Movie Review: The Blind Side (2009)
The Blind Side, written and directed by John Lee Hancock, was adapted from the non-fiction book of the same name by Michael Lewis. The book is the true story of Michael Oher who eventually went on to become an All-American Left Tackle at the University of Mississippi and was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2009 NFL Draft. Let’s make it clear from the start: You would expect this rags-to-riches movie to be about Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron), it is not. The Blind Side is all about the family that opened their home to him: The Tuohys. In short, the movie starts with Oher as a wandering homeless African-American kid who is taken in by the Tuohys, a well-to-do white family. Soon enough, Leigh Anne (Sandra Bullock) takes over Michael’s life and helps him fulfill his full potential.
The sugar-coated The Blind Side is an entertaining feel-good movie that was fairly competently put together by Hancock and it will keep you relatively satisfied while you are watching it. However, this feeling progressively vanishes away (I watched it about a month ago) and you are left to see the movie for what it is: A condescending, overly schmaltzy and cliched movie with no subtlety whatsoever. Every little detail seems to have been glossed over and the film lacks any kind of dramatic conflict. The Tuohys are the perfect kindly Christian, gun-carrying Republican and worry-free family. Leigh Anne and her perfect husband Sean (Tim McGraw) never argue about anything, the kids accept Michael de-facto and little brother S.J (Jae Head) shows the typical Hollywood precociousness that studio execs seem to think is cute (not really!). Simply put, the Tuoheys are too good to be true and Hancock keeps glossing over every single detail that could detract the story from being 100% upbeat.
Although sweetly packaged Hollywood-style, the movie continuously hammers the audience with the Tuohys condescending and self-righteous values with not even a hint of subtlety. Everything seems to be black and white: You have the kind and compassionate white family, the docile Michael Oher who does everything he is told to do, the ghetto full of gangbangers just sitting around doing nothing, the openly racist football referee and redneck opposing team supporters. Talk about simplifying the facts! You are going to tell me there wasn’t one moment of tension during the whole ordeal? The Tuohys never talking about taking in a homeless teen with a teen daughter living in the house? Was Michael Oher that mellow and zombie-like? No anger or big scare when Michael crashes his car with little S.J on the front-seat? Yea right…
Sandra Bullock gives a good performance as Leigh Anne and she is her reliable charming self. However, there was absolutely nothing challenging about her role. Her character does not evolve at all throughout the movie: She is a self-righteous wealthy soccer-mom with a big mouth and a sharp tongue from beginning to end and although it could be tough to be one in real life, there is nothing difficult in portraying one in a movie since there is no consequences. It is truly astonishing and disappointing that Bullock even got a nomination for this role. The rest of the characters are archetypes with Quinton Aaron portraying Michael Oher as a passive, submissive, borderline mute giant. That’s supposedly the subject of the movie I’m talking about here and it’s quite shocking to see how patronizing the entire film is of Oher. Country singer Tim McGraw plays the docile husband while Kathy Bates plays the democrat tutor in two nearly nonexistent performances.
A relatively entertaining and crowd-pleasing movie, The Blind Side is helped by the ever-so-charming Sandra Bullock as well as competent directing from John Lee Hancock. However, this over-simplified movie piles on the virtues of the Tuohys and makes Michael Oher himself a secondary character of his own story. I am utterly shocked that this relatively average movie received an Oscar nomination for Best Picture and an Oscar win for Best Actress.
B-
Lesson of The Day: Michael Oher’s success is 100% thanks to the Tuoheys. He had nothing to do with it.
Notes: Rated PG-13 for one scene involving brief violence, drug and sexual references. 129 minutes.
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41 Comments
Should I even go there and trash talk this, what would the point be? I still loathe it, and my favourite performances are still Kathy Bates horrid phoned it performance and Tim McGraw’s non existent one. Nothing against Sandra, she’s been much better elsewhere even in poorly written fare like Two Weeks Notice. The Blind Side is just completely abysmal as far as I’m concerned.
I agree with Andrew on this one, I thought the movie was boring as heck and Sandra’s been so much better in other stuff. I’d have nominated her for Premonition over this movie! Eeek.
This is still the only best picture nominee from last year that I haven’t watched yet, and despite the movie being about a football player, I really have no interest in watching it.
Great review, Castor! I see your point about the story not being balanced at all when it’s supposed to be more about Oher than the Touhys or at least equal. I too wonder the same thing about how neither of the parents had the slightest objection about bringing a complete male stranger of similar age as their teenage daughter to live in their house. But like you said, though it’s NOT Oscar caliber, it’s got enough things going for it — Bullock’s charm being one of them — to make it an enjoyable movie. I do like the part when Leigh Ann’s friends said that she’s changing the boy’s life and she replied, “No, he’s changing mine.” Bullock delivered it with such earnest that I was really moved by it.
I’d have given it the exact same rating as yours, so no, it’s not THAT dreadful.
Thanks Ruth for your seal of approval!
I actually believe that it doesn’t deserve the harsh criticism it’s getting. Sure, it’s not a brilliant piece of cinema (and it certainly didn’t deserve the Best Picture nomination), but John Lee Hancock has a way with sports movies (I LOVED The Rookie) and Sandra Bullock, though I agree she’s been better elsewhere, delivered an amiable performance in an otherwise merely likable movie. There’s something to be said for making a movie that’s enjoyable to watch rather than outlandishly obscure (and hence a masterpiece…ugh). I like a straightforward joint once in a while. Bottom line, it’s no classic by any means, but it entertained me.
is it as good as The Lake House?
Only if Keanu and Sandy both jumped into the lake, never to be seen again, mr. McG
I remember reading a post online and if I ever find it I’ll let you know about how many of the oscar voters (there’s 5000 you gotta remember) had no clue what to put for the top 10 films so they were emailing critics and film reporters for ideas. Probably how this movie sneaked in.
I thought it was enjoyably mediocre like you. It gets too much hate, and I still don’t think Bullock gave the best performance of those nominated, but it’s ok. I was annoyed by the concentration on the upper class family as opposed to Oher. But then again his story is probably way too depressing to what they wanted to present (because darned it if all problems can’t be solved by rich white people intervening).
That has been my reasoning behind not watching it yet. I know alot of people who loved the book, and then the movie just does a 180 on it’s concentration.
What’s even more depressing with it sneaking into the Best Picture category is that with the new voting system, a movie HAS to receive a 1st place vote to be considered nominated.
considered up for nomination*
interesting, I didn’t know that. Well with so many people I wouldn’t be surprised if it got a couple #1 nominations (mostly from people who probably only had time to see 10 movies in total).
But thanks for that tidbit of info!
Yeah. You would think that if somebody was recognized enough to be in the Academy they would take the time to watch a few more movies. Hell, you don’t even have to watch a bunch. Is it that hard to watch 20 or so of the top movies that come out? Some of us will do that in 1-2 months, and that’s with jobs/school that don’t include being in the film industry.
If you don’t know who to vote for, give up your voting rights.
True true. Perhaps that should be the next This Film is Not Yet Rated documentary. Someone tracking down to see just how many movies these Oscar voters get. We already know how screwed up the Globes are
.
i thought this movie was incredibly overrated but decent (her best) performance by bullock.
Bullock did very well in this film and made it interesting. You cast Julia Roberts in that part and I’m not watching.
I liked the movie! Quinton Aaron played the part of Michael perfectly and Sandra Bullock wasn’t too bad either. I agree with you on the part that the family were too good for their own good.
You know my feelings about it.
You’re a braver man than me for actually going through with watching this. And based on this review I’m fairly certain I won’t be watching it any time soon. Or at all, actually.
It’s definitely watchable and with a large dose of Hollywood Schmaltz, it goes down fairly easily. But the after-taste… Oh man…
I liked Sandra’s role in CRASH, but not so much in this movie. I think she got the Oscar only for being American sweetheart, just like Julia and Halle (who unlike Sandra have absolutely no talent whatsoever).
Sweet review. I like the ‘sugar coated’ bit. Damn right, I walked out of my theater a diabetic!!!
http://paragraphfilmreviews.com/2010/04/01/the-blind-side/
Good review chief! I already left a comment earlier
I have not seen this, nor will I ever. This and “Crash” play on “white guilt” and I am not going to abide by that and I’m a HUGE liberal.
Her winning the Oscar for this ranks up there will Halle Berry and Julia Roberts win.
“Crash” is a morsel on the white guilt spectrum to the mountain that is “The Blind Side.”
One of my friends said that “Precious” is what happens to African Americans when Sandra Bullock isn’t there to save them. I think it’s more of a statement about “The Blind Side” than it is “Precious.”
I’m honestly so sick of all these “white people coming to save the day” movies, or the even worse “white guilt” movies like “The Blind Side.” Hancock is so obsessed with making another white guilt movie that it glosses over what probably ACTUALLY happened – the Tuohys performed a random act of kindness that became larger than anyone could have imagined.
Amen Marshall. I totally agree and you said it better in one comment than I did in one review!
Marshall – just for that perfectly stated comment, your blog is now going to be linked on mine!
Truer words were never spoken!
Wow. Scathing review and it stilled pulled out a B-?
I personally the movie was trite and a little racist.
http://www.floatingredcouch.com/2010/04/blind-side.html
so nice to see someone else not sucking up to Bullock
Yes, it’s not a terrible movie because it’s competently put together and acted but like you stated in your review. It really borders on mild racism although probably unintentionally. That’s what happens when you over-simplify things and make the inspirational story of an African-American young man turn into a celebration party for his white family.
Its a very cliched film, but it has its heart in the right place. Just not a Best Picture nominee, especially when its over 500 Days of Summer. Check my review out here: http://dtmmr.wordpress.com/2009/12/28/the-blind-side-2009/
Now that you reminded me (500) Days of Summer did not make it while this movie did, I’m even more angry!
Ummm, how about the fact that we can say “Best Picture Nominee The Blind Side” and not “Best Picture Nominee The Dark Knight.”
That infuriates me.
I’m aware I should see this, but even reading the review which like a lot of others (not in style of course-you are unique as they come) that I’ve read, I get the: It’s good. I bet if not for the controversy of Bullocks Oscar, this would be washed away and forgotten in the years.
I’ll see it, but I’m still in no rush to do so.
Oh and I know I promised my lobotomy with her win, but for obvious reasons I couldn’t commit to that promise. I’m sorry if I let anyone down.
Heather welched
I did, but I promise I’ll do something else to repent. You guys can vote on my punishment.
I wish I could say something really out-there and controversial, like “Sandra Bullock deserved that Oscar, dammit!” but alas I cannot. She was good in the part, but not Oscar good. Uh-uh, no way, nosireebob.
I kept looking over at my wife when we watched this movie and saying, “Do you feel like you want to cry? Cuz I do!” Does that make me gay?
Hopefully this comment will evade McG!
You know how i know you’re gay? Because you wanted to cry when “Big Moik” was in trouble!! :p
I couldn’t stop myself laughing every time Bullocks called him “Moik”
Wha? Really? You are being too nice on it.
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