The ideal left tackle is big… He is wide in the butt and massive in the thighs. He has long arms, giant hands, and feet as quick as a hiccup. This is a rare and expensive combination, the need for which can be traced to that Monday night game and Lawrence Taylor. For on that day, he not only altered Joe Theismann’s life but mine as well.
..the left tackle protects what the quarterback cannot see...his blind side.
Leigh Anne Tuohy in “The Blind Side”
These were the opening words that we heard as clips were being shown during the opening credits of the movie and it explained fully what the title was about especially for non-football enthusiasts like me. The Blind Side was based from the real-life story of football star, Michael Oher and was first published in the book The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game by Michael Lewis. What started out as an article for football coaches, turned into a book and had now been produced in a movie. The movie is not just about Michael Oher, but also about Tuohy family and how in one chance passing and a generous act of kindness, changed the course of their lives forever.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures Caption: (L-r) LILY COLLINS as Collins, SANDRA BULLOCK as Leigh Anne Tuohy, TIM McGRAW as Sean Tuohy, JAE HEAD as S.J. and QUINTON AARON as Michael Oher in Alcon Entertainment's drama “The Blind Side,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
The story really begins when Leigh Anne Tuohy (played by Sandra Bullock), sees Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron) walking in just a shirt and shorts towards the school gym one cold winter night. She took pity on "Big Mike" and offered him a night's rest in her home. One act of kindness followed another, and soon the Tuohy's began to accept Mike as part of their family despite their racial differences. With the Tuohy's help, Mike learned to do well in school eventually leading to him realizing his sports prowess in the field of football. He didn't do well at first but he was built for it. After rigorous training by the adorable SJ (Jae Head), his little brother, he began to understand how his protective instincts can greatly benefit his teammates.
Photo Credit: Ralph Nelson Caption: QUINTON AARON as Michael Oher in Alcon Entertainment's drama “The Blind Side,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
This team is your family and you have to protect them…
Tony is your quarterback. You protect his blind side.
When you look at him think of me. How you have my back.
Leigh Anne Tuohy in “The Blind Side”
The Characters
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures Caption: SANDRA BULLOCK as Leigh Anne Tuohy in Alcon Entertainment's drama “The Blind Side,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
The driving force in the course of everyone's lives is Leigh Anne Tuohy. She has been described as a "formidable character" by most of the cast. Sandra Bullock did a great job portraying her and she rightly deserves the award she got from it. She is backed by a loving husband, Sean (Tim McGraw) who lets her get her way most of the time but it is undeniable that he is the glue that holds the family together. The story of course revolves around Michael Oher (Quintin Aaron). Despite his appearance, his big built and awkward stance, his kind eyes and quiet manner leaves you to think that there is something so much more. His inspiring story is one that is still unfolding even today.
Photo Credit: Ralph Nelson Caption: QUINTON AARON as Michael Oher and LILY COLLINS as Collins in Alcon Entertainment's drama “The Blind Side,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
Photo Credit: Ralph Nelson Caption: (L-r) JAE HEAD as SJ and QUINTON AARON as Michael Oher in Alcon Entertainment¿s drama ¿The Blind Side,¿ a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
Collins Tuohy (Lily Collins) is the timid counterpart of her mother but is also into sports as well. Being raised well, she isn't easily swayed by peer pressure or critiques from her friends with her having an adopted brother. SJ Tuohy (Jae Head) is the little kid who has big dreams and big aspirations for Big Mike. He has unconditional bond with his brother and his crazy antics will surely make the audiences fall in love with him. Miss Sue (Kathy Bates) was hired as Mike's tutor when he needed to get his grade point average up. She was there not only as his mentor but a great advisor as well.
Hidden Gems
SEC coaches were invited to make cameos to play themselves when Mike was being recruited for college football. The coaches appearing in the film are: Nick Saban, formerly of LSU and now at Alabama; Tommy Tuberville, formerly of Auburn; Houston Nutt, formerly of Arkansas and now at Ole Miss; Phil Fulmer, formerly of Tennessee; Ed Orgeron, formerly of Ole Miss and now an assistant head coach at Tennessee; and the legendary Lou Holtz, formerly of South Carolina.
At the end, video clips and the pictures of the real Michael Oher marks the start of the end credits. It's heartwarming to see the real people portrayed in the movie, the perfect icing on the cake.
What I love about it
The Blind side is not only about being inspired by the triumph and struggles of Michael Oher, it's also about the incomparable kindness and generosity of the Tuohy's. More than that, I think it's also about the blind faith that Mrs. Tuohy had set as an example, blind faith in the goodness of people. She took in Mike into her home out of the goodness of her heart because it was the right thing to do. How many people would do the exact same thing now? No matter how evil the world gets, it still is amazing to see little beacons of hope and goodness shining through. The Tuohy's are a one of a kind family and Mike Oher was very lucky that they found him. The Tuohy's on the other hand, were changed the moment Mike stepped into their lives. It worked out well for everyone, this kind of happy ending is rare and yet it is as real as it gets. When more people are like this, I think the world will be a much a happier place.
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