Saccharine telling of the true story of the younger school days of NFL player Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron – Be Kind Rewind, Halfway) and the wealthy family who take him in.
As good as homeless, a younger Michael ‘Big Mike’ Oher is offered a sporting scholarship at an elite Memphis school. Befriended by S.J. Tuohy (Jae Head – Hancock), the smallest kid in the school, Michael finds himself under the scrutiny of a determined, take-no-nonsense Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock – Gravity, Miss Congeniality). What starts as the offer of a place to sleep one wet, winter’s night changes Michael’s life – with bemused family and friends of the Tuohys looking on.
It’s an extraordinary story with the force of Bullock carrying all before her. But sadly director John Lee Hancock (The Founder, Saving Mr Banks) focusses too much on the feel-good aspects rather than a balanced reality of racism, privilege and prejudice.
Nominated for 2 Oscars in 2009 including best film, won 1 for best actress (Bullock).
Rating: 54%
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