The Blind Side

A poor, oversized and under-educated teenager is recruited by a major college football program where he is groomed into an athletically and academically successful NFL prospect. Based on Michael Lewis’ book, “The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game.”

I have to admit that I may have got my wires crossed before I went to see this film. I thought that it was a big fella who was dumb as bricks and blind. Turns out that he can actually see, which does make a massive difference to the film. But ultimately this is one of the biggest feel good movies of the year.

Taking a boy from the ‘projects’ and getting him a place at a private school was the first hurdle for the team football coach and for a chap that had taken ‘big Mike’ under his wing and let him sleep on his sofa.

It is the highlighting of the rich divide, along with the pursuit of the American dream that runs through this film which is disturbing. The one mother is wealthy, does not work, loves her family and fights for her kids, the other is a crack head, with more kids then she can remember with no drive or ambition. It demonstrates that how a life can easily be destroyed by being in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong friends.

The film is a little too long, and does have a highlight real towards the end which would be more suited to the Super Bowl then a film. Sandra Bullock if outstanding and clearly demonstrates that she has risen from FHM Hotlist in speed to the Best Actress at The Oscars.