Oscar Nominated Film "The Blind Side" Full of Stellar Performances

Courtesy of: Blogs.ajc.com

Since its release in November 2009, The Blind Side has been winning over the acclaim of critics and the general public. With numerous nominations at award ceremonies including the Oscar for Best Picture, and Sandra Bullock taking home the Best Actress award at the 82nd annual Academy Awards, The Blind Side is undoubtedly one of the biggest movies of 2009.

Though there is nothing particularly wrong with the film, there is some criticism to be had towards the Academy of Motion Picture arts and Sciences’ decision to nominate the film for best picture.

The heartwarming story of current Baltimore Ravens defensive lineman Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron) is not the main focus of The Blind Side’s story. Regardless of the fact that the story wouldn’t exist without Michael, the movie follows Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock).

A wealthy interior designer who almost always gets her way, Leigh Anne is compelled to give Michael a place to stay after seeing him on the streets with nowhere to go. What was intended to be a one-night thing turns into much more as Leigh Anne extends her generosity to Michael and welcomes him into her family.

One thing about this film that stands out above everything else is the acting. Bullock’s performance is obviously stellar. It has gained her notoriety since the movie’s release. Some of the other acting in the film didn’t come off quite as polished at first, specifically that of the college football coaches. What made up for these subpar performances was finding out that these coaches weren’t played by actors, but by the coaches themselves. This was a touch that added another level of authenticity to this true story.

The performance of Michael himself even seems dry at first, but after watching him develop you see how well this plays to his character. Starting out soft-spoken, he makes a dramatic turn by the end of the film.

The acting isn’t the only great aspect of The Blind Side. The story is compelling, the comic relief is funny, the drama is eye swelling, and the short sports oriented scenes are all very exciting. The film delivers on all of its promises and will leave most viewers satisfied.

However, The Blind Side not a film worthy of the nomination for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. Just receiving the nomination is an incredible feat for a film, and The Blind Side didn’t deliver on such a level. A film on that level would have to tell a story as well as represent something in a sort of “bigger picture” kind of way, or possibly have some sort of innovative style.

In the case of The Blind Side, that isn’t what you get. This doesn’t mean that the film isn’t worth the $10 plus admission fee, or even the $20 plus home video price. It just means that there were better films to consider for the award.

In past years with fewer nominees, The Blind Side may not have even made it into consideration. With stunning performances, excellent presentation and an enticing true story, this isn’t a film to sell too short.