Step 1: Take a real-life story like The Blind Side, which on the surface sounds pretty sappy, and turn it into something honest, heartfelt and surprisingly inspirational.
Step 2: Appreciate random acts of kindness. When Memphis socialite Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock) spots a large black teenager named Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron) walking in the cold rain one evening, she performs an act of kindness by inviting the homeless Michael into her car, and then into her house for the night. Leigh Anne, her husband Sean (Tim McGraw) and their two kids decide to take the under-educated Michael into their care, even though the young man – who has come from a hard life, living in the Memphis projects – is at first hesitant to accept such generosity. Soon, however, the Tuohys are helping the gentle, unassuming Michael achieve his potential in the classroom, as well as on the football field, as he becomes a first-class offensive left tackle, recruited by all the top Southern colleges. But the surprising thing to the Tuohys is how much Michael changes their lives, too. Yes, tears may flow a bit but not as much as you think.
Step 3: Remember one thing: Sandra Bullock can act. Although she’s played a lot of silly in her career, she has and continues to portray her characters very winningly. Her take on this fast-talking, no-nonsense Southern woman doesn’t seem much of a stretch either, but Bullock dives into it head first and shows us many layers to this real woman most of us have never met. This may be Bullock’s first real chance at an Oscar nomination, but in my opinion, I think she’s got something deeper, grittier inside of her that she’ll unveil at some point and perhaps win the little gold guy.
Step 4: Support Bullock. The rest of cast are also quite engaging, starting with newcomer Quinton Aaron, who plays Michael with a soulful sweetness, a real gentle giant. Leigh Anne actually refers to him as Ferdinand the Bull – you know, the story about a bull who would rather smell flowers than fight in the bull ring. Country-singer McGraw does a nice job as the patient and understanding husband, married to a whirlwind of a multi-tasker. But the biggest standout is Jae Head, as the Tuohy’s youngest child Sean Jr., or S.J. for short. This little kid is hilarious as he easily accepts Michael as his big brother and then actually coaches him in football. Apparently, the real S.J. and Michael are so close, the boy was a big factor in the negotiations with the college coaches [played in the movie by the real men] trying to recruit Michael. They all had to offer S.J. something, like leading the team onto the field the first game, as part of the bargain.
Step 5: Learn a little something in the process. The Blind Side is based on a book by Michael Lewis, who not only stumbled upon this amazing true story from his old classmate, Sean Tuohy, but also found a way to emphasize the importance of the left tackle position, which requires almost ballet-like agility. The blind side is a football term, referring to the blind spot behind a quarterback when he is passing, and the offensive left tackle is the player assigned to protect the quarterback from a blitz or from a defender blocking the pass. The position’s importance used to be overlooked – that is until the 1985 career-ending sack of Redskin quarterback Joe Thiesman, in which a defender tackled him from his blind side, breaking his leg in two places. Now, apparently, a left tackle’s salary is only second to the quarterbacks. They need their bodyguards.
Step 6: Pump that emotion only a true story can elicit. Thankfully, writer/director John Lee Hancock successfully navigates through the schmaltz and delivers an atypical inspirational film about family, football – and really, the importance of helping other people. Combining the story of Leigh Anne Tuohy’s remarkable connection to her adopted son Michael Oher with Michael’s ascent to football stardom simply works as a narrative. I believe this is actually better than Rudy (No! She said that?). And for the real Michael Oher, the story keeps getting better. After playing for the Tuohy’s alma mater Ole Miss, he was drafted last April to join the Baltimore Ravens. The real-life photos [one pictured above] during the end credits bring a tear to the eye.
Level of difficulty in watching The Blind Side: As easy as a smoothing sailing pass to a running back, successfully accomplished by blocking those defenders.
