"The Blind Side" tackles number one spot at the box office

December 7, 2009:I am at local sports bar with the guys enjoying the company, the wings, and Monday Night Football. It's the Ravens at the Packers. Whenever the Ravens play you can expect a hard-hitting array of strength and emotion, grunts and growls galore.

However, looking at the line-up I didn't look for Ray Lewis, the team captain and Super Bowl MVP. I wasn't interested in last year's rookie standout, Joe Flacco. No, my sights were set to the left of the quarterback, at the left tackle. This is an interesting position. At the snap of every offensive play, this man has to block the interloping defense and protect the quarterback's back-his blind side. On the Ravens, this position is held by a 6-4, 309 pound rookie by the name of Michael Oher.

Though he is a physical specimen of strength and intimidation, Michael Oher's true effect is how his success is touching audiences across America. Michael's story is the subject of the number one movie in the box offices this past weekend, "The Blind Side."

"The Blind Side" stars Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw as a family that takes a teenager off the streets and into their home. This is the true account of how the Tuohy family showed care for the struggling and abandoned Oher. The tale is remarkable enough due to the nature of goodwill and love between the true life characters, but is even more compelling considering the success of Michael as a college football standout and now starting lineman in the National Football League.

Actually, the athletic success of Oher is not only an aspect of his story, but becomes an interesting and unexpected controversy in the film. This adds another element to the already interesting script that you will have to see played out to fully appreciate.

The film is an excellent depiction of a believable scenario. Moreover, if you don't know the story, or even that it is based on a true story, when its truthfulness is revealed at the end with photos of the actual people as the credits roll, the story hits the heart a bit harder.

Bullock plays the role very convincingly as the hard-nosed mother who goes out of her way to positively influence a needy kid off the street. The character of Mrs. Tuohy is that of the perennial Southern firecracker who is firm and snappy in her personality, yet caring and nurturing in her nature. She takes care of, and eventually adopts, an underprivileged, urban male from the crime and drug infested streets of which he was a victim.

The other main character and subject of the film, Oher, is played by a virtual newcomer in Quinton Aaron. Oher's character is heavily portrayed as a soft-spoken, yet physically commanding presence, which Aaron plays well. The implications are that Oher is a very emotionally inclusive person and is physically overpowering when he is forced to be, usually when he is protecting himself or loved ones. Bullock's character teaches Michael to harness his protective nature positively and apply it to football.

As noted on NFL.com, Ravens' director of player personnel Eric DeCosta states, "We're in a very physical division, we're a very physical team, and offensive line-wise, we feel like he's a huge upgrade for us as a player. Great kid-we spent a lot of time with him. He's a special kid with a great story."

He most definitely does have a great story. His story is so great it is the number one movie in theatres, even topping the diminishing sparkle of the recent "Twilight" film. As great as the story is, the film is equally commendable.

This makes the movie title even more meaningful to audiences. "The Blind Side" in football is the side opposite of the quarterback's throwing arm, the side his back is facing; in common terms it is the area where one's vision is impaired and one is vulnerable; and in respect to the film it is the manner in which Michael Oher was an unforeseeable blessing for the Tuohy family. Moreover, "The Blind Side" snuck up on a vulnerable box office and Michael made his impact felt.

On a 10 point scale, "The Blind Side" is a strong 8.0