By Rebecca Fowler
Staff Writer

There are few movies able to accurately portray a true story while maintaining powerful, touching morals.  The Blind Side, however, does just this.

The Blind Side, starring Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw and Kathy Bates, is an amazing on-screen version of Michael Lewis’ The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game, published in 2006.  Though the movie is taken from the book, both are based on the true story of Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron), whose journey has become an inspiration to prospective NFL players and destitute youth throughout the country.

Both versions of Oher’s story tell of his poor beginnings in the care of various foster families and his drug-addicted mother.  He failed numerous grades in school, passing only because some teachers wanted nothing more to do with him, and entered high school with a GPA of 0.6.  But, due to the perseverance and kind hearts of the coaches and teachers at Briarcrest Christian School, Oher was allowed to enroll and encouraged to excel.

While Oher’s academic journey is an incredible aspect of The Blind Side, the film focuses more on his personal changes and the impact he has on others, Leigh Anne Tuohy (Bullock) being the most affected. 

From the moment Tuohy first sees “Big Mike” walking in the cold rain wearing shorts, she is determined to help and nurture him.  As one would expect, her loving acts pay off, and viewers watch with delight as Oher is slowly accepted and integrated into the Tuohy family.  He serves as protector to Tuohy and her daughter Collins (Lily Collins), sports-star son to her husband Sean (Tim McGraw) and playful brother to little Sean Junior or “SJ” (Jae Head).

The characters are loveable and surprisingly real.  The director, John Lee Hancock, studied the Tuohy family for four years prior to the making of the film to better understand the family’s attitude toward and relationship with Oher.  He spent holidays “lurking in the background,” according to Leigh Anne, just to take their emotions and mix them with the book’s story to produce a film that is true-to-reality.

Not only did the director accurately depict the family, but the actors and actresses, specifically Bullock, also fantastically made the tale come to life on the big screen.

Bullock took on a challenging role, one she claims to have originally declined before feeling obligated to correctly portray this amazing woman.  With incentive from The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game and much work, Bullock managed to act the character of Mrs. Tuohy exceptionally well.  The Orlando Sentinel called it her best performance in years.

The Blind Side soared at the theaters, raking in more money its second week than its first—an unusual occurrence at the box office.  It earned an estimated $275 million between Nov. 25 and Nov. 29, almost passing The Twilight Saga: New Moon’s earnings at that time.

With a well-assigned cast as well as outstanding direction and film work, The Blind Side is without a doubt one of the best movies to hit theaters in a while.  It is ardently moving to the point that viewers may forget it is a real-life story.  The film will surely serve as a stirring example and inspirational journey for years to come.