The Blind Side is a Pygmalion & Galatea movie I've waited four years to see. Like a sprinter in full flight, I first raced through Michael Lewis' book, while flying home from Florida, and would not put it down. It's Pygmalion, on a gridiron, one unbelievable story. Michael Oher, in the words of Michael Lewis, 'goes from being the least valued human being in America, to the being the most exalted 18 year old.'
For the next year, I gave away copies, as thank you notes, as confidence boosters, as Christmas presents to males and females alike. Michael Lewis, when I first came across his writing, was a reporter with the NYT Magazine, writing on new technology. Like Nick Hornby (An Education), Lewis explores hidden underbellies, figuring how things work - in this case, race, schools, class, conventional thinking.
The Blind Side depicts the remarkable story of teenager Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron) surviving on his own, virtually homeless, when he is spotted on the street by Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock). Learning he is one of her daughter’s classmates, Leigh Anne insists that Michael—wearing shorts and a t-shirt in the dead of winter—come out of the cold, invites him to stay at the Tuohy home for the night. A gesture of kindness turns into something more as Michael becomes part of the Tuohy family. And as the family helps Michael fulfill his potential, both on and off the football field, Michael’s presence in the Tuohys’ lives leads them to some insightful self-discoveries of their own. The Blind Side is written and directed by John Lee Hancock (The Rookie) Gil Netter, Broderick Johnson and Andrew Kosove produced the film with Molly Smith, Erwin Stoff and Tim Bourne serving as executive producers. Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw star as Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy, and Kathy Bates as Michael Oher’s dedicated tutor, Miss Sue. Quinton Aaron is introduced in the central role of Michael Oher. The film also stars young actors Lily Collins and Jae Head as the Tuohy children, Collins and S.J., respectively. Women's book clubs across America have been wrapping their minds around The Blind Side for the last three years.
Here is Michael Lewis, on YouTube, talking about his book: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7F-_HHriWSQ
For mavens who are readers, here's a NYT magazine excerpt from the Lewis book: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/24/magazine/24football.html?pagewanted=all Here's the trailer: www.theblindsidemovie.com
*****
The Blind Side est le film que j’attendais depuis quatre ans. Tel un sprinter, j’ai parcouru le livre de Michael Lewis, durant mon vol de retour de la Floride, étant incapable d’en cesser la lecture. C’est du Pygmalion, sur un terrain de foot…une histoire tout à fait incroyable. Michael Oher, selon Michael Lewis, passe d’un personnage très peu valorisé en Amérique à un jeune homme de 18 ans merveilleusement passionné.
Durant l’année qui a suivi, j’ai offert des copies de son livre en tant que marque de remerciement, outil de motivation, cadeau de Noёl. Lorsque j’ai découvert l’écrivain Michael Lewis, il était chroniqueur de nouvelle technologie pour le NYT magazine. Comme Nick Hornby (An Education), Michael Lewis explore les aspects cachés tentant de découvrir la façon dont les choses fonctionnent – dans le présent cas, la race, les écoles, les cours, la pensée conventionnelle.
The Blind Side relate une histoire vécue, celle d’une étoile de football américain, Michael Oher. L’adolescent, Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron) est un sans-abri abandonné et subsiste par ses propres moyens. C’est alors que Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock) le remarque sur la rue. Apprenant que le jeune homme est un camarade de classe de sa fille, elle insiste pour que Michael, vêtu d’un short et d’un t-shirt en plein hiver, sorte de ce froid terrible. Sans aucune hésitation, elle l’invite à venir passer la nuit dans la maison des Tuohy. Ce qui devait être un simple geste de compassion devient beaucoup plus intense alors que Michael fait partie de la famille de plus en plus, malgré leurs différents antécédents. Vivant dans son nouvel environnement, l’adolescent doit affronter plusieurs nouveaux défis. Cette famille l’aide à réaliser son potentiel sur le terrain de football de même qu’en dehors. En même temps, la présence d’Oher dans la vie des Tuohy les amène à se réaliser eux-mêmes.
The Blind Side est réalisé par John Lee Hancock (The Rookie), qui a aussi écrit le scénario basé sur le livre The Blind Side : Evolution of a Game, de l’auteur Michael Lewis. Gil Netter, Broderick Johnson et Andrew Kosove ont produit ce film avec Molly Smith, Erwin Stoff et Tim Bourne en tant que producteurs exécutifs.
Sandra Bullock et Tim McGraw incarnent les rôles respectifs de Leigh Anne et Sean Tuohy, et Cathy Bates celui de son dévoué professeur, Miss Sue. Quinton Aaron joue le rôle principal de Michael Oher. Dans ce film, de jeunes acteurs tels que Lily Collins et Jae Head interprètent les rôles des enfants Tuohy, Collins et S.J., respectivement.
Plusieurs clubs du livre s’adressant aux femmes se sont penchés autour du livre The Blind Side depuis les trois dernières années. Michael Lewis parle de son livre
sur YouTube : www.youtube.com/watch?v=7F-_HHriWSQ
Pour les cinéphiles qui s’adonnent aussi à la lecture, voici un extrait du livre de Lewis :
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/24/magazine/24football.html?pagewanted=all
Et voici la bande-annonce : www.theblindsidemovie.com
Shrewd Assessments:
Lynn
***
Good turn out for tonight's screening and interesting discussion (thanks to Robert and Tony from the McGill Redmen).
Movie was just OK in my opinion. Similar to Remembering the Titans: inspirational, manipulative with a dose of social commentary. Perhaps it moved too quickly away from the early life of Big Mike to his redemption in Republican suburbia? Perhaps I just never bought into the possibility that he could fail?
Nice to see Sandra Bullock in a somewhat meaty role after some recent awful parts [The Proposal, Miss Congeniality 2, ...].
Paul
***
Peter: I thought your comment was so 'right on': that the film allowed us to watch someone transform from being the most worthless person in society into one of its most valuable ones - that is so true! My reaction to this is that there is such human potential just being wasted - because we as a society just let it.
And that's what brings me to Leigh-Anne. I loved watching her transform from being a smarty-pants, get-it-done, Sarah Palin-type wife/mother/powerhouse decorator into someone with heart and self-doubts. I'm thinking of the Thanksgiving meal: realizing the value of what she really had, and moving the family from the TV room into the dining room. Another moment was the questioning of her own deeper motivations after Michael spoke to the NAACP - did she save Michael for Michael or for herself? I really appreciated Sandra Bullock's performance, as I did the smart-Alec 'younger brother' SJ - but I thought he was just a little too cute and over-used, especially when he was dealing with all those college coaches. It may have even been true - I didn't read the book - but it didn't feel true. I think they could have fleshed out why the family trusted him with the negotiations for Michael. Funny, but I could believe him as being a trainer to Michael, but not a negotiator. I also thought he was a wonderful actor, and loved him when he was on the screen - but you asked about my reaction and that's what I thought of when I was analyzing my reactions.
Again, thank you and Warner Brothers for letting us have the film - and getting the McGill football players to speak to us was inspired!
Leslye
***
Thanks for the screening last night Peter. We really enjoyed it. We both thought the set up until we see Michael on a football field, too long ..... the first act. Thanks for understanding, we had to run off and watch the game. The interesting thing when you watch the real # 74, Michael play for the Baltimore Ravens is that on every play he's involved in, he helps to pick up a player on either team all the time. What a mensch!
Jimmy
***
Some of my "fears" about Hollywood have been present last night, but at the same time, this week's movie, from a movie viewer point of view, is a great example of the US pattern we will see in the coming year: very christian values, sustained by lots of violins... They even added a very US argument with the mention of the NRA, which is for me very anti-catholic!
As you mentionned, Hollywood produced, and is still producing some amazing movies. This one is a correct, standard production, that should not make history but reflects current USA values. Yes, you can thank MGM (he means WB - pp) for this presentation. It is good to see movies from as many sources as possible. And they were great to give you this movie at your first meeting!
Thanks for your work, and see you at the next presentation.
Daniel
***
I did indeed like your "Hollywood Movie". In fact I liked everything about it, the excellent cast, the fact that it was a true story and the football players were a great addition. Thank goodness our universities don't have athletic scholarships. Thanks for bringing it to Montreal.
Cheers
Mary
***
Ce film comporte plusieurs messages de vie...l'amour inconditionnel d'une mère, la réalisation de soi et cette phrase "quand on veut, on peut" n'a jamais été si bien représentée. Ce film s'adresse à la famille toute entière...convaincant et regénérant ! À voir...avec une boîte de Kleenex !
Louise
***
Thank you for letting me be a part of last night. Sandra Bullock lived up to her statement that she was indeed a multi-tasker; wife, mother.
psychologist, even the coach for the football team. Totally unbelievable but I managed to cry anyway.
More history of Michael's past would have made the film more endearing. And what happened to Mr. Tuohy. He seemed totally in accord with whatever the Mrs. said and did.
I wonder how he became so successful.
In summary I have and would recommend the film.
Beverley
***
It was exciting to be among the first to see this film. It was also somewhat reassuring to slide back into the competent hands of Hollywood. Yes, the film had the familiar tone and predictability , but I was also surprised and pleased by its new approach, less sensational and more human.
I was glad it was a true story - for some reason the fact that something like that actually happened makes it more meaningful. My movie partner, however, found it an entertaining and very realistic presentation but it made no difference to him that it was based on a true story.
His comments: a happy movie, it held the audience, was very realistic and had no nastiness. It leaves one feeling complete. A movie to see but not one that would generally not need a second viewing.
For my part, this movie gave me an insight into a part of American life - I felt it rang true more than many other movies. Compared with Peter's description of the book, I think the movie did not capture enough the depth of emotion and commitment of Mrs. Touhy . I liked the football although it did not help me understand the game. The movie avoided dealing with the exploitation of the players that I hear actually does go on. And I liked the photos of the actual people at the end.
Nancy R.
***
dear peter, i like writing but i am not really comfortable about publishing my reactions to the films..all that being said, i am now bleery-eyed after reading the new york times review (of Blind Side) which is really a synopsis of the book...which i suspect was actually better than the film on many levels.
We have often discussed at [McGill] that no one sees the same film...it is an interactive process to which we bring ourselves. I, for one, was the mother of a quarterback at lcc and then westmount high; he was a gifted athlete but we still spent many hours at the orthopods with injuries...he could have gone to college on a football scholarship, but decided early on that he needed his brain, gave up contact sports for an education and received a medical degree from mcgill university. I am positively shocked at the amount of money paid to star athletes. What is wrong with this society's values when scientists, educators, nurses, doctors and other essential service givers have their work so comparatively, poorly recompensed?
On another level, it is very heartwarming to see that poor kids can use their athletic prowess as a means to upward mobility. Your two athletes were very articulate about mcgill's position concerning athletics and the academic priorities valued at this institution; maybe hockey players will shed a different light on their experience in this northern climate! Last night's film underscored the fact that success on any of life''s playing fields equates to success in life...there is nothing like positive reinforcement as a motivator!
I give the film a 3 star rating and i'm sure it will have wide appeal and be financially successful....sandra bullock was very endearing in her role...but even with a southern accent, she still played sandra bullock...in other words she is no meryl streep! i hated all that body smashing and predictably covered my eyes...this is a hollywood film for the masses and I am sure will last more than the two week stays that have marked some of the very best films you have guided us to.
Just a little aside...i found it very amusing when cathy bates spoke of science and body parts being buried under the football field...do you know where enrico fermis first atomic pile was housed? Under the football statium in chicago...probably northwestern university's...
Farla
***
The Blind Side is a fine movie to recommend, both to sports enthusiasts and to people who enjoy a great story, well told, with a happy ending: a first-rate date movie. I laughed whole-heartedly, and needed a hankie for the final scenes. Sandra Bullock nailed the Memphis twang and looked great wearing Erin Brockovich's dream wardrobe. The football side of the story was well explained, and Quinton Aaron was appropriately lovable as the young Michael Oher, although physically he seemed flabby, knock-kneed and not very athletic. The whole cast performed very well, and Kathy Bates's story about the FBI's forensic science lab underneath the University Of Tennessee playing field was a hoot.
Although I am very glad to have seen the movie, I have two big reservations about it. The first is the motivation of the Touhy family: why did they take in this kid? People explain that Leigh-Ann is a do-gooder, but why? She wears a cross around her neck, but never speaks of her Christianity, except as a way of networking with the district attorney. We can certainly understand where Michael Oher comes from, but the principal driving element of the story is the Touhy’s magnanimity, whose origin remains utterly mysterious. What’s the back story?
My second reservation is that almost all of the problems these people face are solved by spending more money. Want a private school education? A kind family will pay. Need clothes? Money and wheels to store provided. Need an identity? Get a drivers license and a nifty red-neck pick-up truck. Have an accident? There’s insurance. Problems in school? The family hires a full-time live-in tutor. The fact that the Touhy’s seem never to make sacrifices (when in real life they confronted many obstacles) blunts the message of selflessness. The Touhy’s seem so rich that we might reproach them for not fostering an entire orphanage or, indeed, all of Bangladesh.
Margaret
***
Thank you for the opportunity to see this well acted (if not over-acted (SJ)) movie. Sandra Bullock was the best I have seen her, and Tim Mcgraw was passable as the doting husband. As it was my first experience attending a cinema club, I tried to look beyond the characters, and thought that the camera angles and positioning, especially in the football scenes, was good. I also enjoyed the music score, which was upbeat and added to the positive attitudes put forth in the movie.
With the links you gave us before the screening, I got a good understanding of Michael's character, and I found it missing in the movie. Where he ran out from the NCAA inquiry was the only movie indication of Michael's evasions throughout his life up to that point.
I also liked the use of photos of the actual people portrayed in the movie, during the closing credits. I studied them all, looking for the similarities with the actors. It seemed a good fit, an enjoyable experience. I hope to see you again soon.
Wayne
Marlene
I found the set-up up too long, and (as someone who has not read the book and was only minimally aware of the story) very disjointed. It took too long, in my opinion, to get us "hooked".
Once under way, I enjoyed the ride. I must say, though, that if I didn't know it was a true story, I'd have a hard time buying it. The couple's relationship was just too perfect to be true. Whether this is a fair reflection of the book or not begs the question.... how in the world could they have gone through that with so little tension or disagreement? It would have added so much to the movie, in my opinion, had we seen even a small bit of the discord that must surely have gone on in that family. All, in all, this movie feeds into my bias about the somewhat deluded world-view many of our republican neighbours to the south seem to have. This Blind Side will probably go over gangbusters with that market segment, but I like a little more depth to my movies.
Barbara
Enjoyed The Blind Side experience, my first outing with your group - A feel-good movie with good actors. Felt it didn't portray well enough the family's struggles and challenges when Mum brought home a street kid. The book would have gone into better detail I would guess. Enjoyed the younger boy's amusing coaching tactics but felt things went overboard when he bargained with the various university football coaches. Liked the pictures during the credits which showed the real family whose story this movie tells.
Nancy W.
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