The Blind Side tackles football and the much better, and more interesting sport of real life.
Michael Oher was drafted by the National Football Leagues Baltimore Ravens this year and is now a rich pro athlete. Learning how Oher got from deep in the end zone to the NFL will take you a couple of hours and three soggy hankies.
-- Local show times, theaters.
Big, lumbering and academically slow, Oher is a ghetto-born kid. In the game of life, thats fourth down and 40 yards to go. His break came when he played football for a Christian school and was adopted by a fairly well-to-do white family.
The movie version of his life, The Blind Side embellishes Ohers story a bit. OK, a lot.
Normally, Id throw a penalty flag. Two words keep it in my pocket: Sandra Bullock. Youre hearing quite a bit of Oscar buzz, and its deserved. Bullock adds two extra dimensions to her usual one-dimensional, cutesy, addle-brained personality and gives the performance of her life.
Credit writer/director John Lee Hancocks (The Rookie) excellent dialogue for part of Bullocks transformation. Im admittedly biased. In my book, you cant beat a good sports biopic. I can even say that about golf, but Id probably draw the line at bowling.
Hancock has done a good one. Dont punt on this one. The Blind Side gets a game-winning score.
Mr. Movie rating: 4 1/2 stars
Rated PG-13 for mature themes. It opens Friday, Nov. 20 at the Carmike 12 and at the Fairchild Cinemas 12.
5 stars to 4 1/2 stars: Must see on the big screen
4 stars to 3 1/2 stars: Good film, see it if it's your type of movie.
3 stars to 2 1/2 stars: Wait until it comes out on video.
2 stars to 1 star: Don't bother.
0 stars: Speaks for itself.