The+Blind+Side+-+Brett+Halperin

=THE BLIND SIDE = **The True Story of Michael Oher **  Told By Michael Lewis﻿ Directed By John Lee Hancock Reviewed By Brett Halperin

Overview  The biography of Michael Oher expressed in Mike Lewis's Novel ,__The Blind Side__, is a phenomenal, outstanding story that all should read. The Blind Side is about Michael Oher's touching challenges, experiences and revamped lifestyle. It all begins when "Big Mike" is taken in by the wealthy Tuohy Family. The Tuohy Family completely transforms the young man's life. Michael was raised without a father, without a stable home and even without a valuable education. Leigh Anne Tuohy brings this stranger into the family immediately embracing him with love and kindness. Leigh Anne and her husband Sean do everything possible to give this boy a chance with a brand new, privileged lifestyle. The Tuohy's enroll Michael in a top notch school and even hire a tutor for him. The children, Collins and SJ, also make Michael feel at home as they welcome him into their family with open arms and compassion. The family enables Michael to over achieve and live up to his full potential. Leigh Anne satisfies Michael's love for football by speaking with coaches, helping him train and doing whatever it takes for him to succeed. When football season begins Michael shines as he dominates his opponents. "Big Mike's" crucial position on the field plays a significant role in the story. The quarterback's safety and protection relies on Michael as he guards the "blind side." As the young man succeeds and prospers, college agents attempt to recruit him with full scholarships. Michael's exceptional performance and new education completely turns his life around, all because of the Tuohy Family's generosity and care.

   Casting The film was perfectly cast by expressive, deep, emotional actors. Every actor did an exceptional job bringing each character to life. The Tuohy Family's love and care for Michael is magnificently portrayed by the actors. In fact, Sandra Bullock who starred as Leigh Anne Tuohy, the Mother of the Tuohy Family, even won an Oscar for her touching performance. Sandra Bullock certainly stood out as an extraordinary actress. She perfectly exemplified dedication and emotion while convincingly performing her role. The director, John Lee Hancock, did an outstanding job assigning actors to fulfill the roles. Each actor showed devotion and a deep connection to their character. Tim McGraw starred as Leigh Anne's Husband, Sean Tuohy, and impressively acted as a support system and caretaker for his entire family and especially Michael. Lily Collins played Collins Tuohy. The young actress remarkably illustrated a loving, encouraging, sister and daughter. My personal favorite, Jae Head, acted as SJ Tuohy. This very young boy shined as a funny, sensitive and motivated addition to the Tuohy Family. Lastly, Quinton Aaron took on the challenging role of Michael Oher. Quinton Aaron exceptionally executed his character with strength, warmth and skill. Every actor delivered a role with perfect communication, expression and poise. The sensational cast made the story come alive and feel very authentic.     <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">  <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: center;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: center;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: center;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: center;"> Themes  <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: center;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;">Although the book and film are the same story, the overall themes expressed differ. In the book there is a greater focus on athletics and the development of Michael Oher's football career. Lewis explains in great detail the importance of Michael's defensive position and the way he excelled at it through high school, college and as a career. The book emphasizes the Tuohy family enabling "Big Mike" to become great at football and attain many sport related opportunities. In great depth, Lewis explains Michael's unique position and the importance of it. The author of the book used Michael's story to explain how it became important to protect the quarterback. Readers learn that because of Michael's position the game of football evolved. Also, the novel highlights a famous football player that was hardly mentioned in the movie, Lawrence Taylor. For many pages Michael Lewis talks about Lawrence Taylor's domination in the game of football. Lawrence Taylor was an unstoppable football player that tried to crush the quarterback and was so powerful that he even transformed the game of football. A professional player (like Michael) was needed to prevent players like Lawrence from harming the quarterback. From the book, I took away that the family mostly assisted Michael in thriving as a football player and not so much as a person. Football as a sport has much greater relevance in the book than in the movie. Furthermore, in the movie the importance of family plays an exceedingly more significant role. Based on the movie, I believed that the Tuohy Family deeply loved Michael like a son and helped him become an overall greater person. They aided him in becoming a better football player but also a better student and person. The theme of the movie touches more hearts and is mainly focused on Michael's story and less on athletics. Lawrence Taylor is only briefly mentioned in the beginning for a second then Michael's story begins. The movie vividly portrays the bonds made between Michael and the Tuohy Family. For example, when Leigh Anne reads to Michael like he is her own son the value of family is shown so clearly. For the most part, the book depicts Michael's involvement with football and the movie shows Michael's entire life being reshaped because of his new loving family. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: center;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: center;"> The Book or The Movie? <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Only have time for one? Can't decide which to pick? I strongly reccommend the movie over the book. The book is truly terrific but in comparison to the movie, it is a "no brainer" decision. The movie contains the same substance as the book and more! When reading the book I did not get the same touching family values. Based upon the book, I believed the Tuohy family only made Michael a super-star athlete but when seeing the movie I realize they made him so much more than that. The warmth and love represented in the movie is so outstanding that I felt deprived and disappointed when reading the book afterward. Being able to witness the challenges and experiences Michael faced is incredibly more meaningful. Not only is important essence left out of the book but also the movie provides visuals which are very pleasing for this particular story. In my opinion, the efficient camera work, sound affects and visuals all work together to narrate the story better than the author. The book simply discusses Michael's previous poor, unfortunate situation living in Tennessee and the cultural divide there. The movie shows how this cultural division was like two completely different worlds. Michael hardly moved away yet his new lifestyle became immensely different. I could deeply feel and see how out of place Michael must have felt living in this "new world." Moreover, Lewis just tells about the relationships between Michael and the Tuohy Family but when seeing the movie I could really see how the love impacted each other through interactions and words. For example, when the little boy, SJ, sat on Michael's lap I felt how Michael had truly become a part of the family. When reading that in the book there was no meaningful moment delivered to me but when witnessing it in the movie there was. Also, the movie delivers Michael's football games much clearer. By watching Michael struggle to get in shape and his devotion to the team I could really understand his commitment and love for the game. Hearing the whistle blow, players hitting ground and the pads slamming together makes everything becomes real. In the book this is all just expressed but does not give you the same thrill. The movie affectively brings the game of football and Michael's experience to life. Lastly, being able to see the car crash scene was devastating. The author describes the car crash that Michael and SJ get in but when reading it I did not feel much emotion. By watching the movie I could hear the metal crashing, the air bags popping and the worried mother screaming for the two boys. This scene certainly caught my attention and made me alert and dejected but when reading about it I hardly felt any emotion. Although the movie and book both excellently told Michael Oher's story, I definitely suggest seeing the movie. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;">  <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 26px; line-height: 39px;">Check Out the Official Movie Trailer  <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;"> <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; text-align: left;">

media type="file" key="The Blind Side - Official Trailer [HD] [www.keepvid.com].flv" width="360" height="270" align="center"

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