The Blind Side

Directed by John Lee Hancock
Starring Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, Kathy Bates

Plot
The Blind Side depicts the story of Michael Oher, a homeless African-American boy from a broken home, taken in by the Touhys, a well-to-do white family who help him fulfill his potential. At the same time, Oher's presence in the Touhys' lives leads them to some insightful self-discoveries of their own. Living in his new environment, the teen faces a completely different set of challenges to overcome.

Review
I just love a Southern drawl, and Sandra Bullock certainly delivers as Leigh Ann Touhy, the take-charge mother in this story.  Based on the true story of the remarkable true story of Baltimore Ravens offensive left tackle Michael Oher played by Quinton Aaron, this story walks just this side of schmaltzy sentamentalism.

Leigh Ann Touhy is certainly not a woman to be messed with as she sets about almost single-handedly changing Michael's life.  Sandra Bullock certainly delivers her and deserves her Academy Award nomination (I haven't seen most of the other films in the category, so can't commit yet to saying that she deserved the win).  Tim McGraw as Sean Touhy was a wonderful balance and counterpoint to Bullock as an actress and Leigh Ann as a person.  Quinton Aaron as Michael Oher is wonderful.  He has captured well that slightly bruised, shy persona of a large person, and his eyes and face are wonderfully expressive.

The Touhy family are almost exactly as I imagine a Southern, Christian family to be - big house, big personalities and big love.  Which is perhaps why I did like this so much.  I am a sentamentalist and I love family, so this family and their actions appealed to me.