Bejeweling the true story of Michael Oher’s metoric rise to NFL fame with Sandra Bullock was a smart move as the Oscar winning turn as Leigh Anne Tuohy elevates what could have been a fairly mundane biopic to something more satisfying.

Despite the focus on Oher’s rags to riches story this is Bullock’s film, and her homespun philosophy fires from her like a roman candle and she makes up for the rest of the characters in the film who fall in line as their relationship to her dictates. Therefore her family are Supportive Husband, Huffy Teen Daughter and Irritating Kid Brother who each play out their designated reactions to the decisions of Bullock’s character and the arrival of Oher in their lives.

Yet for the lack of dimension inherent in the background players Bullock’s sassy, smart mouth matriarch stands out, riding the line between irritant and engaging with great support Quinton Aaron as the deprived young man.

Andy reviewed The Blind Side for HeyUGuys and we talked the film over on Mouth Off and I can only add that on Blu-ray the film works very well and perhaps feels more attuned to the home audience as there is an almost Movie of the Week touch which a fiery Bullock performance belies.

The special features on the disc are exactly what they should be for a film of this sort, and the tagline of ‘Based on an Extraordinary True Story’ begs for a deeper look and the featurettes focusing on the real life characters and Bullock’s transformation are good fun. The deleted scenes add very little but they all help flesh out what is a fun, though perhaps slightly mawkish, look at this inspirational story.

Here’s the list of special features to illuminate the Blind Side,

Special Features:
• Acting Coaches: Behind The Blind Side
• The Story of Big Quinton
• Sidelines: Conversations on The Blind Side with Sandra Bullock and Leigh Anne Tuohy
- Tuohy On Set
- First Meeting
- Becoming Leigh Anne
• Sidelines: Conversations on The Blind Side with director John Lee Hancock and author Michael Lewis
- Why The Blind Side
- Sandra and Leigh Anne
- Michael Oher
- Miracles
- Meeting Leigh Anne
- Gender Identity
- Finding
- Book to Screen
• Deleted Scenes
• The Real Michael Oher: An exclusive interview

Sandra Bullock is making huge, Golden Globe shaped waves in the US with this film.

The Blind Side elevated Bullock to uncharted heights when it became the highest earning film with a female lead and while the proud boast on the poster that the film is Based on an Extraoridnary True Story usually turn me off this looks like one to warm the hearts.

The excellent people at LoveFilm have the poster and the synopsis:

Teenager Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron) is surviving on his own, when he is spotted on the street by Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock). Learning that the young man is one of her daughter’s classmates, Leigh Anne insists that Michael – wearing shorts and a t-shirt in the dead of winter – come out of the cold. Without a moment’s hesitation, she invites him to stay for the night.

What starts out as a gesture of kindness turns into something more and Michael gradually becomes part of the Tuohy family. Living in his new environment, the teen faces a completely different set of challenges, both on and off the football field

Here’s the not at all photoshopped poster, looks sunny and inspirational. The film is out on the 21th of March.

It’s always a bit odd watching these award ceremonies when movies that get nominated haven’t even been released yet. This is the case in The Blind Side, Sandra’s Bullock’s new movie. I say new but she’s already a Golden Globe Award winner for this role in the Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture — Drama, category. The trailer nearly makes me cry every time I watch it which probably means I’ll be a blubbering wreck but the end of the motion picture! What can I say, I’m a crier!

Here’s the international trailer for The Blind Side, which, as well as Bullock stars Tim McGraw, Quinton Aaron and Kathy Bates and it’s released March 12th.

Synopsis: Teenager Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron) is surviving on his own, virtually homeless, when he is spotted on the street by Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock). Learning that the young man is one of her daughter’s classmates, Leigh Anne insists that Michael—wearing shorts and a t-shirt in the dead of winter—come out of the cold. Without a moment’s hesitation, she invites him to stay at the Tuohy home for the night. What starts out as a gesture of kindness turns into something more as Michael becomes part of the Tuohy family despite the differences in their backgrounds.

Here’s the second trailer for Sandra Bullock’s new movie ‘The Blind Side’ (first here). I’m such a wimp but I can’t help but well up every time I watch this sort of movie where it’s the poor, under-privileged kid being taken in by the well-off mum – especially when it’s a true story. Man, it gets me every time!

It’s directed by John Lee Hancock and also stars Quinton Aaron, Kathy Bates, Lily Collins, Tim McGraw and is based on the book by Michael Lewis.

Synopsis: Michael Oher, a homeless African-American youngster from a broken home, is taken in by the Touhys, a well-to-do white family who help him fulfill his potential. At the same time, Oher’s presence in the Touhys’ lives leads them to some insightful self-discoveries of their own. Living in his new environment, the teen faces a completely different set of challenges to overcome. As a football player and student, Oher works hard and, with the help of his coaches and adopted family, becomes an All-American offensive left tackle.