BougieMom, BougieSis and I headed out to the BougieTheater on Sunday evening to watch The Blind Side starring Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, Kathy Bates and Quinton Aaron. It was entertaining, disturbing and uplifting all at the same time. The movie trailer:
The Blind Side depicts the story of Michael Oher, a homeless African-American teen from a broken (really broken and jacked up) home, taken in by the Touhys, a well-to-do white family who just decide to take a chance and help him fulfill his potential. At the same time, Oher's presence in the Touhys' lives leads them to some insightful self-discoveries of their own. Living in his new environment, the teen faces a completely different set of challenges to overcome. As a football player and student, Oher works hard and with the help of his coaches and adopted family becomes an All-American offensive left tackle. He was drafted in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft and currently protects Joe Flacco's blind side for the Baltimore Ravens. For a great synopsis of his life, read this article from The Independent (UK).
I heard that some "folks" were upset to see yet another film where the kindly white folks have to swoop in and save the day for the downtrodden Negroes. But unfortunately, nobody else stepped up for this kid. And watching the movie, I couldn't help but wonder how many other "Big Mikes" are out there that never get a shot at anything better. Depressing, truly.
I also heard criticism about Sandra Bullock's accent. Well it may not have been pure Tennessean but it was Southern enough for me. I thought Sandra Bullock did a good job but I didn't read Oscar nomination in it. Maybe it's just me.
Long story short, I gave the film 3.5 pumps out of 5. Has anyone else seen it? Any thoughts?
16 Bougie Thought(s):
I have had several debates on rather I would go see this movie or not. I do get irritated by this type of story. I am from Memphis and over the holidays we were having conversations about this movie. Some people who are more familiar with the story said the movie took a lor of creative liberties and sometimes exaggerated things. Not to downplay what good things the family did or the bad circumstances that he came from. My question is when will all the stories of black people helping out their own start to be glorified. Yes I do think we can do more, but I know several stories of us taking care of our own, helping out some one who less fortunate, or even adopting a child into our families. It happens, more than people know. It just does not get movie deals.
As a Tennessean, I'm sensitive about the accents. :)
My mom really wants to see it. I think she's waiting on me to come home for the holidays so we can go. I have no interest, but it's my mom so I'll probably give in.
I think the debate about "yet another whitey saves blacky film" comes (at least from people with sense) the feeling that that's the only story Hollywood ever wants to tell. But you're right, OneChele, no one else stepped up for this kid and that's the rule rather than the exception. Black folks do a lot of whining about our communities and what's not happening, but we don't do a whole lot of "doing" and putting actions behind our words.
I saw it Saturday and loved it. I took my son's and my S.O. and we all loved it, plan on buying the DVD when it comes out. I think his story is truly inspirational, and the moral of this story is; one voice, one person. one random act of kindness can make the biggest change in someone's life. I found it even funnier that I was looking for Michael Oher while I watched the game on Sunday night. I currently live in the heart if the hood and watch these boys and young men head down a road of drugs, murder and mahiem and I truly believe that if someone would just take a little time out and invest in them, their lives would shine brighter than the sun. I gave the more 4 out of 5 purple pumps. LOVED IT!
I saw this last weekend, it was a little formulaic but well done.
Welcome and agreed. I wish we could get more (okay any) "Black Self-Empowerment" stories made in Hollywood. It would be great to see.
Understood - when Jason's Lyric came out I recall being so offended by Allen Payne's "Texan" accent. The line "I ain't neva seen a sunset befo" sets my teeth on edge to this day.
And cosign, there are a lot of folks talking about what's wrong in the community but very few stepping up. Talk does not get these kids fed and educated and clothed.
I don't know, ASmith...I think a LOT of "doing" happens. Thing is, those stories don't get told. I have known a LOT of (black) kids who have been casually taken in by relatives and family friends, fed and clothed by neighbors and teachers, and so on (coincidentally, I'm a native Memphian, too), but no one finds that remarkable, and certainly not worthy of a movie. So then we THINK that black people don't take care of one another, or don't do anything but complain, because it isn't broadcast...it's just kind of what you do. Nobody thinks that is worthy of advertisement, not even the people doing the work.
It might be perfectly entertaining, uplifting, and alla that, but the marketing for this movie--"lookit the tiny spitfire wisecrackin' white Southern Republicans save this poor big silent magical Negro!" just BUGS me in all kinds of ways. It's really the most blatant promotion of "nice white people save the day" that I think I've seen in a while--I mean, the basic premise for the movie's marketing turns explicitly on that strategy. Even the poster irritates me, and I don't usually get worked up about such things.
ps: Sandra Bullock's wig is all kinds of terrible. I cannot buy that any self-respecting well-heeled white woman in the M would step out with that dry straw hairhat. Had to get that off my chest, lol.
This movie made me feel some kinda way. One day I'd love to hear how much was real and what was embellished for Hollywood.
You're absolutely right about families that take in nieces and nephews, grandchildren and cousins, neighbors -- black folks have been doing that for years. My grandparents raised 4 of my cousins (who are my mom's age). It's no big deal to us but when friends hear about it, it's suddenly a story worth telling.
I'm a member of the group who's irritated that those people's stories don't get told. But like you said, they're usually the quietest of the bunch. They're too busy caring for their familes to worry with what Hollywood is or isn't doing. Those loud ones, though -- the ones who criticize movies like Precious AND The Blind Side, I always wonder what they're doing to help. Some of them are doing a lot and others of them, not so much...
Hi and thanks for sharing. I definitely think there needs to be a brighter spotlight shined on "folks helping folks." On a good note, thank goodness it was a wig, I was afraid she fried her hair to that color - not flattering.
I gave it 3 out of 5, I felt that there was a lot we weren't being told. Good for him though for getting out, now what? Is he giving back at all, I wonder? Cause like you said, there are thousands of Mikes out there with no LeighAnne Touhy riding to the rescue in a tan BMW.
I did not like it. I thought they went out of their way to make Michael's character as absolutely pitiful as possible and the Touhy family such benevolent saviors of the little ghetto kid. I hate that. And the scene where Sandra's character rolls up to the hood and threatens the drug dealer? GTFOH, she would have been a statistic on the evening news.
My boyfriend at the time was from Houston and jason's lyric pissed him off sooo bad. He said NOBODY sounds like that!
I thought the movie was just okay.
true. But can't criticism be helpful, too?
Hi! I couldn't recall if I had commented before, but I've been reading your blog for a while now. I likes!
And I just assumed that it was a wig--I don't think my soul could take it if I found she actually did that to her own hair. Yikes.
Did you happen to see the Ravens game this weekend? The commentators were discussing the movie and a conversation they'd had with Michael Oher it before the game...apparently he wasn't totally thrilled with the way he was portrayed. They mentioned, for instance that he was annoyed that (correct me if I am mistaken--I haven't seen the movie) the movie made it seem as if the Touhys introduced him to football and had to teach him all the rudimentary aspects of the game, when in reality he had already been seriously playing ball for several years when they came into his life.
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