'The Blind Side' Brings Emotional True Story To Screen

By in Entertainment,

The film tells the sensational story of Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron), currently a member of the Baltimore Ravens football team, who rose from nothing.,"The Blind Side" arrived in theaters just in time for Thanksgiving. This true story inspired audiences across the nation, earning the film stunning reviews and well over $100 million at the Box Office.

The film tells the sensational story of Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron), currently a member of the Baltimore Ravens football team, who rose from nothing. A Tennessee native, Oher was taken in by the Touhys, who later adopted him and helped him realize his athletic potential.

This film is based on Michael Lewis's 2006 book, "The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game," which explores Oher's life prior to his college football career at the University of Mississippi.

This story truly portrays the meaning of "what is mine is yours." The Touhys opened their home and their heart to a troubled and lost homeless African American teen.

Despite what others thought or said, the Touhys made Michael feel like one of them and were rewarded by the greatest gift of all – giving.

This film portrays the mesh of two completely different worlds. Leigh Anne Touhy (Sandra Bullock) showed Michael things he never imagined possible. In turn, Michael showed Leigh Anne Touhy a side of Memphis she had not seen before.

You must wonder how does this happen? How does a homeless African American youth become a part of a well to do white family in Memphis, Tennessee? It truly is a rare feat.

Michael enrolled at a Christian private school with the help of a care taker from his old neighborhood and a coach crusading for the "Christian thing to do."

Being the only African American present at the school, Michael became well recognized. While others were scared by his size and unfamiliarity, SJ (Jae Head), the youngest Touhy, befriends him.

The inroad deepens as the Touhys pick him up one night, only to find that he has no place to stay. A night's stay on the Touhys' couch slowly turns into a lifetime as he becomes a part of the family and shares the Touhys' home.

The quiet Michael seems to be harmless despite his large size, but quickly finds his niche as a defensive football player.

He surprises everyone in his quest for a better grade point average in order to attain a football scholarship to the university of his choice.

It seems as though the pieces in the Touhys' and Michael's life fell into place. Their generosity enabled Michael to prove himself and go onto an impressive football career.

In the end, this is a story of give and take which humbles us. It inspires those of us who have more than enough to reach out to those who do not. We may never know how we can change, or even save, someone's life until we reach out to them.

Many critics question the reality of this film, despite its true story basis.

Some went as far as to call it offensive on the premise that an African American uses the help of a white family in order to succeed, placing whites in the role of saviors. I would argue that although the differences of race are depicted throughout this film, it is not the color of skin in the end.

It is no secret that every large metropolitan area has its own impoverished neighborhoods, packed with violence, drugs and homelessness. It is also no secret that such neighborhoods feature a high African American population.

It is unfair to say that this movie portrays whites rescuing an African American only to be depicted as virtuous saviors.

The Touhys happened to be a wealthy, white family who saw someone in need and did something about it. Had the Touhys been any different, it is hard to say if Michael would have been granted such an opportunity.

It is true the film features some unrealistic elements, such as Leigh Anne Touhy's presence on the football field, SJ's conditioning sessions and Leigh Anne Touhy's confrontation with a gang leader.

Wishful thinking in these scenes adds character to the film and depth to Leigh Anne Touhy's iron fist ruling. Although a true story, it is important to remember that this is a film.

Melodramatic elements are necessary in order to make us, the viewers, smile, laugh, cry and ultimately dismiss any dissonance we may feel about the money we spent on a movie ticket.

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