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The Oscar talk is nonsense, but Capone thinks THE BLIND SIDE is fairly watchable stuff!!!
Hey, everyone. Capone in Chicago here.
In some very interesting ways, this true story about how a white family in Tennessee takes in a massive young black man and raises him as their own son is the flip side to the recently released Precious. The biggest different being that it seems like in THE BLIND SIDE that for reasons that are never really explained or explored, white people are practically tripping over each other to help Michael Oher, whereas in Precious, the world completely ignores and sees through the title character. Oher, of course, grew up to be a tackle for the Baltimore Ravens (he's in the midst of his rookie season this year), but this film highlights his high school years when he made the journey from living on the street with a crackhead mother back home to his becoming a much-scouted player.
Oher's story is actually quite fascinating stuff, but instead writer-director John Lee Hancock (THE ROOKIE, THE ALAMO) has adapted Michael Lewis' book about Oher and made it the story of Leigh Anne Touhy (played not nearly as over the top as you might think by Sandra Bullock), whose young son S.J. (Jae Head) forms a friendship with "Big Mike" and decides to take an interest in the young man when she spots him wondering the Memphis streets in the cold one night. Without much discussion, the Tougys allow Michael to sleep and eat in their home, buy him clothes, eventually clear out Leigh Anne's work room to give him his own bedroom, and get to know this troubled, quiet young man with a low IQ but a highly protective instinct. There are times listening to Leigh Anne and her husband Sean (singer Tim McGraw), where their conversations and attitudes about Michael seem dangerously close to treating him like a fixer-upper or worse, a pet. But eventually Hancock pulls the story around and lets the real connection between this family (which is rounded out by daughter Collins, played by Lily Collins) and Oher really come through.
THE BLIND SIDE also features a couple of my favorite character actors, which added to my modest enjoyment of the film. I particularly liked Kim Dickens as a teacher who first spots Michael's intellect and realizes that his ability to learn is tied to someone actually telling him the material rather than him reading it himself. Ray McKinnon plays Oher's high school football coach, who essentially has to teach Michael the game from the ground up (with much help from Leigh Anne). And sue me if you want, but whenever Kathy Bates (playing Michael's tutor Miss Sue) is in a movie, I get just a little more interested. Also, I don't know squat about Tim McGraw's country music career, but I've always enjoyed his acting in such works as FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS (the movie), THE KINGDOM, and even the otherwise abysmal FOUR CHRISTMASES.
But most of the acting talk surrounding this film has been about Bullock's surprisingly underplayed portrayal of Leigh Anne Touhy--by all accounts a proper Southern lady with a ferocious mama-bear streak when it comes to her family. She's strong in will, meticulous in appearance, and will walk through fire (or in the case of Michael, the projects) for her kids. Bullock doesn't play up the accent or the attitude, and it's a quality performance however you measure it. But all of this talk of awards is nonsense; don't believe it. If you're a Bullock fan who has grown weary of her terrible romantic comedies and likes it when she plays it straight, you'll be in heaven with this THE BLIND SIDE. But this is not a game-changing performance. We're not getting a side to Bullock we've never seen; we're getting one we don't see often. It's a step in the right direction, but she's not winning or getting nominated for squat for this role.
In THE BLIND SIDE's final act, things get a little sidetracked and away from what makes the film strong. There's an NCAA investigation into how Michael was recruited, and fair questions are asked about his new parents' pushing him to go to Ole Miss, which they are boosters for and alumni of, and whether their eventually becoming his legal guardians was a recruiting tool. But we know what the outcome is going to be, so these scenes get old fast and go on far too long and lead to other scenes that are equally dull. A strong final act might have made me actually love this movie, and while I'm certainly not suggesting Hancock change history, this section doesn't make for interesting cinema. I'm still recommending THE BLIND SIDE because it's a curious story told well and acted with enough dignity and grace that it does justice to what this family accomplished. I also like the timeliness of it, coming at the midpoint of the real Oher's first pro season. These events didn't occur during the height of the Civil Rights movement or some other colorful era; they happened a few years ago and, to a degree, are still unfolding. As it stands, the movie stands solidly on its own, and I think you'll enjoy it without feeling like you have to make excuses for doing so. We're in the midst of the calm before the awards-season storm, and while THE BLIND SIDE doesn't mark the entry point into that time of year, it certainly makes for a nice primer.
-- Capone
capone@aintitcoolmail.com
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Nov 20, 2009 6:55:36 AM CST
Clearly the studio wants Sandra to get nominated!
by hollywoodhellraiser
I laugh everytime I hear that, Sandra will get a nomination for this movie.Could the studios be anymore desperate!
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Capone, perhaps you might have been more correct to say, that if hollywoods award ceremonies hadn't become increasingly distant from actual relevance and merit in the last 10 years, then maybe she wouldn't get an award. And that she doesn't deserve one for this performance.
But to assume she won't get one at all, is giving the current idiots in hollywood too much credit. -
Nov 20, 2009 7:40:12 AM CST
If it's not IN THE AIR, AICN doesn't recognize it as Oscar Gold
by yackbacker
We get it- AICN has rallied behind IN THE AIR. No touching movies about post-racial friendship and family! This movie lacks CLOONEY!!!!!!
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It just reminds me that my beloved Buffalo Bills passed on Oher and drafted first round bust Aaron Maybin from Penn "bust" State. No wonder you just got fired, Jauron you ugly bastard
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because they list the reviewers in such tiny letters that it is practically unreadable. As far as sappy manipulative sentimental films go, though, this looks like it could be one of the better ones.
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You've wasted your life. I'd prefer to go see The Jerk again.
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and the way it does this is too obvious, it doesn't hide that it's wants to manipulate your emotions. And that's a big turn off. It means that this movie is nothing more than a 2 hour PSA.
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not true, but you know some people are thinking that.
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. . . so he can eat shit and die. My BROWNS will be back! Too bad they're below rock bottom at the moment.
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As a person of firmly entrenched Anglo/Saxon/Celtic/Norman ancestry I can reveal the secret that white people LOVE hearing about how great we are. Even with our superior genetics and ability to non-chemically achieve the more desirable straight hair, that we can still reach down from time to time to help one of the "others" is only a further testament to our greatness. And THAT, as a story, will never stale to us. I'm currently writing a treatment about a neighbor of mine growing up who won $1,000 at the horse track and donated $50 to the UNCF.
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Have been since Demolition Man. And while I'm not sure I agree that I've wasted MY life, I'm not going to deny that a lot of the television I've produced has certainly helped others waste theirs.
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the stuff brady quinn finds in his diaper before every game when he realizes he has to play against REAL NFL players.
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Caught that on HBO a few months back and I really enjoyed it, despite all of it's predictable cliches.
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Heard someone compare this to "Green Mile" and I disagree. Haven't seen it yet, but "Blind Side" seems to give this young man hopes, dreams, and an "inwardness" utterly missing from John Coffey. Black children raised by white families test higher for IQ, and probably succeed better than the average black kid raised by black families...evidence that the problems are "software" rather than "hardware." I have no problems with that conclusion. What is wrong with encouraging people to reach out and help others?
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The little white boy who loooooooved big black superhero Hancock in the movie of the same name looks like (from the trailers anyway) that he looooooooves this big black athlete that comes to be part of the family. It's just like when I saw surrogates, and the guy who created the surrogate robots is the same actor (cromwell?) that invented the robots in I, Robot. C'mon hollywood it's nice to see you give roles to people but let the actors add more variety to their resumes, sheesh.
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Chocolate covered pussy juice, Unbelievable but "ya know", Merrick;s 15 year old enjoyed it, fairly watchable, We'd tell you how bad but we dont to ruin future possible set visits.
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http://splashpage.mtv.com/2009/11/20/wire-star-idris-elba-joins-thor-cast-as-heimdall/
Could very well work. -
I remember hearing about this story during the NFL draft and really looking forward to the adaptation. However, seeing the focus on Bullock, I've lost all interest. The Oher character should have been stronger (has anyone said anything about his performance? Best I can tell it seems pretty one-note). Clearly the marketers have chosen Lexus-driving mamas over football fans as the core audience of this flick. That's a shame.
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Im so sick and tired of Browns fans crying in their Wheaties anytime the name Ravens comes up.
The last time I checked, which was last Sunday, the Cleveland Browns were playing a home game in Cleveland - and the Colts were NOT in Baltimore
Browns fans should be falling at the feet of Ravens fans every single Sunday, and thanking them for that. -
But Bullock's always hit me as a Lifetime TV actress who, through some bureaucratic cock-up, somehow keeps getting cast in real movies. I think the main reason might be because she emerged during an era when other horse-faced actresses like Julia Roberts and Sarah Jessica Parker were also pretty popular, so she rode the horse boom. Now it looks like she and Hilary Swank are the only survivors of the horsey phase of movie history. Swank could possibly keep her head above water due to her acting chops, but Bullock's horsiness isn't going to keep her going forever.
Plus, she was in Crash (the bad one), the worst Oscar winner of all time, so she can go to horsey hell! -
then why not recommend that people just read the book?
[gasp!]
Did he just suggest, on AICN of all places, that people read rather than watch? -
I'm not crying. I'm hating the fucking Ravens like every fan of an AFC North team should. And you just suggested I thank the Ravens for Cleveland getting a new franchise??? That's pretty retarded.
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can I ask you an honest question, man?the only things you EVER post in the talkbacks are rants and complaints about AICN. the staff, the guest reviews, the set visits, the scoops, everything...so...why are you still here? don't you think it's a little pathetic to be hanging around here still. I mean, I've been listening to you whine for a whole goddamn year now.what is keeping you here? is it just that you like to complain in general? (I can see you going back to the same Arby's every week complaining about their terrible food) or is it some delusional hope that Harry, Capone, Beaks et al will see one of your poorly worded, nonsensical rants and go, "man, he's right! we shouldn't do ANY more set visits from now on, for fear a couple bitchy malcontents will complain that the free website they choose to visit of their own free will, may not be 100% unbiased 100% of the time. after all, we are on par with the New York Times, not just a movie geek fan website, right?"gimme an answer, brother. I need to understand your damage.
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partly it's because you're annoying and unfunny as shit.but also, I've been waiting for 3 horus for the UPS guy to deliver my HMC150. I wants it!! my precious!!
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Rich white woman adopts a lower class black kid and makes his life better..?? Isn't that a film about Madonna..?!!!
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I must see this.
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I haven't seen it, but it looks like racist Hollywood bullshit to me.
The good hearted white lady reaches down into the dregs to pull up the gifted, but under developed black kid. It's basically saying "Look how saintly we whites can be. Oh yeah and sorry for slaverly."
I'm sure those involved in the real story were actually good people and really help this kid, but there is no need to canonize them so white america can feel better about themselves.
Maybe I've grown cynical, maybe the movie will prove me wrong, but I sincerely doubt it. -
you had the balls to say what I was thinking. You're bang on! I won't be watching this turd!
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Everybody knows Cleveland only has chokers so at least the Browns are total shit, theres no chance of choking! You should be somewhat happy you only had to wait 3 years to get your team back, Baltimore had to wait 12!
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I would make the sweet love with her most willingly.
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There is hope for liberal guilt syndrome. Seek help now!
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I used to think the Browns were the worst team in the NFL this year. Then it dawned on me their only wins in the past 14 games have come against my Bills. Sigh.
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doesn't it run the risk of saying the only way an inner city black child can make it is with NFL talent and the guidance of rich white parents?
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were fuck buddies in the movies! All under the disguise of Sandra wanting to guide him...guide him to her pussy!
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Another great one from Michael Lewis, whose "Moneyball" is arguably the greatest book about baseball, ever. Not sure how "The Blind Side," a great non-fiction story that focuses more on the evolution of the pass rush and blindside protection from the left tackle position, somehow got turned into a Bullock-driven Lifetime Network Movie. *shrug* still a fascinating true story and a great read for anyone interested in some great stories about NFL legends like Parcells, Walsh and L.T. as well as interesting personas like Nick Saban and Ed Orgeron... i'll admit, though, that "The Blind Side" is a much more adaptable story than Lewis's Moneyball, which is apparently being optioned for a Brad Pitt movie
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Nov 21, 2009 12:21:15 AM CST
Sandra Bullock...hottest 45-year-old-woman on the planet
by nasty in the pasty
This movie looks like typical "Whitey Guilt" pabalum, but DAMN does Bullock's ass look great...
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Wooh white southerner rides to the rescue of black person. I mean I know that this movie is based on a true story and I ain't seen it so I don't know. I only saw the trailer but it looked like it was rehashing the southern parentalism that was one of the arguments for slavery. Looked fucked up.
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Nov 21, 2009 8:31:51 AM CST
Different Strokes to move the world, yes it does, it takes
by creasybear
Different (oops, "D'ifferent") Strokes to move the WOORRRLLLLD! Just ask our president.
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Hopefully she does win, so she'll go the route of every other Best Actress winner and never work again.
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I post here because I'm right.
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And what the fuck does he know, as he was the only one to give positive reviews to that regurgitated piece of shit Prisoner remake?
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I love her. But that's not why. It's that kind of role. I don't think anyone was expecting it. And apart from Streep, they don't have a lot of umph for Best Actress. It'd be nice to see a current movie star, the Box Office maven this year, get the nod. And I think the Academy is going to want to go in a more people friendly direction this year. They already supposedly have with the ten BP nominees.
I thought the movie was really good. I thought it was just going to be another inspirational football movie. But it actually had a lot of heart and wasn't pandering or anything like that. This has been a week year, so I wouldn't even be shocked if it made it into BP. There are a lot of assumed contenders that are yet to be seen. If they all bomb, they could have to pick some movies they might have normally overlooked. It could sneak in, you never know. -
wipes his anus with her tongue is very moving.
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the breast feeding scene.
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