth
- Some legislators again targeting people’s initiative petition rights
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COMMENTS
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I LOVE Sandra Bullock...have seen ALL her films, so going to see The Blind Side was a "when", not an "if"
That being said, I really liked the story here; people talk so much about being "Christian" and the "Christian thing to do". But do we see evidence of it? Not so much... just the talk. It's nice to see a funny, feel good movie with a good, strong message about appearances and beliefs and doing the good thing because it's the right thing.
So what if "the story line isn't tight" and whatever other things critics can find wrong with this movie...I think it's the best thing for these distressing times we're in; to be entertained in a positive way that leaves a warm glow for a long time after the movie's over.
patricia langdon | Nov 24, 2009 8:13 am | 0 replies | Request removal
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