The Blind Side

On November 18, 1985, Washington Redskin's quarter back and Super Bowl champion, Joe Theismann's, career came to an abrupt halt when he was sacked by Giant's linebacker, Lawrence Taylor. He suffered a compound fracture in his leg (literally bone sticking out of the side of his leg, shin broken in the center, half laying on the field, half sticking up at a forty-five degree angle).  That has been dubbed "The Hit That No One Who Saw It Will Ever Forget". Both my parents watched that game and remember it vividly. This brought about the position known as "Left Tackle".  Part of  "the pocket", the LT is the second highest paid team member and is responsible for protecting the quarter back's blind side.

Hang in there girls! This posts isn't about football (I wouldn't do that to you two posts in a row! [alright, so I probably would])...it's a review of the movie The Blind Side released in  2009 and starring Sandra Bullock, Quinton Aaron and Tim McGraw. But without that little bit of info you won't really "get" the movie. Based on a truly breathtaking real story, Blind Side is the story of Leigh Anne Tuohy, Sean Touhy and how their lives are transformed when they take in homeless teenager, Michael Oher.

Michael's mother is a drug-addict in and out of his life and his father is out of the picture altogether. He has been sleeping at friends' houses and barely getting any formal education. Teachers give him grades just good enough to pass him off to the next grade -whether he has learned the material or not- so they don't have to deal with him. Sad statement there,but let's not get sidetracked.

To make a long story short, Leigh Anne is touched by Michael's situation and her and Sean end up adopting him into their family. When driving home one day there is an accident in which his brother, S.J., (Leigh Anne and Sean's son by birth) is saved by Michael's extremely quick reflexes -an essential quality in a left tackle. Michael shows an interest in football so Leigh Anne and Sean go all out trying to help him improve his grades so he can join the team.

There are some movies you watch for humor. Others for inspiration. But you watch this movie for the amazing heart in it. Seeing the way so many people worked to help Michael (teachers fighting the school board to help him learn, Leigh Anne's dedication to giving him everything he needs to succeed, S.J.'s devotion to him, the tutor working around the clock to get his grades high enough to apply for a scholarship), Michael facing all the challenges that came his way and protecting his family, the Tuohy family taking him under their wing) everything is just full of love. It's one of those stories that show there really are good people with Christian love left in the world. And, even though there is a good amount of seriousness in it, it's also weighed out by a good dose of humor, especially from S.J.

I love this movie on so many levels but one of the greatest things about it is that Leigh Anne's (played by Sandra Bullock who did an awesome job) personality is so much my Mom that when we first saw it (2009) we all kept saying, "Oh my gosh, Mom that's so you!" The scene where they are in the MVA trying to get Michael's driver's license.  After they sit for hours, finally Leigh Anne pushes her way up front and says, "Who's running this place?" The lady points to a picture of the president and Leigh Anne says, "Well, if I were running it I would do a much better job."  My goodness!  I have seen my mom do that soooo many times over the years.  And, when Leigh Anne she walks onto the field during practice and tells the coach everything he's doing wrong and completely changes Michael's position and view of the game by comparing the players he's protecting to protecting his family and then when Michael starts to play phenomenally says: "I said you could thank me later. It's later, Bert." Yeah, I've seen Mom do basically the same thing before :) If you asked me to describe Mom I would probably say Leigh Anne Tuohy with a Jersey accent. And, well, Lizzy you know what other movie character fits Mom perfectly.  Mom, you're awesome.

The epilogue? Well in 2009 Michael Oher was first draft pick for the Baltimore Ravens and Sunday at 2:00 you can see him protecting Joe Flacco's blind side as they play against New England. It just goes to show that there is no past that can not be overcome and no life is broken beyond the point where a little love will heal it.

my rating: ********** out of *****

So. Your thoughts?