The movie? Blind Side, of course. If you have watched any sports on TV in the last 3 months you've seen the promotional trailers for this move about Michael Oher and how a white Memphis family intervened in his life to change what was surely another black ghetto tragedy into what appears to be a successful career in the NFL. It's a true story, and incredible in itself. We first heard about Oher when Sports Illustrated published an excerpt from Michael Lewis' book, “The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game.” To be sure, Lewis' book is not just about Oher - he's just one part of the evolution of the left tackle in pro sports, but the movie is about Michael and the Tuohy family who adopted him. Literally.
Here's a (lengthy) synopsis of the story, but I really recommend you go to the movie. It will make you feel good - and disturb you at the same time.
Now, where was that movie guide? We're on a roll here.
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6 comments:
A couple of questions:
Can you tell me what would be disturbing without giving away the plot?
I ask because my second question is: would you take your grandchildren to this movie? (That's hypothetical, not a request for a baby-sitting job.)
It's disturbing because for every Michael Oher that gets "saved" there are a thousand others that do not. And whose fault is that?
This movie is not about football. It's about relationships and doing what is right. The grandsons in the family would "get" this movie - and it could be a good teaching moment. It would go over the granddaughter's head.
There is some language; not much, but strong in at least one place that I recall, and there is a seamy side of Michael's background that might raise some hard-to-answer questions. "Daddy, what's a crack-whore?"
How does anyone who talked his somewhat oblivious grandmother to taking him to see Blazing Saddles get off asking about movie appropriateness?
And I don't think the last characterization in Dad's comment is in the movie. I think that's from one of the the articles (SI or New York Times or the book), rather than in the movie.
I guess I'd say I'd recommend the movie for the grandson(s) because of the conversation that would/could occur as a result of seeing it.
Hey, there is a world of difference between me as a 9 year old and me as the father of a 9 year old. Funny how perspective changes, huh?
Well, perhaps you'll be motivated for a a - gasp - third movie in six months, because a friend went to see Invictus yesterday, and she said it was great. Kind of like _Victory_, but in more of a "doing the right thing" sense.
Um, well, yes... Invictus is on our list, as well as Sherlock Holmes. SEE! See what happens when you give in to the dark theater - I mean side!
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