You can count on the fingers of one hand the number of memorable football movies there are out there in which there is actually some decent acting and a good plot. When you add the requirement of it being a true story, there are even less to choose from (e.g. ‘Radio’). It was then with considerable skepticism that I went to see ‘The Blind Side’, taking with me my best Missouri attitude (i.e.– ‘show me!’). Part of the skepticism was because this movie starred Sandra Bullock, not noted for her Oscar winning performances in the past. Let me just say— I didn’t see this coming, was blindsided by this movie. It is not only a thoroughly enjoyable movie based on a true story, Sandra Bullock actually deserves to be nominated in the best actress category for this film. Who knew she had it in her? Not me at least.
For the women in my blogosphere audience who are not big sports fans let me reassure you that this is not a long boring sports movie, long on brawn, short on brains, high on testosterone, low on content. Though the movie lasts two hours and six minutes, it fairly flew by. There was no filler in this film, nor any gratutitous sports scenes just for the sake of having sports scenes.
This is in fact basically a family oriented human interest movie that in the end involves football, not a football movie with an occasional nod in the direction of human interest. And the cast is great– Tim McGraw as Sean Tuohy proves he can act, not just sing and look good, Sandra Bullock as Leighann Tuohy is one strong and determined Christian woman, Kathy Bates is excellent as the tutor of big Michael Ohor (played very winsomely by new comer Quinton Aaron), and I could go on. Shoot these actors even kind of look like the people they are playing. For example, consider the following actual picture of the Tuohy’s and Michael at an Ole Miss ball game….
The story is an all too familiar one. Poor kid from a broken family (in this case in Memphis) has nowhere to stay and is taken in by a wealthy family, doing their good turn and Christian duty. But that is only after Michael Oher is basically dropped off at the doorstep of Wingate Christian School (actually Briarcrest Christian School), and given a chance to prove himself in the classroom, not just on a sports field. Indeed, everything in this film hinges on his basically being able to get up to snuff in the classroom so he can be allowed to play sports. First it happened at Briarcrest Christian School which followed Michael’s blocks all the way to the state championship in their private school league. Standing 6’4″ and weighing 310 he paved the way for a lot of long runs. Then he moved on to Ole Miss, where he twice made the honor roll as well as becoming an All American in Oxford.
But the story does not end there, because Michael, just this year went on to play for the Baltimore Ravens after obtaining a degree in Criminal Justice from Mississippi. Since the motto of the police is ‘to protect and defend’, it is hardly a surprise that Michael, who is about the most protective person to ever appear on film (in this case protecting his quarterback, his running back, and his family) would choose to get such a degree.
Americans of course love a rags to riches story, love an underdog achieves success story, but this story is more than that. This is actually a story not just about how nice white Christian folks helped a poor black kid. It is actually about what those white folks learned from Michael about being truly human, truly Christian. The most telling line in the movie is when Leighann is having yet another salad lunch with her wealthy girfriends and they say “well I guess you’ve changed his life for the better” and she immediately retorts, “no, he’s changed mine.”
This PG-13 film (basically for one scene with a little language and sexual innuendo) is the feel good movie of this Thanksgiving season, and its true story may well move you to tears and it will certainly make you laugh. I never saw myself crying at a Sandra Bullock movie, but then as Forrest Gump once said “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get”.
It’s a keeper, and one you can take the whole family to, not least because there are children in this movie who basically steal one scene after another, especially the scenes with Jae Head. John Hancock, the director is to be commended for not downplaying the Christian nature and motivations of Leighann and Sean without making the movie too preachy. It’s a movie Christians can take their non-Christian friends to, without making them uncomfortable. The movie is to a large extent based on the book of the same name which came out in 2006 to considerable acclaim, which might make an excellent stocking stuffer come Christmas time.
You leave this movie asking yourself the question— why can’t Hollywood make more films like this which don’t lose any of their punch or poignancy just because they leave the sex and violence and language largely out of this film? I don’t know why they can’t, but one thing is for sure— when you leave a movie asking that question, you know it was a good and enjoyable film.
posted November 25, 2009 at 6:13 pm
I took my wife and two kids (ages 5 and
to see this movie last night. We had a lot of interest in seeing this film for several reasons: We live in Memphis, our kids attend Briarcrest Christian School, I attended Ole Miss and we have front row season tickets to all the home football games. We watched Michael up-close the entire time he was at Ole Miss and it was obvious that he was not about smack-talk but was all about playing to the best of his ability. I read the book in 2007 while I was at home recovering from back surgery and I thought then – gee, someone should make a movie about this.
I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the film lives up in every way to the book. I will admit that it might have been lengthy and somewhat above my 5 year old’s interest, but my 8 year old daughter followed along very well. After the movie she asked some questions that led me to believe she really keyed-in on the wieghtier undertones, and it created an opportunity for me to make sure she understood the Christian aspects of the story. Also, there was a lot of humor in the film that my wife and I enjoyed.
GO SEE THIS MOVIE!!! Take your family. You will not be disappointed.
posted November 25, 2009 at 7:42 pm
Thanks Jeff, I agree. And I will just add that if more Christians would support movies like this, there would probably be a lot more of them to choose from.
BW3
posted November 25, 2009 at 11:55 pm
I was not surprised to see some critics panning this film since I found it to be genuinely heart warming and entertaining.
It seems that for the official “critics” to approve of a film it has to have some kind of heavy or depressing theme. “The Blind Side” had neither, and as a result some critics said that it stretched credulity. Well guess what guys…it is a true story about real people and it has an uplifting tone as well as a happy ending. What more can a film lover ask for?
Now, if you want to get depressed then go see the Oprah Winfrey/Tyler Perry sob fest, “Precious”. A supposed “inspirational film, “Precious” made me want to open a vein while sitting in a hot bath. And you know what? The critics LOVED it. I reviewed it at http://oscarsflickpicks.com/wp-admin/post.php?action=edit&post=1564
“The Blind Side” is a first class movie that is fit for the whole family, and one I will want to own whenever it is released on DVD. Good call Ben!
posted November 26, 2009 at 7:37 am
I read Michael Oher’s story in Sports Illustrated a few years back when he was either a senior in high school or fairly new to Ole Miss. I cried the entire way through the article. It was such an incredible story.
This movie is fantastic and goes on my video shelf the minute it’s released on DVD.
Ben, Sandra Bullock may never get an Oscar, but she remains one of my favorites from the days of “Speed” and “While You Were Sleeping.”
posted November 27, 2009 at 12:11 pm
Ben, I completely agree with you on this movie. It was great! Real Christianity in action.
One thing though. You really need to see “While You Were Sleeping” if you’ve not done so. Sandra Bullock is charming, endearing, and funny in this wonderful feel good film. Give it a try if you’ve not already done so. It might bring a tear to your eye too.
posted November 27, 2009 at 11:31 pm
My wife and I saw this movie today, and we thoroughly enjoyed it. I have just a few comments. First, I just re-read Dr. Witherington’s commentary and I agree with most everything he has to say about the movie. But it did not come across to me as a particularly “Christian” story. Sure, the high school was a private Christian institution, Mrs. Tuohy wore a cross necklace, and there were a couple of references to doing the Christian thing, but all-in-all I didn’t get a sense that the main characters were motivated by their faith. No one prayed for guidance or referenced his/her faith when broaching difficult decisions. The only scriptural reference was the engraving above the archway at the school, and I think the application of that verse was mild at best; according to the movie, God didn’t help Michael Oher- it was “Big Tony”, “SJ” Tuohy, Leigh Ann Tuohy, Miss Sue, et al. (By the way, “Big Tony” and his son were one scene and done at the beginning of the story. Their function was to shoehorn Michael into the plot.) Also, there was more than just “one scene with a little language and sexual innuendo,” as Dr. Witherington put it. The Tuohys were well-versed in the use of ass and hell, and Leigh Ann threatened Michael with a “Lorena Bobbit” if he “got a girl pregnant” at Ole Miss. (Can you imagine a man threatening to cut out his daughter’s vagina if she got pregnant in college? Oh, pardon me, that would be the Islamic version of The Blind Side.) Based on this I would not recommend the movie for children younger than 8. Finally, can someone connect the dots for me between the Joe Theismann injury and the rescue of Michael Oher? Yes, I get the part about the need for a good offensive tackle to protect the quarterback on his blind side, but football was a late development in Oher’s life. The Tuohys’ intervention in Michael’s life had little to do with football. (Unless the NCAA investigation was correct.)
posted November 28, 2009 at 7:49 am
BART BART BART OH PLEASE….LuAnne’s ‘threat’ to Michael over ‘getting a girl pregnant out of wedlock’ was taken with a grin and was not an actual threat. How dare you compare it to Islam where girls ARE mutilated.
And this IS A VERY CHRISTIAN movie as it doesn’t preach theoretical judgement but actually shows that some people EMULATE Christ in getting totally involved in a less fourtunate kid’s life and changes him forever. Its the LACK of preaching that removes it from dead religion to a true Christ-likeness.
Bart, your review shows the attitude that so many do NOT want to see influence society, with its pious religion. And before you go accusing me (as I am sure you do everyone). I am very Christian and even a pastor’s daughter and this movie is a better representation of Christ than a dozen churches.
posted November 28, 2009 at 7:53 am
Thank you Dawn, I am not a Christian per say except I guess if I had to name my preference, it would be Christianity. Your comment makes me even more interested in learning about Christians that are not the right wing legalistic kind that never really do anything good but aheare to some imaginary moral code. I have been reading a New Testament that a friend gave me and I was shocked to find that Jesus hung out with the ‘bad crowd’. He didnt throw back vodka tonics and hook up with prostitutes, but he didnt sit cross legged in a temple meditating either. I think I like Him. I also think HE really really liked this movie.
posted November 29, 2009 at 5:35 pm
I watched Blind Side this morning. While I agree with some posts about it not being a good “Christian” story, we all have to realize this was a mainstream Hollywood film whose main characters are Christian, so it wasn’t by it’s nature supposed to be Fireproof, etc.
The Christianity of the main characters is a little shaky at best, but then so is mine. I am a Christian, but no where near perfect or void of sin. I had to catch myself when I first saw the inside of their house, I was fully expecting crosses or some kind of Christian symbolism, but it never came (outside of the verse at the school and her necklace). But I realized too that Christianity isn’t in our symbols, but about our actions and our willingness to share Christ’s love with one another and for our Father’s ability to make good out of what is bad.
Blind Side hit me in the heart more than enough times to thank God the theatre was dark as I carried no tissues in with me- the story grabs you, the challenges are inspiring and the outcome… well it’s still playing out on the field even as I write this.
In the end, she did thank God in the final voice over as we watched her glowing with joy as they leave the college.
There will be a day that Christian film makers will roll out high caliber, finely crafted and spiritually feeding films and they will play to the masses alongside the 2012s and the New Moons. And they will do well at the box office and bring glory to our God.
posted December 1, 2009 at 12:18 am
Regarding the quote on the archway at the school, if memory serves, it was “With men this is possible. With God all things are possible.” Why do you suppose that verse from Matthew 19:26 was changed? The King James version reads, “With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”
posted March 25, 2010 at 10:08 am
Lori,
I was wondering the very same thing: why, why, was that verse changed??? I too study from the KJV and in context Jesus is speaking to His disciples about how hard it is for a rich man, and/or one who loves money, to enter into the kingdom of heaven. And His disciples are amazed at His words and ask Him how anyone can be saved. And then Jesus says, With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”. Salvation is only possible with God.
I know there are many Bible versions that you cannot trust particularly The Message. Do you suppose they took that verse from that paraphrase?
posted March 28, 2010 at 1:26 am
Dr. Witherington:
Your credentials dwarf mine. An Amos Professor of New Testament for Doctoral Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary and you are on the doctoral faculty at St. Andrews University in Scotland. A graduate of UNC, Chapel Hill, with an M.Div. degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. from the University of Durham in England…
Like you, I was pleasantly impressed with the message of redeeming value to the Blind Side motion picture . But the adjustment to the New Testament Scripture on the Gateway Arch entrance to the Christian School depicted in the movie was a surprise. In the movie it read “With men this is possible. With God all things are possible.”
That’s not the Christian message or the biblical message. You see, every religion in this world, especially the cults offer the same salvation to mankind. A person just needs to get on the path to “self-improvement.” An individual might even read the bible and be so impressed by its poetry, verbiage and possibly the quotes of Jesus, that he or she might be impressed to obey its precepts and thus work their own way to their redemption.
However, such a conclusion would totally contradict the very essence of what Jesus taught His disciples. When Jesus told the rich man to sell all he possessed and come follow Him, the Apostles were so exasperated they questioned Jesus as to who could if any be saved! And that brings us to the point of the quote on the arch. Jesus said in Matthew 19:26 “With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”
The message of Jesus was simple, “I came here to save you, only because you cannot save yourself.” That is why with men it is impossible, but with God … that is Jesus himself , all things (especially personal redemption) are possible.
If your faith is in religion then by all means take the frustrating path to do-it-yourself righteousness. If your trust in Jesus, then that makes you anything but self-righteous, for you are declared righteous by the authority and sacrifice of God Himself. Thank you Jesus!
Tom Cameron ruborntwice@cox.net