The Blind Side *** (2009, Sandra Bullock, Quinton Aaron, Tim McGraw, Lily Collins, Jae Head) – Classic Movie Review 5056

Sandra Bullock won an unexpected Best Actress Oscar in 2010 for her capable performance in The Blind Side (2009) as caring woman Leigh Anne Tuohy who crucially helps homeless and traumatised teenage African-American boy Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron), who becomes an All American football player.

Writer-director John Lee Hancock’s film is well-made, well-meaning, good and solid, if not particularly remarkable or outstanding. Leigh Ann Tuoh has a supportive husband (Tim McGraw), and two nice kids (Lily Collins and Jae Head). Ray McKinnon plays Coach Cotton, Kim Dickens plays Mrs Boswell and Kathy Bates plays teacher Miss Sue. It is a good and solid cast.

It was a huge hit in the US, where American football is the biz, and where it took $255 million in cinemas (budget $29 million). Not everyone liked the idea of a film about a middle-age white woman helping an African-American boy out, but it is hard to quarrel with the real-life act of kindness.

Hancock’s screenplay is based on Michael Lewis’s book.

Hancock is also the director of The Rookie (2002), The Alamo (2004), Saving Mr Banks (2013) and The Founder (2016).

Bullock should have won her Oscar for her only other nominated performance, in Gravity (2013).

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5056

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