The Blind Side

Starring Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw directed by John Lee Hancock and based on a book by Mchael Lewis

The start of this movie did not go well for me. We got to the theater late and I had to get refreshments while my wife got our seats. I bought a coke, a water and two lage popcorns and wedged them into one of those carrying trays. Suzanne, my wife's name, had gotten seats in the middle of a crowded row. My popcorn was already ready to fall out of the tray so I knew negotiating the row was going to be a daunting task. I started out OK but three women right next to my seat wouldn't stand up and let me pass, they just kind of moved there feet a little. Now to give you some idea of the logistics I am 6'1" 240 lbs and by no means nimble. Well I stepped on the first two women's feet, and I kind of tried to bunny hop the third woman and almost fell forward and dumped the drinks and the popcorn on Suzanne. Luckily I didn't. Sweating and shaken I sat down for the feature.

Another thing you should know, I really didn't want to see the movie, I wanted to see Sherlock Holmes. I usually keep the feel good based on true events movies for home viewing. That way I can comment out loud at the parts I think are made up Hollywood nonsense. But since I get to pick most of the movies we see, I'm a dick sorry, and this had football in it, so we went.

This was a very watchable movie. It told the story of Michael Oher, a man child left on his own by a mother who wasn't able to take care of herself and adopted by a headstrong woman and her family in Memphis, TN. It showed the manchild blossom from an introverted and damaged young man into a student, an athlete and a family member. It was hearfelt without being preachy.

This was Sandra Bullock's best acting job to date, except for the movie where she plays a drug addict that gets sent to rehab. I dont know the name of the movie and I cant find it on her biography, conspiracy? There are no snorts or cutesy moments for her in the movie, she stays with the character the whole movie and does a good job. One thing I would like to see is if she really went to a crack den and threatened to shoot a dealer. Doesn't seem realistic, in my mind that event would end allot different then a crack dealer getting put into his place by a small white woman, but who knows.

The best actor in the movie was the son SJ played by Jae Head, which would be a great name for a rasta band. The kid was great and added heart and made a real connection between Big Mike and the Tuohy family.

There are several parts of the movie that I would love to know if they really happened or were they made up to make the movie more realtable. First is the crack den scene I mentioned before, the second is did the mother ever go and show the coach how to inspire Michael Oher to be more aggressive. I think in real life that would be demeaning to both the caoch and the player, and if my Mom came of the field and helped coach me I would get shit from my friends for the rest of my life. I hope Michael Oher got paid for this because you know he is taking shit for it from every opposing Defense he plays against.

Last is did the NCAA really accuse the Tuohy's of adopting Michael Oher with the sole purpose of getting him to go to Ole Miss. Do many family's look for homeless high school or grade school age children in hopes of grooming them to be pro athletes? Seems extemely risky, what if the child has no athletic ability or only gets recruited to a Division II school? Is there a combine that is part of the adoption process? I would like to know what accusations the NCAA made.

All in all this is the perfect movie to go to with your wife or girl friend.