Blind Side

"Blind Side” is the true story of Michael Oher, a black homeless teen who became the ward of a white Southern family and who, with their help, ultimately became a college graduate and a professional football player. The film stars Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw and Kathy Bates in this sugar coated rags to riches tale about a caring Christian woman who lives her religion in everyday life and the family that supports her in that effort. The film is a typical formula screenplay written and directed by John Lee Hancock who takes us through 126 minutes of watching this “My Fair Laddie” saga as a backward and shy young man becomes a football hero both in school and in the NFL. Diabetics beware because this film is so overloaded with sweetness and caring that even the most sensitive of us will recognize that it is overdone. Ms. Bullock, surprisingly enough, is quite good in the role of adopting mother and Tim Mcgraw, without his goatee, Stetson hat and wife, Faith Hill, holds his own as Ms. Bullock’s reluctant but tolerant husband.I give the film 2 stars with a note that although this non-confrontational picture may be easy to watch , it does not necessarily represent either good drama or good filmmaking.