Reviewed by Kate Sumpter
The Blind Side, which is based on a true story, was written and directed by John Lee Hancock. Hancock also wrote and directed The Alamo and directed The Rookie. Quinton Aaron plays Michael Oher, a ward of the state, and Sandra Bullock plays Leigh Anne Tuohy, the mother in the family that eventually adopts Oher.
The Blide Side depicts a post-millenial view of the world. It also depicts a world that God controls.
From the opening sequence of 4 seconds in football history to the closing sequence of the newpaper article about the boy dying in a shoot out, the director and script writer describe actions that have consequenses. The 4 seconds (counted as "1 mississippi, 2 mississippi, etc.) mark the time it takes for man to make change in his life. The Tuohys change their lives and consequently Michal's by being a family that loves God and honors His commandment to love their neighbor. This ultimately comes in the form of Michael, ward of the state, with no warm bed to go to at night. The Tuohys adoption of Michael into their family against what is understood as "cool" (which is protrayed by Leigh Anne's friends who meet for lunch) proclaims God's love toward the unlovely. While we are commanded to dwell on "whatever is true, whatever is good, whatever is beautiful", we are also commanded to redeem what is lies, right what is wrong, and love what is unloveable.
Written above the entrance to the k-12 Christian school are the words "With Man this is possible. With God all things are possible", indicate that God is control of all things, yet man has been given dominion over this world under the lordship of King Jesus.
The closing sequence ends with Leigh Anne reading an article in the newspaper about a boy of Michael's age who dies in a shoot out on the wrong side of town. Her comment is "that could have been anyone. It could have been her son."
The movie aptly describes man's fallen nature and sin when the NCAA sends an investigator to question Michael about his family and his college choice. Michael is poisoned by the investigator's lies and believes that maybe his family doesn't truly love him and didn't adopt him because they cared for him, but because they wanted to put on more player on their alma mater's football team. I appreciated this part in the story as it truly shows man's sin and jealousy. Man cannot understand love, only God can for He is Love.
