Sandra Bullock, Kathy Bates, Quinton Aaron

The Blind Side depicts the remarkable true story of Michael Oher, a homeless African-American youngster from a broken home, taken in by the Touhys, a well-to-do white family who help him fulfil...( read more  read more... )l his potential. At the same time, Oher’s presence in the Touhys’ lives leads them to some insightful self-discoveries of their own. Living in his new environment, the teen faces a completely different set of challenges to overcome. As a football player and student, Oher works hard and, with the help of his coaches and adopted family, becomes an All-American offensive left tackle. Based on the book The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game by Michael Lewis

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78% liked it

76,574 ratings

Critics

70% liked it

70 critics

PG-13, 2 hrs. 6 min.

Directed by: John Lee Hancock

Release Date: November 20, 2009

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Flixster Reviews (1,488)


  • November 6, 2009
    The Blind Side is a truly inspirational, true story that leaps from the real-life annals of its history onto the big screen with effortlessness and comfortable familiarity. It is a film that we've seen in one plot form or another, but somehow feels genuine and poignant despite it...( read more) familiar trappings. Even though it's a movie that's been "done-to-death," this one is different.

    Sandra Bullock delivers one of her best performances as a southern belle who is determined to improve the life of a down-on-his-luck, black teenager. The boy (played by Quinton Aaron) strikes a chord with his subtly diffused performance as the displaced fellow from the wrong side of the tracks who is caught between two worlds.

    The story of a man rising from the ashes of a broken home; non-existent childhood and illiteracy is truly inspirational. But it is the help of Sandra Bullocks character that all of this is made possible. It is because of the spunky, relentlessly no-nonsense approach of this woman that this young man is able to achieve what he never thought possible. And, after he becomes a real part of her family, everything is within reach--and he's grateful.

    The dynamic of the family and Michael (the boy) is one that is so great to watch. It's truly a joy to see people embracing someone so different from themselves and taking them in without question as to their background or color. It is inconsequential to them and all that matters is helping out another individual in need--whether that poor, homeless boy had been black or white.

    Eventually, the success of Michael as a high school football star and a college-bound student is a remarkable story. The boy ultimately finds it within himself to persevere not because someone is forcing him to; but because he finally realize the value of his life and discovers what having dignity truly represents.

    Of course, there are occasional sappy moments; saccharine dialogue and predictable black vs. white encounters and snide, snappy, bitchy episodes with Bullock's character. But, ultimately, the movie moves along quite well; provides more than enough humor mixed with enough heart to make for a more than satisfying time at the movies.
  • November 19, 2009
    Great movie, something for everyone, it's funny, serious, sports minded and emotional but not over done in any category. Good for kis and adults alike has good values but could have too much violance for under 13.
  • September 1, 2009
    Saw movie tonite with Sandra Bullock in attendance - first audience to see the movie. Spoke to Director / ScreenWriter John Lee Hancock afterward, and he told me it was okay to talk about this movie - so, here is my rating. However, I will provide no other comments until closer...( read more) to the expected November 20th release date. It was, however, an uplifting story and an excellent story. It got mostly excellent and very good ratings by the test crowd ! See it !
  • November 20, 2009
    OK, OK, so I was your typical reviewer who saw the trailers to ?The Blind Side? and expected another football movie where a ?one-in-a-million shot? with a lot of heart goes on to win the Super Bowl or national championship. And, when everything was said and done I would come home...( read more) and write a review using the words ?tear jerker? or ?uplifting? or ?scores a touchdown.? Then I started to write this review and realized that it was all of those things plus a lot more.

    ?The Blind Side? is the story of Michael Oher, (played by Quinton Aaron), a teenager from a broken home with a troubled past who goes onto become an NFL draft pick. His story, as portrayed in this particular film, is not about how he laid awake every night dreaming of someday playing in the NFL. In fact, the NFL was only mentioned at the end of the movie where it actually showed the real Michael Oher being drafted by the Baltimore Ravens. This movie was all about the journey.

    It starts with Sandra Bullock?s character, Leigh Anne Touhy, narrating and describing the importance of an offensive tackle (something I knew very little about) and moves into Michael being allowed a shot to go to a private school in Memphis. The young man does have a rough life, pretty much homeless, no family, no friends and extremely introverted. By fate, Leigh and her family take Michael in for a night and they become his surrogate parents for a while. They clothe him and shelter him and help him bring his grades up in school.

    All along, Michael isn?t saying more than a few words at a time. I think this was the strong area of the movie. This gentle giant brought out the best intentions around a lot of the characters in the story. We?ve all seen the football movies where the gifted athlete comes in and says a lot of smart-ass lines then butts heads with the coach and realizes he needs to listen in order to learn. Well, this movie takes a different approach (and since it was based on a true story I think this was the only approach he had to work with). Michael kept quiet most of the time and the people around him learned a lot about helping another human being.

    I thought the entire cast did a wonderful job of delivering this story to the audience. The back and forth between Leigh and her husband Sean (Tim McGraw) was fun to watch and believable. The little boy, Sean Jr, was a little too cute and over the top for a 6 year old. However, he did bring a lot of life to some potentially dull moments when the coaches from visiting universities were trying to recruit Michael.

    Funny. That?s the word I was thinking during this entire movie because I wasn?t expecting it. I would even go as far as to say that I was ?blindsided? by the humor (I didn?t enjoy typing that just now). But, it is the reason why this movie will stick with you after seeing it. I don?t remember the last time I laughed out loud during a football movie this much. The wonderful Kathy Bates as Michael?s tutor had a hilarious scene explaining why he shouldn?t go play for Tennessee.

    Should you see this movie? Definitely. Yes. Even if you think you have seen this football formula before, you haven?t. The movie used comedy to bring it to life. It used Michael?s silence at the right times to make it stick. They thought this movie through before they started filming. Why else should you see it? Because it was an uplifting, tearjerker that will score a touchdown. (There, I typed the words and I enjoyed doing it).
  • November 20, 2009
    really need to see dis movie
  • November 20, 2009
    its catitive my soul
  • November 20, 2009
    very very very realistic
  • November 20, 2009
    I love true stories like this :)
  • November 19, 2009
    nice story.
    Very big man!!
  • November 19, 2009
    OMG i REEEEEEEEEEEALLY wanna see this movieeeeeeee :]
    looks maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad xD

Critic Reviews


November 20, 2009
A.O. Scott, The New York Times

A movie made up almost entirely of turning points and yet curiously devoid of drama or suspense. full review

November 19, 2009
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

If someone were telling you this story, you might say, "Wow. That's something." Even so, the narrative is not quite big enough to bear the weight and significance that writer-director John Lee Hancock... full review

November 19, 2009
Colin Covert, The Minneapolis Star Tribune

Watching The Blind Side, I felt my emotions being stage-managed, but once or twice I got something in my eye. full review

November 19, 2009
Bob Mondello, NPR

Director John Lee Hancock's only aiming for a crowd pleaser, and by not challenging the established playbook for inspirational sports dramas, he's no doubt got one. full review

November 18, 2009
Armond White, The New York Press

All Bullock's films promote an edifying sense of human experience -- she has an instinct for what people like to see -- and that gift makes The Blind Side the perfect, God-sent antidote to Precious. full review

November 16, 2009
Pete Hammond, Boxoffice Magazine

Bullock may have found her Erin Brockovich in Tuohy, commanding the screen with grit and determination in an Oscar-worthy role if ever there was one. full review

View more The Blind Side reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • joniboniaz
    September 1, 2009
    Saw movie tonite with Sandra Bullock in attendance - first audience to see the movie. Spoke to Director / ScreenWriter John Lee Hancock afterward, and he told me it was okay to talk about this movie - so, here is my rating - 5 star. However, I will provide no other comments until closer to the expected November 20th release date. It was, however, an uplifting story and an excellent movie. It got mostly excellent and very good ratings by the test crowd ! See it !

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  • in what movie did a blind woman and a retard have a running race and the blind women hit a tree and the retard hit a side of a building?  Answer »

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