The Blind Side movie is awesome!

I finally watched The Blind Side last weekend and it's better than I thought it would be. I still think literary works lose some of its substance when adapted for the screen--but bookworm that I am, it's not surprising I feel that way.  It's pretty much a faithful adaptation of the book with a few exceptions--Michael Oher and his adoptive sister Collins Tuohy were actually in the same class at Briarcrest Christian School and started college together at Ole Miss-- in the movie Michael went to college ahead of her. The fight with the neighborhood thug didn't happen... it was actually an Ole Miss football teammate named Antonio Turner who Michael smacked around after Turner said crude things about his adoptive mom and sister.

This movie is heart-warming without being too sappy. Sandra Bullock did a great job playing the no-nonsense Leigh Anne Tuohy and she didn't even have to shed one tear here to be effective. She deserves all the accolades she has received for her performance in this movie. Quinton Aaron also did well, I think he captured the hulking, quiet, gentle young man that was Michael Oher as he was described in the book. I was surprised at how good an actor Tim McGraw is as Sean Tuohy. Jae Head as the tough negotiator kid SJ is really cute and provided a lot of laughs too.

I saw this movie with my friends Rose, Aida and Sharon (pictured above) and we all gave it two thumbs up. It's also wonderful that fellow moviegoers stayed until the credits have rolled to look at the video and pictures of the real Michael Oher being drafted in the NFL with his family and tutor by his side. I'm gratified that the adaptation of one of my favorite books turned out this well and people have flocked to the cinemas to see this inspiring story of a young man whose life was changed by the kindness of strangers who became the family he's never had.

Read more...

The Blind Side breaks box office record

This is wonderful news. It is really great that The Blind Side has become the first film with a female lead to make over $200 million at the North American box office.

Sandra Bullock's inspirational football movie has made over $208 million since its release in the U.S. and Canada. So this means Bullock beat out A-list stars Julia Roberts, Reese Witherspoon and Angelina Jolie for the distinction.

I'm not really a film buff but when a good book I have read gets made into a movie... I get caught up in the excitement. And this movie getting positive audience feedback adds to my anticipation. I can't wait for The Blind Side to open here.

Found videos from ABC's show 20/20 and CBN with the real Michael Oher and the Tuohy family:

Update: Sandra Bullock just won the award for outstanding performance by an actress in a dramatic motion picture at the Golden Globes.

Update 2: Opening in theaters in the Philippines January 27

Update 3:   The Blind Side is now the all-time number 1 sports movie in the US earning $255,119,553 so far.
                 a  list of its box office rankings here.

*** also 'The Blind Side' Tops Weekly BLOCKBUSTER(R) Hit List of 'Top 10 Renting DVDs' 

Read more...

The Blind Side movie reviews are coming in!

I've written in a previous post how much I loved the book The Blindside: Evolution of a Game and how apprehensive I was that the movie based on it might not be any good. It's starting to look like my fear was unfounded at least in early reviews. From trade magazine Variety:

After swinging for the fences and scoring a sleeper success with "The Rookie" (2002), writer-director John Lee Hancock takes the field with "The Blind Side," another uplifting and entertaining feel-good, fact-based sports drama. The combo of top-billed Sandra Bullock's marquee allure and a true-life story with well-nigh irresistible emotional appeal probably would be enough to fill megaplex stadiums at any time of the year. But this Nov. 20 Warners release is particularly well positioned to be a four-quadrant hit as the consensus choice of family auds during the upcoming Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

Critics though seem to have a problem with the ' too good to be true' aspects of the story. I guess it's normal for people to be cynical, to doubt other people's motivations for doing good. Some even say that this movie is racist because it depicts a white family saving a black young man. I mean what's wrong with these people? The life of Michael Oher speaks for itself really, from a homeless kid to millionaire football player in just a few years is an amazing achievement. I hope everyone could just enjoy the movie without looking for hidden meanings in it. For me as long as it doesn't mess too much with the facts in the book - I'm good.

Here's a nice article by World magazine about Michael Oher and the Tuohy family who adopted him.

Update: Opening in theaters in the Philippines January 27, 2010

Read more...

The Blind Side: Michael Oher's story gets the Hollywood treatment

The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game by Michael Lewis is the first sports book I've ever read. It tells the story of Michael Oher an essentially homeless kid from a Memphis ghetto. He came to the attention of the Tuohy family who later on adopted and helped him get into university to play football. It's a very inspiring story about how a life can change with the help of good hearted people. The book is beautifully written and I cheered when Oher got drafted by the Baltimore Ravens. He's currently playing very well for them as an offensive tackle. Now they've made a movie based on the book and I hope they don't mess too much with the story and make it too Hollywood.


I've always hated it when a book I loved gets mangled beyond recognition on the screen. It ruins it for everybody in my opinion. The trailer looks good though so here's hoping it gives the book justice.

Update: The Blind side has been certified 'fresh' by critics at Rotten Tomatoes and it claimed the number 1 spot at the US box office overtaking 'New Moon' on its third week of release. So excited for this movie to get to the Philippines!


Update 2: Opening in theaters in the Philippines January 27, 2010

Read more...