The Blind Side Movie Poster

From Movie Posters for Sale: Not the underdog-team-wins-in-the-end but it is about compassion, family and the meaning of love. Maybe that sounds a bit sappy, but for me, it didn’t come off that way.

Some will find in The Blind Side movie tangents to chase over racial or even political issues. But that would be unfortunate because then the message is missed. No, you don’t want every movie you watch to deliver a message. But every once in a while it’s good, especially at this time of the year when we are thinking more about our families and what our loved ones mean to us.

While certainly there is embellishing as in any story, The Blind Side reflects the true story of a wealthy white family (the Touhys) in Memphis, Tennessee that take in a homeless black kid (Michael Oher).  The movie is based on the book, The Blind Side Evolution of a Game by Michael Lewis.

I was interested in seeing this movie for several reasons. Yes, I do like sports and sports movie. They typically are inspirational and I do like being inspired. I am a Tennessean and there is that connection since the story takes place in Memphis. I’m a bit of a fan of Tim McGraw who plays the father Touhy. I got to meet McGraw at a wedding a few years back and like his music such as Live Like You Were Dying. And of course, Sandra Bullock who plays the mom isn’t bad to look at – and she never looked better in than in this move. Bullock played the role very well, though I’m not sure she will win an Oscar as some have suggested.

Along the line of actors, you’ll find the little brother quite entertaining. In fact, there’s a good bit chuckles in this movie. Some will find the niceness of the teenage daughter unrealistic I suppose, but it’s refreshing to see a teenage girl portrayed this way rather than the typical spoiled, bratty kid.

Just a few day ago, I caught an interview on TV of Michael Oher, now left tackle for the Baltimore Ravens. He seemed very humble and grateful for all that happened in his life. The interviewer reminded him that the Touhy’s had said that they as a family had been blessed more by him than they felt they had been a blessing to him. It was an almost incredulous look on his face and he didn’t seem to know how to respond. He knew that his life was dramatically different from what it might have been if not for the Touhys.

There is the inclusion of Christianity in this movie. It is a realistic and honest inclusion as part of the story without being preachy. Some “Christian” movies, while movies with good messages, often come off sounding overly religious and not real. The Christian life portrayed in this movie appears more real and down to earth without using religious in-house church talk.

I believe that this is the kind of movie that will influence many of its’ viewers to think about what they can do to help others. It need not be as dramatic as in this true life story. But at Thanksgiving, above any other time of the year, we are reflective on all that we have in life. We only have to look around a little to see others who aren’t doing so well, and could use as they say, not a hand-out necessarily, but a hand-up.

The Blind Side movie poster that you see below is a fairly simple one and communicates the heart of the story, as well as the two central characters. (The blind side is also the back side!) I suspect people will get this poster to place in schools, churches, or maybe even at home to remind all that see it to think about family, love and giving.