The Blind Side

 Directed by: John Lee Hancock

Memorable quotes:

Leigh Anne Tuohy: There's a moment of orderly silence before a football play begins. Players are in position, linemen are frozen, and anything is possible. Then, like a traffic accident, stuff begins to randomly collide. From the snap of the ball to the snap of the first bone is closer to fours seconds than five.

Leigh Anne: Up to know, the play's been defined by what the quarterback sees. It's about to be defined by what he doesn't.

Leigh Anne: Lawrence Taylor is the best defensive player in the NFL and has been from the time he stepped onto the field as a rookie. He will also change the game as we know it.

Leigh Anne: Now, y'all would guess that, more often than not, the highest paid player on an NFL team is a quarterback, and you'd be right. But what you probably don't know is that, more often than not, the second highest paid player is, thanks to Lawrence Taylor, a left tackle. Because as every housewife knows, the first check you write is for the mortgage, but the second is for the insurance. And the left tackle's job is to protect the quarterback from what he can't see coming. To protect his blind side. The ideal left tackle is big, but a lot of people are big. He has long arms, giant hands, and feet as quick as hiccup.
This is a rare and expensive combination, the need of which can be traced to that Monday night game and Lawrence Taylor. For on that day, he not only altered Joe Theismann's life, but mine as well.

Coach Cotton: He's a brave kid. For wanting to come here, for wanting a quality education. An education denied by him by the poor quality of schools he has attended.

Coach Cotton: Look at the wall: "Christian". We either take that seriously or we paint over it. You don't admit Michael Oher because of sports. You admit him because that's the right thing to do.

Leigh Anne Tuohy: "What'd I miss?
Sean Tuohy: Collins just got a dig.
S.J.: It's girls' volleyball, mom. You didn't miss anything."

S.J. Tuohy: Smile at them. It let them know you're their friend.

Leigh Anne: And where does the acorn fall?

Collins Tuohy: How'd the dork do in the school play?

Leigh Anne: "Was this a bad idea?
Sean: What?
Leigh Anne: Don't lie there and pretend like you're not thinking the same thing as me.
Sean: Fine, tell me what you're thinking so I'll know what's supposed to be on my mind."

Leigh Anne: "You don't think he'll steal anything, do you?
Sean: I guess we'll know in the morning."

Leigh Anne: So Big Mike, you like to shop? Because tomorrow I think I'm gonna have to show you how it's done.

Leigh Anne: "Fine. Tell me just one thing I should know about you. Just... just one.
Michael Oher: I don't like to be called Big Mike.
Leigh Anne: Okay. Tell you what: from now on, to me you're Michael."

Leigh Anne: "If this is all you got, why does it say "Big and Tall" on the sign?
Shop manager: "Big and Tall". You need Bigger and Taller."

Leigh Anne: Have a great day. Learn something.

Leigh Anne: Oh, don't get your panties in a wad.

Leigh Anne: "You wanna stay here, Michael?
Michael: I don't wanna go any place else."

School teacher: "It's funny though. He tested in the 98th percentile in one category.
Leigh Anne: Which one?
School teacher: Protective instincts."

Michael: "It's mine?
Leigh Anne: Yes, sir. What?
Michael: Never had one before.
Leigh Anne: What, a room to yourself?
Michael: A bed."

S.J.: Enough with the rugby shirts. You look like a giant bumblebee.

Sean: Whoa, whoa! Hey! I'm working even when I'm not working.

Sean: "What?
Leigh Anne: What?
Sean: Why are you smiling?
Leigh Anne: I don't know, I'm just happy. Real happy.
Sean: Does this happiness have anything to do with Michael?
Leigh Anne: No. It has everything to do with Michael."

Leigh Anne: Poor Michael's like a fly in the milk in that place.

Beth: "Honey, you're changing that boy's life.
Leigh Anne: No, he's changing mine."

S.J.: What about dad and mom? Because, you see, in our family, everyone's an athlete. Dad was a basketball player star. Collins plays volleyball and runs track. And me, as you know,  I do it all. And mom, well, mom was a cheerleader, which doesn't exactly count, but don't tell her I said that. Okay?

Leigh Anne: "Michael, why do you want a driver's license?
Michael: It's something to carry with my name on it."

Sean: "He's like an onion. You have to peel him back a layer at a time.
Leigh Anne: Not if I use a knife."

Leigh Anne: "You're right.
Sean: Excuse me? "You're right?" How'd those words taste coming out of your mouth?
Leigh Anne: Like vinegar."

Leigh Anne: "Well, at least promise me you'll think about it.
Sean: All right.
Leigh Anne: "All right, you'll think about it" or "All right, we should do it"?
Sean: Is there a difference?"

Leigh Anne: "I'd like to become a legal guardian.
Woman at the desk: Lord help that child."

Sean: "Well, we'd like to become your legal guardians.
Michael: What does it mean?
Leigh Anne: What it means is that we wanna know if you'd like to become part of this family.
Michael: Kind of thought I already was.
Leigh Anne: Well, all right then."

Collins: "He wanted a truck?
Sean: Well, Michael thinks he is a redneck."

Coach Cotton: Well, at least he'll look good coming off the bus. They'll be terrified till they realize he's a marshmallow. Looks like Tarzan, plays like Jane.

Leigh Anne: Tony here is our quarterback. You protect his blind side, okay? When you look at him, you think of me, how you have my back, how you have his, okay?

Leigh Anne: Oompa-Loompa here is your tailback. When you look at him, think of S.J. and how you'd never let anyone or anything hurt him. You understand me?

Leigh Anne: I said you could thank me later. It's later Bert.

Leigh Anne: Hey, crotch-mouth. Yeah, you. Zip it or I'll come up there and zip it for you.

Miss Sue: I'm a spiritual person, Mrs. Tuohy, but I have certain, shall we say doubts?

Miss Sue: "Mrs. Tuohy, um, there's something you should know about me. I don't usually tell many people but it's something I feel you should be aware of before you hire me.
Leigh Anne: Uh... What is it?
Miss Sue: I'm a democrat. "

Miss Sue: "How big is your head, Michael?
Michael: Big.
Miss Sue: And what's in there?
Michael: A brain.
Miss Sue: A brain. It's full of knowledge. Like a cabinet with maps, and shortcuts for figuring things out. You'll get there, Michael Oher, because I'm here to help you use those maps."

Sean: Who's d have thought we'd have a black son before we knew a democrat?

Leigh Anne:" I find him extremely handsome.
Sean: Yeah, I'm right here Leigh Anne.
Leigh Anne: Yeah, I know. "

S.J.: Coach, help me help you.

Michael: I mean, any fool can have courage. But honor, that's the real reason you either do something or you don't. It's who you are and maybe who you want to be. If you die trying for something important then you have both honor and courage, and that's pretty good. I think that's what the writer was saying. That you should hope for courage and try for honor. And maybe even pray that the people telling you what to do have some too.

Leigh Anne: "Am I a good person? Not a joke. Not rhetorical.
Sean: You are the best person I know. Everything you do, you do for others.
Leigh Anne: And why is that.
Sean: I have not a clue. But you obviously get some sort of sick satisfaction out of it."

Michael: "And when she was finished or the bad things were over, she'd say: "Now, when I count to three, you open your eyes. The past is gone, the world is a good place, and it's all gonna be okay."
Leigh Anne: You closed your eyes."

Leigh Anne: Michael Oher, you listen to me, all right? I want you to enjoy yourself, but if you get a girl pregnant our of wedlock, I will crawl in the car, drive up here to Oxford, and I will cut off your penis.

Michael: "Why does she always do that?
Sean: She's an onion Michael. You have to peel her back a layer at a time."


Plot: Michael Oher is no ordinary teenager. He is really big, yet seems almost invisible as no one seems to notice-or care- that he is homeless and has no one to take care of him like all children should have. Thankfully, his road crosses Mrs. Leigh Anne Tuohy's and her family. She gives him a home, clothes, food, but more importantly: she gives him a family.

Review:

The Blind Side is an outstanding and moving movie based on real events. I loved it ever since I had the opportunity to see it, and it definitely made it to my favourite movies' list. I love inspiring stories, it just makes you feel good about humanity again.
The Blind Side got everything you would want to see in a film. The plot is absolutely touching and it will make you cry, laugh, hope and dream. You get to see a family that seems to have everything going for them welcome into their home and life a teenager, Michael, that they don't know at all and who is just so different from them. Not everyone would have done this, that's for sure. I also think that a white southern family welcoming a black kid must be still pretty rare, and vice versa. So that was definitely heart-warming to witness. I loved seeing the relationship between all the characters grow as they get to know one another better. Mrs Tuohy is just this strong independent working woman who is incredibly kind, sensitive and fiercely protective of her family, including the new addition in her family. It's good to see someone stuck up for their principles and actually being a good Christian, unlike many who just proclaim they are, yet would stab people in the back at the first occasion. I think this woman is just an incredibly good example to follow. Despite her being wealthy, she actually realizes how lucky she is and tries to do something useful and good with her money. Her husband is also fantastic. The relationship between the Tuohy's children and Michael is also a blast to see develop on screen. The youngest is especially hilarious and it's nice to see how comprehensive and affectionate he is toward a total stranger. The chemistry they has is really touching.
I think that what I loved most was seeing this family grow and learn from Michael. I especially loved how we could see that Leigh Anne Tuohy and Michael actually have loads in common personality wise, even though they look so different outwardly.
Sandra Bullock, who is an amazing actress, once again did an absolutely stunning job at portraying Mrs Tuohy. I thought the accent she took seemed rather natural as well, which helped make her believable. Tim McGraw was also incredibly sweet in this movie. Shame he doesn't star in more movies, but maybe that's what make his presence feels so special in a film. I loved him in Flicka, loved him here as well. I think he does act really well for someone that wasn't trained to be an actor.
I'd also say that the role fit him perfectly.
In addition, I'd like to point out a little nice touch that was done during the ending credits. I love when we get to see photos of the real people a film is based one. They did the same years later on  127 hours and Soul Surfer, and I always think it's good to remind people that what they just saw on screen actually happened. I think it's also a good way of honouring all those real life heroes and making everyone aware of what they've done. We can never get enough role models!