In a move that some film commentators and critics complain to be pandering to studio pictures and soft-hearted family filmgoers, the sports drama "The Blind Side" received an unexpected Best Picture nomination at the upcoming 82nd Academy Awards. I had to see the picture for myself to determine whether the indie-loving critics were right or the feel-good movie masses. I definitely place myself in with the masses on this Oscar choice because I think some critics missed what makes this movie special. "The Blind Side" is an unapologetically sentimental film about a white family's decision to take a homeless black teenager into their home and lives. While the story is told in a straight-forward, non-art house manner, there are moments throughout the film which emphasize the well-rounded humanness of the characters and the complexities of their choices.
"The Blind Side" 's wonderful narrative flow tells the story of Michael Oher, a current NFL player, while also shedding light on both his difficult childhood and the importance in his life of his adopted family and football. The actor who plays Oher (pronounced oar), Quinton Aaron from "Be Kind Rewind," gives an underrated performance as a protective, decent person whom both the educational system and legal system fail. Oher does not live with his parents but instead starts the picture on the couch of a neighbor. By the end of the first act he is homeless and in need of someone's help. Oher is not portrayed like most troubled inner city black youths are in these films: angry, bitter, violent. Instead, he manages to keep his respectful, almost child-like, nature despite the multiple hardships. That is where Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock) comes into the story. She cannot simply look the other way when someone at her children's school is suffering and in need of a firm, caring hand. Oher stays the night at the Tuohy's residence to get out of the rain and ultimately never leaves.
Tuohy, as played by Bullock, is a privileged, opinionated southern woman who is willing to step beyond her station in life to help someone she knows little about and has little in common with. She can be difficult and bossy but her heart is often in the right place. The character proves to the viewer that you don’t need to be perfect to help others. Bullock’s presence in the lead role becomes lost in the overall performance of her character, highlighting why Bullock is receiving such praise.
In a very honest moment in the picture after Tuohy sets Oher up in her family's living room for the first time, she asks her husband whether he thinks Oher will steal anything. His reply, we'll see in the morning. This moment and others like it throughout the picture, allow the director to give realistic shading to this otherwise true fairytale, pushing the picture beyond mere feel-good melodrama. The director, John Lee Hancock ("The Rookie"), keeps a consistently uplifting but troubled tone throughout the picture but never allows emotional scenes to linger too long. Like Tuohy herself, the director walks away from a scene before the heartfelt emotion becomes overdone and clichéd. The director keeps the audience on the edge of tears throughout "The Blind Side," not allowing for true release until the end.
Bullock's rightly deserved Oscar nomination as the lead and Aaron's more quiet performance elevates "The Blind Side" above the standard studio picture. All of Oher's personal and family issues perfectly compliment the football side of the movie. From the very beginning, both football fans and novices will understand why the eventual position that Oher plays is a perfect fit for him and important to the game overall. The football matches, training sessions, and dealings with recruiters are presented with a streak of humor, giving the movie a break from its more serious moments. The blending of a sports story with a family drama will please both men and women alike. It sets a new standard for what is possible in movie-dom to satisfy both sexes.
Hancock's willingness to allow "The Blind Side" to be both serious drama and popular entertainment is not a detriment but an asset. It is not always necessary for a serious story to be told in an unrelenting and depressing fashion; made for only the bravest, most adept cinephiles to appreciate. Mass entertainment can be educational, moving, and will likely cause more changes in society's attitudes than small pictures aimed at a particular audience. "The Blind Side" should not be vilified by critics for being honored by the Academy. The Kennedy aphorism, "a rising tide lifts all boats," is especially apt here. If studio pictures become that much better because of "The Blind Side" 's critical notice, imagine the positive eventual effect that will have on those making, and cherishing, independent cinema?
Rated PG-13 for one scene involving brief violence, drug and sexual references.
