THE BLIND SIDE
US, 2009, 129 minutes, Colour.
Sandra Bullock, Tim Mc Graw, Quinton Aaron, Kathy Bates, Jae Head, Lily Collins, Ray Mc Kinnon, Kim Dickins.
Directed by John Lee Hancock.
If you are a fan of American football, you would know what the term, blind side, means in terms of play and tactics. The rest of us don't know and so the title, at first glance, is a mystery. The makers seem to know this and so offer an illustrated explanation as the film opens and we are introduced to the game, the play, a particular instance where a blind side violently ends a player's career and introduces this play into mainstream games. At least, that is what |I got out of this prologue. I'm still not sure what the consequences of this episode really were. However, Leigh Anne Tuohy of Memphis, who is doing this explanation, then informs us that it changed her life. This involved her and her family's adoption of a young African American man, Michael Oher – this part everyone in the audience can understand.
So, The Blind Side is a film that features football (with some practices and some match highlights) but is more a film about a family and doing good. They are Christians and their children go to a Christian school, so there is a religious dimension behind what they do.
Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron very effective in the role) is a 17 year old big, very big, youth, usually known as a gentle giant. His mother is an addict. His father tries to get him and one of his brothers into the Christian school via sports ability through the coach. It is not plain sailing as Michael is more than reticent and the staff are not impressed except for a science teacher who spots his attentiveness and finds one of his poems which reveals a great deal about his outlook on life and his sensitivity. At the same time, while he is wandering the streets to the gym where he shelters, Leigh Anne spots him and, determined woman that she is (and that is an understatement!), she has him at her house, the family consenting when asked, and, eventually, as part of the family.
This is heartwarming stuff and presented with touches of humour. Michael begins to thrive. The children, especially the younger boy, bond with Michael and soon regard him as a brother. The father acquiesces in all his wife's energy and plans (though her charity lady friends do not and she tells them 'shame' on their attitudes). There is still an amount of racism in Memphis (as appears also in the football games).
For those who have an inbuilt mechanism against heartwarming, do-gooding movies, maybe the curiosity to see Sandra Bullock's Oscar-winning performance will overcome it. She is strong, forceful and a power for good. (Those who like her compare her to Erin Brockovich, those who don't have called her the Sarah Palin of the South!.) Hard to asses what puts some people and critics off the overt presentation of goodness on screen – perhaps they interpret this as too preachy. However, the film was extraordinarily popular in the US, making more than 200 million dollars in the cinemas.
1. A true story, contemporary, inspiring?
2. The Southern setting, a world of affluence, the contrast with the poor areas of Memphis? Racist and striving for equality? Change? The city of Memphis? (The Georgia settings for Tennessee?)
3. The title, the opening, the explanation of the football positions, moves? The focus on football, the practices, the tactics, the games? The competition? The role of the coach? The achievement?
4. A film about family, the Tuohys and the expanding family?
5. The background of the Christian school, the Tuohys as Christians, practising the Gospel?
6. The framework of the interrogation of Michael, the motivation for his choice of universities?
7. The Tuohys and their life, the strong family bonds, Sean and his restaurants, financial success, management? Leigh Anne and her work, interior decorating, busy, her charities, lunches with her friends? Picking up the children at school? Collins and her teenage interests? S.J. and his age? The personalities of the children, strong, achievers? Leigh Anne and her being in control of the house?
8. Michael and Stephen, their father going to the coach at the school, his plea (and later information about his death)? The boys playing ball, Michael and the baskets? The surprise of the coach? Michael and his size, gentle giant? The coach putting his name before the board, the principal and the hesitation of the board, the Christian ethos, the coach saying it was the right thing to accept him? His going to the school, going to classes, sitting silent, the reaction of the various teachers, those who were negative? Mrs Boswell and her positive approach?
9. The portrait of the teachers, their requirements for their class, the literary man and his snobbery, commenting on the spelling of the poem? The history teacher? Mrs Boswell, science, the test, Michael not writing any answers? The issue of his IQ? His capacity for listening? His capacity for protective services? Mrs Boswell reading the poem in the staff room? His passing the test?
10. Michael’s life, the flashbacks – and the full explanation kept till later in the film? His mother, the many children, her drug convictions, the men in her life? Michael taken when he was young, unhappy, wanting to be with his mother? Her telling him to close his eyes so that there would be no past? His coping? The Hurt Region of Memphis? His visits (and telling Leigh Anne to stay in the car)? His wandering around the city, collecting the food from the football field, going to the gym because it was warm?
11. Leigh Anne, seeing him, her talking to him, telling him to get into the car? The family welcoming him, the children, Sean? His not talking much? The couch, their wondering whether he would steal anything? The morning, his folding the blankets, leaving, Leigh Anne persuading him to stay? Going to the shops, choosing the clothes (and her fastidious taste)? The buying of the bed, giving him the room, the first time that he had a bed? Meals? Going to school? Thanksgiving, the television, his going to the table, the whole family sitting at the table and celebrating? With S.J., Collins and her helping him with the study, sitting at the same table? His coming to life, talking more? The meal in the restaurant – and his going back to speak to his brother?
12. Leigh Anne and the lunches, the ladies and their comments, her calling shame on them?
13. The restaurant, his brother, his giving more information about his family, brothers and sisters, mother?
14. Football, the coach, Michael being awkward, protective, S.J. and the exercise regime, the techniques used to study tactics? Practice – and Leigh Anne explaining to the coach how he ticked, likening his football play to the defence of the family? Her asking thanks from the coach? The game, the racist taunts, his initial awkwardness, finally coming to life?
15. S.J. and his taking photos, the DVD of Michael’s play? The various coaches watching the DVD, their positive reactions, coming to visit the Tuohy household? Michael and his reaction to the visits? S.J. and his being there for the interviews – with his own demands?
16. The issue of Leigh Anne being Michael’s legal guardian, going to the office and the confrontation with the woman at the counter? The interview, the need to find Michael’s mother, at home, the discussions, her story, her concern about Michael but not wanting to see him? His various names?
17. The offers for universities? Leigh Anne and Sean and their advice, Miss Sue and recommending Mississippi? Insinuating the decision and choice?
18. Miss Sue, as a type, declaring she was a Democrat? Her coaching with the studies, her patience with Michael, his gradually learning? The literary man and accepting an essay for upgrading? Sean and The Charge of the Light Brigade, the paralleling of courage in ordinary situations? Michael writing the essay, the teacher giving him a good mark? His graduating?
19. The interrogation about the college, wanting to see if there was family prejudice? His leaving the interview, going to Hurt City, the gangs? The friends, the threats? Leigh Anne going for the second time, threatening the gangs?
20. Finding Michael, his achievement? The screenplay offering reflections on why the Tuohy family did what they did? And the providence that helped Michael over and above so many other similar young men?
21. The final credits with the photos of the real Tuohy family and the real Michael?
