 The 'based on a true story' tear-jerker is sometimes difficult. It needs to have the right combination of a heartwarming story, loveable characters and a cast that can pull those characters off properly.
The story and characters are easy, but to get actors that can bring to life a story that, when told, is often larger than life itself can be hard.
And we've seen some gripping ones as far as American Football is concerned; Remember the Titans in 2000, Radio in 2003, and 2006's We Are Marshall.
Since then, we haven't had a football sports drama tug at our heartstrings. Until now.
The Blind Side is the true story of Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron), a young boy in the foster care of an acquaintance who applies to attend a foster school.
He runs from foster care and ends up homeless, only to be picked up by Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock), who eventually adopts him as her son. It then evolves into a success story through sport.
The novel behind it all, The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game, was published in 2006 with enough material available to write a story. No wonder the script is trustworthy and touching.
The beginning of the film feels emotionally reserved, paradoxically containing slow scenes with quick transitions into each other. So, early on, the film is not totally emotionally engaging. It feels like they rush the initial scenes in order to get Aaron's character to where he needs to be as early as possible.
And, by the time that is done, the focus immediately goes to the budding relationship between Leigh Anne Tuohy and Michael Oher, to the point where the reactions of the rest of the family to his presence are nothing more than micro expressions in comparison.
Also, the interactions between Oher and his teachers in the film only take place sporadically, and come nowhere close to telling us how much he is liked or hated by some teachers.
By the time Bullock and Aaron's characters meet and greet, though, it's an emotive journey with almost every step. This movie doesn't capitalize on extremely intense emotions one minute and a simple filling scene the next, but instead gives the viewer subtle emotion throughout.
To paraphrase from a quote from the movie itself, each major character is like an onion; you have to peel at them, one layer at a time.
The entire focus is shared between Quinton Aaron and Sandra Bullock's characters. With Bullock's The Proposal being her most successful picture to date, giving her a Golden Globe nomination, she proved she has not lost her touch since the negative reviews of The Lake House in 2006 and Premonition in 2007.
With her lead role in The Blind Side, she earns another Best Actress Golden Globe nomination for her moving portrayal of the caring, open-hearted, straightforward Leigh Anne Tuohy, who from the first meeting is willing to pick Michael Oher off the streets.
Relative newcomer Quinton Aaron does not provide as well as Bullock, but his quiet, submissive nature fits the role as well as his intimidating stature and remarkable likeness to the real Michael Oher.
Also, the young Jae Head, playing the youngest child of the Tuohy family, almost steals the show as Michael's zealous football manager.
Generally speaking, this movie is a touchdown. Its faults are not minor, and a more moderately paced, not-so-awkward start is definitely in order here. That, coupled with a focus that doesn't give other characters much word in edgewise, does take away slightly.
But a movie this touching still grabs our attention with its sincere emotion, even when not intense or overdone. It benefits from a fantastic portrayal by Sandra Bullock, and possibly a breakthrough performance by Quinton Aaron, in a story that would have likely touched hearts regardless of who was cast. Gratifying right down to the end.
The Blind Side
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, Quinton Aaron, Kathy Bates
Running Time: 128 minutes (2hrs, 8mins)
4/5 stars
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