A true-ly unforgettable story

The Blind Side
Directed by: John Lee Hancock
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Quinton Aaron and Kathy Bates
Released: Nov. 20, 2009
4/4

When naming the most under-appreciated female actresses is to date, any answer would have to include Sandra Bullock – especially after her latest role in The Blind Side.

In one of her best performances yet, Bullock takes on the role of well-to-do Tennessee woman Leigh Anne Tuohy, whose life is completely altered on the cold night that she sees one of the only black students at her children’s Christian private school Michael Oher walking along the road in just a t-shirt.

Determined, Leigh Anne decides to take Michael into her family’s home. Finding out later that Michael lived most of his life in the projects abandoned by his drug-addicted mother – deprived of basic elements of life like a bed – she takes on the role of his primary care-giver, a role that transforms into loving mother-son relationship.

With the help of the Tuohy family, Michael, who has the perfect build and athletic ability of an offensive tackle, becomes the school football team’s most prized possession, receiving numerous recruitment offers from universities across the country.

With a GPA of less than one though, Michael’s hopes of actually getting to those schools seems dim; a problem that Leigh Anne helps Michael overcome with the help of a tutor (Kathy Bates).

Through the personal dedication of Leigh Anne, Michael is able to turn his life around with a multitude of possibilities at his fingertips. But even further than that, Michael begins to feel truly part of the Tuohy family, something he has never felt before.

The Blind Side artfully tells the extraordinary, beautiful story of a woman and her family’s kindness that extends beyond just charity, with a bit of added humour.

Bullock’s performance as the determined, spunky and kind Leigh Anne Tuohy merits her an Oscar-nomination, if not the win altogether. Quinton Aaron is also perfect for the role of Michael, who slowly comes to realize his own identity throughout the film.

With a great supporting cast, the film carefully walks the line of drama and comedy, proving one of the best films of 2009. And while the cast and crew did a remarkable job, the true brilliance of the film is its basis on a true story – one that is both unbelievable and unforgettable.