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| Movie Review: The Blind Side Alternate Title: Precious Lite
Story: I feel so used. This
popular family release film of the year manipulated us, tore at our
guts and had so many uplifting moments I could barely think straight.
So what's wrong with that, you say? Can't we just laugh, cry and feel
good? Yes we can. However, the obvious lack of nuance, the serial vignettes
of one turning point after another gave me heartburn. It was simply
too saccharine for me. I needed some areas of gray. I needed some characters
that had more than one dimension. I needed some surprises. The film was directed and written by John
Lee Hancock and was based on the book, The Blind Side,
by Michael Lewis. We all know the story by now, even
if you did not see the film. Now famous NFL Ravens player, Michael
Oher, was once out on the streets, out of luck and abandoned
as a teenager, He was found, taken in and saved by the Touhy
family of Memphis. More to the point, Leigh Anne Touhy.
Mother Touhy knows what's right for everyone - all of the time. She
is portrayed as one feisty lady who gets her way all of the time. Other than the obvious problems that go along
with a rich, white, southern family taking a huge young black man into
their homes - we get no real complications. How can that be? How can
all of the inherent difficulties that lie within this scenario be glossed
over and fixed by as little as a one liner or a knowing glance. Leigh
Anne Touhy manages to give heartfelt comeuppances to her doubting friends,
gives advice to the coaches and essentially tells everyone around her
how to live their lives. I, while finding difficulty disliking the character,
at times, wanted to shoot her. That said - I am sure this film will be enjoyed
by people for a long time. It has all of the elements for guaranteed
fun, with as little real depth as possible. I wish that even half of
the people who saw The Blind Side would go to see Precious. I said to my sister as we were leaving the theater
that if this were not a true story I would not believe it in a million
years. Watch the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khtBvQdxta4 Watch the real Michael Oher: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FhlbsJUJ9Q Acting: Sandra Bullock as Leigh Anne Tuohy has already
won a Golden Globe and a SAG award for this performance. Will she win
an Oscar? I do not think she deserves it but she will probably get it.
Tim McGraw as Sean Tuohy was blander than bland. Quinton
Aaron as Michael Oher did not move me at all. Kathy
Bates as Miss Sue was the one ray of true light. Lily
Collins as Collins Tuohy was the only teenage girl on the planet
with no raging hormones. Jae Head as S J Tuohy got
me annoyed after a few scenes. Trivia: Director John Lee Hancock is the son of John
Lee Hancock Sr., who won Baylor University letters in football in 1950
and 1951. Hancock's brother Kevin also lettered four years as a 1981-1984
linebacker for the Bears. Predilection: I like to see films that have garnered
awards (deserved or not).
Critters: Surprisingly none.
Food: Lots of food including a huge Thanksgiving
meal.
Sex Spectrum: None
Blatant Product Placement: Taco Bell, Taco Bell and
Taco Bell.
Soundtrack: Overly cloying
Opening Titles: An introduction of NFL footage of
Lawrence Taylor sacking Joe Theismann and I then learned about the blind
side as a sports term.
Visual Art: Everything on the right side of town was
clean and pretty.
Theater Audience: This audience was filled with perhaps
the last 20 people in Manhattan to see this film.
Sappy Factor: 3
Quirky Meter: 0
Drift Factor: I drifted quite a bit.
Predictability Level: Over the top
Tissue Usage: 0
Oscar Worthy: No - but I will be wrong about this.
Big Screen or Rental: Either will do.
Length: Two hours. LOBO HOWLS: 6 |