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The Blind Side is a movie about courage. The courage to open your heart and your home to a young man in need, instead of writing a check. It’s about taking a boy in a hopeless situation and offering him security, encouragement and the chance to thrive. And it’s about being so rewarded and changed by the experience that you begin to question your motives and ask yourself, who is being blessed more? The Blind Side is a movie about love, and it’s also a movie about football. And in the south, the two are interchangeable.

Based on the book The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game by Michael Lewis and the true life story of Michael Oher, first round draft pick of the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens, The Blind Side tells the story of the Touhy family who took in Michael Oher when it came to their attention that he was homeless. Seeing that Michael was coming from a unstable home life, the Tuohy family used their wealth and influence to keep Michael in school, get him a tutor to improve his academics, and provide him with the family support he needed to overcome his past and go on to college.

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Sandra Bullock is a tour de force in her portrayal of Leigh Anne Touhy. It was her idea to take Michael in and with the fierceness of a mother lion she is ready to protect her new cub. She righteously stands up to criticism, prejudice, and the stings of gossip and she is so willing to embrace this young man that she even ventures into the projects to see his environment and learn more about his upbringing and past. There is one really touching scene in this film when Mrs Touhy tracks down Michael’s drug addicted mother. Instead of reproaching or rebuking the mother, Mrs. Touhy offers compassion and charity by taking her hand and just sitting with her. Sandra’s pitch perfect performance plays all the right notes and I believe that this is her best role by far.

Also in the cast is Country Music’s Tim McGraw. He was completely believable as the loving husband who knows when to pick his battles and knows when to give in. His sweet spirit and benevolent nature really shines through in this performance. He is the perfect partner to the fiery Leigh Anne and Tim McGraw really does this part justice.

Quinton Aaron is also very evoking as Michael Oher. This bear of a boy is quiet and repressed, tamping down a powder keg of emotions. When is he befriended and adopted by his little brother S.J. (Jae Head), he begins to come out of his shell and when we see him smile for the first time, it is truly a beautiful thing. Jae Head is a charming, precocious little firecracker. He adds a spark to the film in every scene he's in. He is warm, funny and delightful to watch.  The two of them together make an endearing pair.

I loved this movie from the beginning to the end. It was well written, sensitively directed and I really appreciated the opening sequence where Sandra Bullock is explaining a pivotal point in football history. It draws us into the story very nicely and also lets us know that this without question is a Southern football family. By the time we are introduced to Big Mike, we are able to embrace this loving family and understand the Tuohy dynamic.

I liked that this movie was touching without being sentimental and dramatic without being daunting. It showed us a reflection of Michael’s broken family life, without having our faces rubbed in it. We saw glimpses, so we knew that Michael’s life was tragic, but we got to spend our time seeing him lifted up, instead of beaten down. This makes the film accessible to all and family friendly as well. In fact, this is the perfect family film for the season. It has football for the dads, fashion for the moms, humor for the kids and a universal message of charity and love. This is a wonderful film, enjoy it with your loved ones. I highly recommend it.

Melanie Wilson

Visit her blog at LAMelbox.blogspot.com