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BLINDSIDE |
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This year (2009), the Baltimore Ravens drafted a tackle from Ole Miss as the
23rd pick of the first round. Quite simply “Michael was clearly, I think, the best player available,” said Eric DeCosta, Ravens director of player
personnel. "We're in a very physical division, we’re a very physical team, and offensive line-wise, we feel like
he’s a huge upgrade for us as a player. Great kid – we spent a lot of time with him. He’s a special kid with a
great story. A great player. We're very, very excited to get him. We think he helps us big time." During is four year career at Ole Miss: Ended his career with the 3rd-best active consecutive starting streak (47) among SEC players;
Was a consensus All-American 1st-team and unanimous All-SEC 1st-team choice as a senior, when he won the SEC’s Jacobs Blocking Trophy, given to the conference’s top offensive lineman;
2005: First-team Freshman All-American by Rivals.com and The Sporting News, and he earned 3rd-team honors from College Football News;
Consensus 1st-team All-American and unanimous 1st-team All-SEC choice as a senior when he won the SEC’s Jacobs Blocking Trophy, given to the conference’s top offensive lineman. Pretty impressive stuff. But what is the "great story referred to by DeCosta. That great story
is the subject of Sandra Bullock's lastest film "The Blindside". |
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A considerable step up from Miss Bullock's last film ("All about Steve"), "The Blindside"
features Bullock as Leigh Ann Tuohy - Oher's adaptive mother - and Tim McGraw as the adaptive dad Sean. The film begins with Oher (dutifully played by Quintin Aaron) arriving at an all-white rpivate school with his
foster parents in Memphis TN. His foster dad assist him in getting admitted to the school though his testing puts him well below the shcools admission
norms, but enough Christian guilt is tossed around to get him in. That and his huge size and agility made him a shoo-in for the football team. But his foster parents couldn't agree to keeping him and he either leaves or is put out - left to fend for
himself in the strange town. His plight is observed by Leigh Anne and she invites him to stay with her family on their $10,000 sofa. This plan works out well for her youngest son S.J (Jae Head) who soaks up
the attention of having the big black kid living at his house. His big sister Collins (Lily Collins) at first seems neutral
on the matter but quickly warms up. |
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Little to nothing is known about Michael who detests his nickname of "Big Mike",
so Leigh Anne investigates to learn he is one of 20 children born to a crackhead mother in the Memphis projects. Mike cannot read but can write and comprehends by listening. His grades get high enough so that he can join the football team, which seems
like a given. However, the coach (Ray McKinnon) quickly learns that Mike hasn't a clue about the game of football. He
would rather watch balloons in the air than block the much smaller opponents. Using his tendency to protect those close to him, Leigh Anne clues him in by
having him refer to his instincts rather than the playbook. "Blindside" is a wonderful film with a great performance by Bullock and
adequate performances by McGraw and Kathy Bates (who plays his tutor). But in my book it is Jae Head who steals the
film with his self fulfilling role as Mike "agent" when Mike begins negotiating with the various colleges. In a time when we see athletes from the inner city lose all they acheive, Blindside" is
heartwarming and welcome. Is it breaking new ground? No - that would be the story of a wealthy African American family adopting a
wayward white youth. But make no mistake, "Blindside" is the perfect Thanksgiving movie (especially with the Thanksgiving scene) that
is suitable for the entire family. --GEOFFREY BURTON
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