Review by Gary Tooze

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Description: Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron) knows little about family. Less about football. What the homeless teen knows are the streets and projects of Memphis. Well-to-do Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock) knows little about his world. Yet when she and Michael meet, he's found a home. And the Tuohys have found something just as life-changing: a beloved new son and brother. This real-life story of family and of Michael's growth into a blue-chip football star will have you cheering with its mix of gridiron action and heartwarming emotion. Share the remarkable journey of the college All-American and first-round NFL draft pick who was a winner before he ever stepped onto the playing field.

 

 

The Film:

One of the many turning points in “The Blind Side” — a movie made up almost entirely of turning points and yet curiously devoid of drama or suspense — comes during a Memphis high school football game. Michael Oher, the offensive tackle whose remarkable life is the subject of the film (and of the nonfiction best seller on which it is based), is having trouble protecting his quarterback.

An especially obnoxious player on the opposing team taunts Michael and evades his blocks down after down. But finally Michael snaps into focus and, on a climactically important play, grabs hold of the guy and steamrolls him all the way down the field, dumping him into the stands as the crowd (in the stadium and also, most likely, in the movie theater) cheers.

What Michael (played by Quinton Aaron) does to that hapless defender is pretty much what Sandra Bullock does to the audience for the entirety of “The Blind Side,” which is a very long time. Ms. Bullock plays Leigh Anne Tuohy, a Memphis decorator who, along with her family, rescues Michael from homelessness and sets him on a path to football stardom. The outlines of the story — and the details as recounted in Michael Lewis’s book — are both interesting and inspiring. A wealthy, white Southern family adopts a poor black teenager, cultivating his athletic gifts and providing him with the comfort and safety of a happy, loving home.

Excerpt from A.O. Scott located HERE

Image :    NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.
 

Warner's VC-1 transfer on Blu-ray looks smooth, bright and pristine. Colors are vibrant and detail immaculate. One of a handful of important titles for the studio last year they have done it up right with a competent dual-layering and a solid bitrate. There isn't much more to say - green's seem particularly lush, flesh tones appear accurate - contrast exhibits healthy, black levels accentuating sharpness. Daylight scenes are more impressive and nothing is overly dark. The 1.85 theatrical aspect ratio has been 'widescreened' to 1.78. The Blu-ray image approaches glossiness but never quite gets there and grain is unnoticeable. It's clean, bright and crisp - some depth - but no texture. It suits the film in absolute terms showcasing the 1080P format quite impressively.

CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We have another healthier-than-necessary lossless track with a relatively untested DTS-HD Master 5.1 at 3477 kbps. It supports the film perfectly with a few deft separations - and some subtle ones as well. The mix responds adeptly when called upon but outside the football field grunts and crunches - there isn't much exercise for your surround system. Dialogue is clean and clear and Carter Burwell's underplayed original score is an excellent adjunct to the proceedings. There are some foreign language DUBs - as well as optional subtitles and my Momitsu has identified it as being a region FREE disc playable on Blu-ray machines worldwide.

 

 

BOTTOM LINE:
This is a very good, if cascading-ly lightweight, family tale with both football and Bullock, at her most charismatic, tossed into the mix. It's really flawless - never reaching an excessively cloying level thanks to the Leigh Anne Tuohy character whose counter balance raises the film's overall appeal to above-average notoriety. The Blu-ray is similarly without weaknesses looking and sounding excellent - faithfully replicating it's production intent. For a 'feel good' cinema experience - it rivals anything that came out in 2009. Recommended for those in the mood. 

Gary Tooze

March 18th, 2010

Reissued January 4th, 2011: