John Lee Hancock’s “The Blindside” has opened the eyes of upper class Americans to the often secret battle of impoverished children in this country. More importantly, Hancock’s telling of Michael Oher’s life story has reminded so many of the difference that an open heart can still make.
Few movies with commercial appeal and famous lead actors have the potential to affect the multitude, but “The Blindside” melds a massive budget and a socially conscious message flawlessly. Oher’s true story is one of epic proportions, and “The Blindside” tale is executed effortlessly by the cast which includes a surprisingly well-matched Tim McGraw and dynamic Sandra Bullock who portray the father and mother of the Tuohy family who take Oher in.
Oher’s battle, as portrayed by Quinton Aaron, is one that is unfortunately too common. Director Hancock takes the audience carefully through the early years of a young black man surviving on the kindness of strangers. Couches and laundry mats keep Oher off the streets at night when he cannot return to his mother’s. Eventually, Oher is admitted to a school on the promise of his athletic ability. However, his lack of consistent schooling and inability to return home and receive food, much less additional support with homework, begins to dim the promise of hope the teachers had once held for him.
Fortunately, enough people are able to see through the enormous façade and extend helping hands. A perceptive teacher realizes Oher can learn—he just performs better with oral exams. Traditional school settings are unfamiliar for him and confined spaces make Oher easily nervous. These forms of kindness are monumental. However, nothing compares to the relentless, nearly ruthless love of one southern woman hell-bent on having every situation turn out exactly as she dictates.
After seeing Oher struggle to gather food, and then walk in the rain along the side of the road, Leigh Anne Tuohy (Bullock) quickly realizes the severity of Oher’s situation and takes decisive action. Leigh Anne Tuohy’s conviction combined with her general demeanor leads to her husband (McGraw) and two children being dragged along for the ride. However, the family unit is so clearly of one generous heart that the potential for conflict is either avoided altogether or steamrolled by Leigh Anne Tuohy’s confidence and conviction.
Every Cinderella story has a conflict, and Oher’s story is no exception. Pressure begins to mount just as Oher is on the cusp of success. Grades, high-society pals of the Tuohy’s, and other issues threaten to tear apart the fabric that Leigh Anne Tuohy so carefully wove. Viewers should take comfort knowing that Oher did go on to be a first-round draft pick for the NFL.
“The Blindside” achieves greatness by avoiding one typical pitfall of big-budget films. Great stories have been acted poorly and great acting has been wasted on terrible scripts, but “The Blindside” sidestepped those mines beautifully. At last, Bullock has been provided with the first chance to be irreplaceable in her long, successful career. Traditionally, Bullock picks commercially successful movies that any Hollywood lead could have acted just as well. Not this time. No one could have made the tenacious Leigh Anne so lovable, so strong, so remarkable and phenomenally memorable.
Similarly, S.J. Tuohy (Jae Head) captures the innocence and absolute acceptance of a child friend-turned-brother in a way that leaves viewers unable to see anyone else as the outgoing, hilariously demanding miniature coach. McGraw and Lilly Collins round out the family as additions to the perfect balance and serenity exuded by the new home everyone wants Oher to have. Even Oher’s mother Denise Oher (Adriane Lenox) provides a believably powerful performance which is every bit as affecting as any cast member. Unfortunately, Aaron’s understated performance is overshadowed at times by the astounding talent he is surrounded by.
Hancock displays his directing prowess through the quiet moments as much as through the speaking. Watching a young boy hand-wash his only change of clothes in a laundry mat sink or seeing the wonder in his eyes as he surveys his first bed—those are the moments that replay in an audience member’s mind. Those are the moments that will spur some into life changing action. Those are the moments that make Oher’s story worth telling.
“The Blindside,” which is showing at local theaters, runs 128 minutes and is rated PG-13.
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