What Do The Critics Say?

"Played with a focus on low-key charm and quiet drama, and there's a warm, human sense of humor." HITFIX "In probably her best performance ever, Sandra Bullock is downright brilliant." INTERNET REVIEWS "Even if it weren't true, The Blind Side would be a special film." FILMCRITIC.COM "Don't turn a blind eye to "The Blind Side" as it is one of the best films this year!" ENTERTAINMENT SPECTRUM "With a healthy dose of comedy, ends up being one of the best sports films of recent years." BANGOR DAILY NEWS "It's an extraordinary story nicely handled by director John Lee Hancock." URBAN CINEFILE

"Ultimately there’s no doubting that Bullock has created a memorable character in Leigh Anne." ABC AT THE MOVIES AUST "Told in the recognisable Hollywood manner, polished and packaged, but that doesn't detract from its impact." URBAN CINEFILE "Sandra Bullock finally reaches her potential in this heart-warming true story." TOLUCAN TIMES "See it for the heartwarming story it is, and for Sandra Bullock's best movie in quite a while." KAPLAN vs KAPLAN "This movie is smarter than it had to be, which gives its emotional core even more of punch." BELIEFNET "Bullock may have found her Erin Brockovich in Tuohy, commanding the screen with grit and determination." BOXOFFICE MAGAZINE

The Inside Story Family and football were two things Michael Oher (born Michael Jerome Williams Jr on 28/5/1986) had never experienced in his life. But they ultimately became the two things that changed his life forever. Growing up virtually abandoned in the poverty-stricken projects of Memphis (appropriately called Hurt Village) Michael had had few options and even fewer opportunities in life. His mother was a cocaine and crack fiend and his father was murdered while Michael was attending Junior High School. But fate stepped in and he would crosspaths with an unstoppable force in the person of Leigh Anne Tuohy. What followed was a series of events that would be hard to believe: except for the fact that the events are true. Michael became a member of the Tuohy family, who nurtured his abilities both on and off the football field, resulting in an inspiring story that is still unfolding today. Director & screenwriter John Lee Hancock states: "It really is two different stories, one of which is more of a question: Who is Michael Oher and why did the stars align to shine so brightly on this kid from the projects in Memphis? And then on the other side, it’s a great story about how this unique family evolved, and the unconventional mother-son relationship at its center. Sports, specifically football, was the engine that propelled the story forward, but he could have been a dancer or a pianist: it wouldn’t have made any difference. The journey that Michael and the Tuohy family go on is the heart of the movie."2010 Oscar ® nominee Sandra Bullock, who stars in the role of Leigh Anne Tuohy, notes, "The beauty of the story is that you think it’s one thing and it turns out to be something else, and those are usually the best things in life. I thought the script was going to be about football until I read it and realized that it’s really about family." She adds that, while it is obvious how much the Tuohys did for Michael Oher, "it was not that one-sided. They certainly did a good deed in taking in this young man in such a loving and generous way. But, in turn, he brought out a side of their family that they didn’t even realize was missing. The family seemed to have all the success and joy in the world, but when Michael showed up, it was as if he was the final piece to the puzzle." Her observation is confirmed by her real-life counterpart, Leigh Anne Tuohy, who offered: "I think Michael had a much greater impact on our lives than we did on his. You take so much in life for granted, but when Michael moved in with us, he made us realize how blessed we are. We viewed life differently after he joined our family." How Michael Oher became a part of the Tuohy family was first chronicled in the best-selling book "The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game", written by Michael Lewis, who had previously focused on the sport of baseball in his bestseller "Moneyball". Lewis revealed he stumbled on the story of Oher and the Tuohys almost by accident. "For anyone who wants to interpret the whole thing as some kind of miracle, there’s a lot of evidence." Lewis, who had gone to high school with Leigh Anne’s husband, Sean Tuohy (a sports commentator who owns around eighty fast food restaurants under the Taco Bell, Long John Silver's, and Kentucky Fried Chicken banners), had initially contacted his old classmate to interview him for an article about their school baseball coach. That eventually led to his meeting Michael and learning of his relationship with the Tuohys. The book The Blind Side juxtaposes Michael’s story with an in-depth look at how the position of left tackle on a football team has grown in importance, instigated by a single, unforgettable play: Lawrence Taylor’s career-ending sack of quarterback Joe Theismann in 1985. Theismann, who was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2003, had his right lower leg bones broken midway between his knee and his ankle, when he was tackled by New York Giants linebackers Lawrence Taylor and Harry Carson in a monday night NFL match on the 18th of November 1985. The injury was so bad, that his leg, from his foot to his mid-shin was lying flat against the ground, and the upper part of his shin up to his knee was at a fourty five degree angle as the two linebackers brought him down on the sack. Theismann would end up with his left leg longer than his injured right leg and retired at the age of thirty six. He went on to become a commentator for CBS & ESPN. In 1989 he hosted the first half of the first season of "American Gladiators". Tim McGraw, who stars as Sean Tuohy, asserts that you don’t have to be a sports fan to appreciate this film. "Whether or not you are interested in football, or sports at all, the story behind this movie is so heartwarming, I think it will appeal to everyone." Producer Broderick Johnson ("Insomnia") agrees. "The appeal of this story is the combination of heart and humor, as well as sports, which has had its share of negative press in recent years. In fact, so much of the general news these days is about all the things that are going wrong and this is one of those instances where something very positive happened that transformed both Michael Oher and the Tuohy family. It’s an inspiring story in a world that’s divided, in large part, by the 'haves and the ‘have-nots'. It shows that you can be a good Samaritan and it can benefit you as much as the person you’re helping. I think it’s very entertaining, but it’s also very powerful." One of the things that set the film apart was that when the book was published, and even as the movie was being made, much of Michael’s story was still unfolding. Producer Andrew A Kosove ("Dude, Where's My Car?") explained: "It is a current events story, as it were, but I don’t think that creates complications as much as it creates opportunities. It’s very timely, especially in the 21st century, when we have come to understand that there is no set type of family. We live in a society made up of different kinds of families, where the only things that really matter are our love and support for one another. I think that’s a wonderful thing, and it’s a message that people can really relate to in this day and age." The fact that "The Blind Side" takes place in the present day also benefited Hancock (who wrote the screenplay for "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil"). "I loved the book and spoke at length with Michael Lewis, who is a fantastic writer, but, if possible, it’s always important to meet the real people and hear how they talk instead of just reading it. So spending time with the Tuohys and Michael and being around them as a family was invaluable." For the Tuohy family, seeing this chapter of their lives become a best-selling book and then a major motion picture was somewhat bemusing. Sean Tuohy recalls, "When Michael Lewis first called, he was going to write a nice, little article. We still haven’t quite figured out how, somewhere along the way in this whole thing, it went from a nice little article to a book and now a movie." "The Tuohys opened up their home and their lives, so we felt a great deal of responsibility to do right by their family, and that’s a lot to live up to," says five time People's Choice Award (USA) winner Bullock. "You want people to be entertained, but you also want them to leave the theatre with a genuine understanding of who these people are. I know that was important to John, who was determined that we not do anything that didn’t ring true. It was one of the things I really liked about working with him." Casting the film began with two time Screen Actors Guild Award winner Sandra Bullock ("Crash" & "The Blind Side"), who Kosove says was "the first and only choice for the role of Leigh Anne Tuohy." Bullock, who describes Hancock as "a wonderful filmmaker" read the screenplay and recalls: "It was a beautifully written script. It had all the right beats in all the right places. And I was amazed how John gave every one of the characters such a nice arc. Each character has a distinct journey." Nevertheless, it took some convincing on the part of Hancock to get the actress to accept the role of the headstrong wife and mother. Producer Kosove ("The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 1 & 2") confirms Bullocks assessment of the films director/writer stating Hancock is "a fantastic writer and an outstanding director. We knew he would hit this movie out of the park: or should I say into the end zone; which is exactly what he did." Hancock revealed "Sandy liked the script but was having trouble figuring out how to portray Leigh Anne. We would meet and she would ask all kinds of questions, but I wasn’t able to come up with the answers she was looking for." "That was my biggest reservation," Bullock ("Demolition Man") declared. "John would try to explain her to me, but he’d always fall short. I kept feeling something is missing." "I think Sandy was understandably frustrated with my inability to describe the character," Hancock said, "but that’s because Leigh Anne is indescribable." In the end Hancock arranged for Bullock and Leigh Anne to meet. Hancock finally said: "Sandy, you just have to meet her. So we went down to Memphis and I introduced her to Leigh Anne. It turned into a full day spent with Leigh Anne and everything that involves: craziness and mayhem and fun and laughter and getting a lot of stuff done in very short order. At the end of the day, Sandy turned to me and said, 'Okay I get it'. She had experienced firsthand the tornado that is 'Tuohy time', and we were off and running." The strength of Leigh Anne Tuohy’s personality made casting the role of her husband Sean, in Hancock’s words "difficult. We had to have an actor who would make Sean feel just as important as she without having as much screen time." They found everything they were looking for in actor and country music superstar Tim McGraw. "It felt like a natural fit and he turned out to be fantastic. I loved working with him," Hancock states. But the biggest casting challenge of all was finding the right actor to play the role of Michael Oher. They discovered the perfect combination of size and personality in an aspiring actor named Quinton Aaron, who was living in New York when he was called in to audition for the film. Two weeks later, he was being flown to Los Angeles to meet with Hancock and the producers. "When I read the story, I saw that we had a lot in common. Neither of us knew our fathers growing up. I was the biggest kid in my school; he was the biggest kid in his school," Aaron ("Be Kind Rewind") notes. "I kept to myself a lot and was more of a quiet, shy kid, and that’s pretty much what he was like. I also played some football at one point, but I wasn’t good at it." In preperation for the role Aaron would lose 100 pounds and attend an intense, seven week training camp with football practice twice daily. The training continued during filming. Producer Gil Netter ("BASEketball" & "The Perfect Catch") notes everyone involved in making the film, "shared a common goal, no pun intended. The entire cast and crew wanted to do justice to this extraordinary story and the people behind it. It made the whole production a tremendously fulfilling experience, from beginning to end, and I am very proud of the movie." Synopsis

Teenager Michael "Big Mike' Oher is surviving on his own, virtually homeless, sleeping in the local laundry and in his schools gymnasium; until one wet night when he is spotted on the street by Leigh Anne Tuohy. Learning that the young man is one of her daughter’s classmates, Leigh Anne insists that Michael: wearing shorts and a t-shirt in the dead of winter; comes out of the cold. Without a moment’s hesitation, she invites him to stay at the Tuohy's home for the night. What starts out as a gesture of kindness turns into something more as he becomes part of the Tuohy family despite the differences in their backgrounds. Living in his new environment, the teen faces a completely different set of challenges to overcome. As the family helps him fulfill his potential, both academically and on the football field, his presence in their lives will lead them to some insightful self-discoveries of their own.

The Verdict "When it comes to football, there's nothing better than the one involving the Sherrin. Well, at least in the eye's of (or is that one-eyed) Oztralians. Unfortunately, in the big picture, the world does not revolve around Australia's national sport, Aussie Rules. It's a bitter pill to swallow for footy fans, so good luck trying to explain that to a dedicated AFL supporter. The fact that many Oztralians are one-eyed footy fans may cause some problems for 2010 Oscar ® nominee Sandra Bullock's new film: "The Blind Side". Cinemagoers who are so precious as to think that our brand of football is the greatest game in the world will probably struggle with, or instantly dismiss, this inspirational tale of NFL star recruit, Michael Ohre. That still leaves plenty of room for those of us who appreciate either: (1) the skill involved in playing any sport at the highest level; (2) a film based on an engrossing, uplifting, true life story, or (3) a damn good film involving both the aforementioned. Grammy Award winner Tim McGraw who plays Sean Tuohy in "The Blind Side" sums it up this way: "Whether or not you are interested in football, or sports at all, the story behind this movie is so heartwarming, I think it will appeal to everyone." I think that after seeing "The Blind Side", cinemagoers will agree with that assessment. But here's a warning to heed. Wait until you've seen the film before you go searching the 'net'. The 'spoilers' that have been posted on the 'net' may nag at you: even diminish your level of enjoyment once you're in the cinema. "The Blind Side" has been nominated for Best Picture and Best Actress at the 2010 Academy ® Awards. It's Sandra Bullock's first Oscar ® nomination and she thoroughly deserves it. I'm sure all her fans will be rooting for on the big night. WORTH THE EFFORT! 4 STARS." Who's Playing Who You Ask!

Sandra Bullock Tim McGraw Quinton Aaron Jae Head Lily Collins Ray McKinnon Kim Dickens Adriane Lenox Kathy Bates Catherine Dyer Andy Stahl Tom Nowicki Libby Whittemore Brian Hollan Melody Weintraub Sharon Morris

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Leigh Anne Tuohy Sean Tuohy Michael Oher S.J. Tuohy Collins Tuohy Coach Burt Cotton Mrs Boswell Denise Oher Miss Sue Mrs Smith Principal Sandstrom Literature Teacher Sarcastic Teacher Jay Collins History Teacher Investigator Granger

The Hard Working Production Team

Director Writer Adapted from Producers Original Music D.O.P. Film Editor Casting Production Designer Art Direction Set Decoration Costume Designer

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John Lee Hancock John Lee Hancock the Michael Lewis book "The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game" Broderick Johnson/Andrew A Kosove/Gil Netter Carter Burwell Alar Kivilo Mark Livolsi Ronna Kress Michael Corenblith Thomas Minton Susan Benjamin Daniel Orlandi

Run Time 128 minutes Rated PG [AUST] Copyright ©2010 - Warner Bros Films - All Rights Reserved ©1999-2010 The Movie Pages & impact Internet Services. All Rights Reserved. Protected by Australian and International Copyright. Trademark Laws and Intellectual Property Rights apply.