The Blind Side

Although it pains me more than a shiv from an inmate, I'm going to quote Jerry Maguire. We live in a cynical, cynical world. I am one one of it's eager little cynical beavers, and damn it if this movie didn't have me teary-eyed within the first frame. The Blind Side was adapted by writer/director John Lee Hancock from the book by Michael Lewis. It's based on the true story of Michael Oher, the 2009 first round draft pick of the Baltimore Ravens. The film details the difficult life of the young Oher who was born in the aptly named "Hurt Village" housing project in Memphis, Tennessee. Born to a crack-addicted mother, Oher was raised in a series of foster families that were not always filled with rainbows and Bugaboo strollers. In The Blind Side, Oher is played by Quinton Aaron who is so subtle in his performance, I almost didn't notice it. Sandra Bullock plays Leigh Ann Tuohy, a Southern steel magnolia who drives the entire film. Leigh Ann and her husband Sean (played by Tim McGraw, what?) live a privileged life of wealth, thanks to Sean's success as a franchise owner and Leigh Ann's booming decorating business. Both of their children (Jae Head and Lily Collins) attend a prestigious private Christian school in Memphis. Oher attends the school because a recent caretaker has lobbied to get him enrolled and things are not going well. Oher is one example of the thousands of disadvantaged children in this country who gets overlooked and passed through classes because he is an athlete and because he is part of the most shamefully broken system we have. Oher muddles through school, and soon becomes homeless until the Tuohy's invite him into their home. A tutor soon follows, helping Oher to raise his grades and become eligible for the school's football team. All the while, we see the impact that this damaged young boy has on the Tuohy family. They adopt Oher and lovingly guide him through high school, then college at Ole Miss. Quinton Aaron as Michael Oher seemed to me to be a poor choice and this was confirmed when I watched videos of the real Michael Oher, who is leaps and bounds more engaging than Aaron. Tim McGraw is no actor, I'll leave it at that. But Bullock carries this film. She is emotional and present, and shades Leigh Ann Tuohy with many different layers. She may be the tough Southern lady with the long nails and frosted hair, but we nearly smell her fear as she is led into the dangerous neighborhood where Michael used to live. Bullock has never been known for her acting ability, but has always possessed a very real and down-to-earth appeal that has kept her at the top of the heap. In 1998's Hope Floats, Bullock gave us glimpses of a talent that few knew she had. But, for every Crash, we received an onslaught of crap like Forces of Nature, Practical Magic, The Net, Miss Congeniality, Miss Congeniality 2, Speed 2: Cruise Control...please tell me I can stop. The point is, while this is a good performance, I believe that the Academy has bestowed the Best Actress nomination on Bullock because they have always liked her as a person and are thrilled that she has finally delivered. The Blind Side itself is a good film, but it is not a great one. The writing is solid, as is the ready-made plot. It also does it's job of making me cry in the dark. But it is not the Best Picture, nor will it win.
I do think it brings to light a serious problem we have in America, and that is what I am focused on in this highly Cultural Comment. I have heard from so many liberals that this film gives us the wrong message; namely, that all an impoverished African-American needs is a good, Christian white person (or family, in this case) to pull them out of their situation. I have also heard from many conservatives that this is all poppycock and there is nothing wrong with celebrating the generosity of lucky people who have helped those who are quite unlucky. In fact, the conservatives claim, isn't it just that generosity that makes this the greatest country in the world? Both of theses groups might do better to focus on the real problem at the hidden heart of The Blind Side; that the public education system is fucked. Highly, pitifully so. All anyone need do is pick up Jonathan Kozol's excellent book, Savage Inequalities to grasp the heartbreaking conditions of public schools unfortunate enough to be in poorer districts. Health care, abortion and yes, even terrorism seem to pale in comparison to how serious a national problem education is. And yet, it always seems to fall by the wayside in the national discourse. If we don't focus on improving our education system, we will fall behind. Period. I loved the improvement Michael Oher's learning in The Blind Side, hell, I even dug the montage. But that was one kid. We have our work cut out for us in trying to ameliorate this problem, and I don't think there are enough rich families to handle it. Well, not after Madoff, at least.