Here are some of the reviews for “The Blind Side” which hit theatres yesterday:
Michael Sragow, Baltimore Sun – “The Blind Side” has a supremely satisfying wrap-up: photos of football player Michael Oher with his adoptive family and the footage of his selection by the Baltimore Ravens in the NFL draft. There’s nothing like that tingle of authenticity coming after a resonant fact-based story. Without restraint or subtlety, but with a lot of heart and energy, this movie tells a real-life tall tale – make that Big and Tall – en route to these closing attractions.” Read the full review
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post – “Grounded in the direct, disarming truth of their experience, the movie has a straightforward lack of cheap sentiment that saves it from being either too maudlin or saccharine-sweet.” Read the full review
James Berardinelli, ReelViews – “In a head-to-head comparison, one would be hard-pressed not to declare that “Precious” is the better film – it makes fewer compromises and doesn’t shy from showing the true ugliness only hinted at in this movie, but The Blind Side is more accessible.” Read the full review
Joe Leydon, Variety – “Uplifting and entertaining feel-good, fact-based sports drama.” Read the full review
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times – “Sandra Bullock and newcomer Quinton Aaron have a warm and winning chemistry in director John Lee Hancock’s fact-based story of a football-loving white family’s adoption of a homeless black teen.” Read the full review
Michael Rechtshaffen, The Hollywood Reporter – “Bullock is an irrepressible hoot in writer-director John Lee Hancock’s otherwise thoroughly conventional take on Michael Lewis’ fact-based book “The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game.” Read the full review
A.O. Scott, The New York Times – “The film, not unsurprisingly for a holiday- (and football-) season release from a major Hollywood studio, plays this story straight down the middle, shedding nuance and complication in favor of maximum uplift.” Read the full review
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly – “A feel-good movie that never stops feeling good. The film is based on a true story (it was adapted from a nonfiction best-seller by Michael Lewis), but you never feel that Hancock has honestly captured what’s true about it.” Read the full review
Then again, who really gives a crap what the critics think! Go see it for yourself and you decide. From what I hear, Michael Oher hasn’t even had a chance to see the movie yet. Then again, he kind of has more important things to worry about this week, like Dwight Freeney and the Indianapolis Colts defense! Michael, your play so far this season already gets a 4-star review, but Sunday will be your biggest challenge to date. Beat the Colts, and we’ll give you and the entire team an honorary Oscar!
