Heartwwarming tale about a suburban Tenneessee couple who take in a homeless teen and how they change each other’s life for the better. Given that plot, you’d expect an overly saccharine TV movie style drama. However, the action is surprisingly restrained in its sentiment. True, there is a certain structure to the script that seems overly pat. The lead characters seem almost too perfect to be real people. Yet this is a true story, one based on football player Michael Oher who was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in 2009. Given that, the story takes on a dramatic weight that makes the events genuinely touching. The compassion the Tuohy family demonstrates here, as well as the quiet integrity of Michael Oher, is admirable. Overall, a straightforward and honest film that is one of the best sports dramas in recent years.
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9 Responses
This was truly a great story. I thought Sandra Bullock was great! There were many touching moments. I’d see again.
Great story. I love it. http://bobbygee.wordpress.com/
Yeah, for me, what makes it so great is that it’s based on a true story.
Am still on the fence on this one – haven’t decided if I have the time/money to see it in theaters – not with all the other films I have to see this fall… That being said, have generally heard some good things…
It’s a pretty solid drama, so if you like “triumph of the spirit” type stories, I’d see it.
A great review, Mark. This will be on my must see this Christmas season.
Perfect film for the holidays too. Makes you feel good.
I finally forced myself to see it tonight. I was expecting the worse, thinking it was a racial commentary type of thing, but it actually worked quite well. Only issues I have with it are several:
* there was no genuine warmth amongst any of the family members, esp Tim McGraw and Sandra Bullock.
* absolutely no chemistry between Tim and Sandra. That kiss in bed when he’s trying to do his wife, and she’s trying to convince him to support a decision she’s made for the two of them, was like watching a picture bride grimacing through her wedding night with her new hubby. C’mon, its Tim McGraw!
*In that bed scene, Tim should have been shirtless. Put Tim McGraw in a film and there should have been justifiable shirtless in boxer gratuity type scenes.
*For a woman that rich, she had the same purse through a few seasons. That’s unheard of with real women.
*On a more serious note, I wish they would have focused less on Sandra’s personality of steel (I think its her Erin Brockovich bid for an Oscar) and more on how each member of the family grew their bond with Michael. I never felt how the hubby or the daughter was part of this extended family. Its like they just went along with the plan, whereas Sandra and SJ really had relationships by engaging with Michael.
The lack of family bonding and chemistry between Tim and Sandra were major flaws for me. Its like it was the dramatic version of an action film. Introduce the characters and then quickly plummet them into a series of action! In this case, they meet, he spends the night, and then its FOOTBALL RECRUITING GET INTO COLLEGE action time. Also Kathy Bates was wasted in this role. For these reasons, I give it a 3 at best.
However, it was thoroughly enjoyable. I was teary eyed and sniffling by the first 5 minutes of the movie starting.
Wow. Thanks for the detailed response.
So you’re point of the chemistry between Tim and Sandra is a valid one. The thing is, the movie wasn’t about them (the Tuohys), it was about Michael Oher’s humble beginnings and the woman, Leigh Anne Tuohy, that took control and made a difference in his life.
It’s common in biographies to focus on certain key members of a story for dramatic purposes and minimize others. The fact that Sandra Bullock played the role, definitely played a part in her being such a major part of the film. It would have been difficult to deal with every character in detail, however, and probably a mistake anyway since that wasn’t the story they wanted to tell.
If you were “teary eyed and sniffling by the first 5 minutes” then it sounds like the movie was pretty effective anyway.
Thanks again for the detailed response!