The Blind Side - One of the best movies of the year, by far!

If you don't get choked up multiple times in this movie, something is wrong with you. Personally, I think if you don't cry at least once, something is wrong with you, but that may be me wanting to feel justified for staying choked up during pretty much the entire film, and crying, lets just say...more than once. But I'm a crier in movies. There, I said it. I cry in movies. But this one isn't just some tear-jerker movie. This one starts pulling at your heart strings from the very beginning of the movie and keeps pulling for the next 2 hours. This is the most heart-warming movie I have ever seen in my entire life. Everything about the movie makes you smile. I was happy for 2 days after I saw this movie, just because every time I thought about it, my heart felt warm. Nothing makes you feel better than a good 2 hours of laughing (yes, you'll also laugh) and happy crying (and no you won't be crying the whole time).

Now, I know I'm probably being overly sappy about this whole thing, but I honestly have never felt better and more hopeful walking out of a movie than I did walking out of The Blind Side. Guys, if you are a crier in movies like me, you may want to go alone or with someone who has already seen you cry because you may get a little embarrassed by the amount of dust in your eyes during that movie. Girls, brings some Kleenex and an understanding person to sit next to. Or, you could just go to a matinee, by yourself like I did, and let it all come out. But let me say, it's happy crying, not sad crying, so you'll be both smiling and crying at the same time.

For those of you who have no clue what I'm talking about, The Blind Side is the story of real life Pro football player Michael Oher. Yes, it's a movie with football in it, but its not your typical sports movie. So those of you who don't like football or sports movies, don't get scared. This is a true story about the power of kindness, of love, of family, and of what people can achieve and overcome with the right people fighting for them. Once again, this sounds overly sappy and dramatic, but the fact is, what happened in this movie really happened. People actually did what that did in this film, and that is what makes it a truly great, heart warming film and not some over done, cliched sports film.

Michael Oher was a homeless Memphis teenager, the son of a crack-addicted mother, one of 13 kids, who was taken in by the Tuohy's (played Tim McGraw and Sandra Bullock), a wealthy family who eventually become his legal guardians. With their help and support, Oher, who was all but illiterate and had never played football before, becomes a success both academically and athletically, earning a scholarship to Ole Miss and then being drafted by the Baltimore Ravens.

I loved this movie for many reasons. It was incredibly heartwarming like I've already said a million times, but it's also got a lot of funny parts. Most of these come from Jae Head who plays S.J., the Tuohy's youngest kid. He is very gregarious and outgoing and watching his interaction with all of the famous SEC coaches who have cameos in this film is incredibly funny. While I'm on the topic of the SEC, this movie takes place in the South and is about a family that went to Ole Miss. So for me, being a fan of SEC football, it was great seeing Phil Fulmer, Nick Saban, and Tommy Tuberville, just to name a few, play themselves in the movie. But the real stars of the show are Sandra Bullock, who plays the mom, Leigh Anne Tuohy and Quinton Aaron, who plays Oher. Bullock is beautiful and blond and southern and fiery and hates Tennessee (I do too) and loves her family, and everyone of us from the South knows a woman exactly like the person she plays. And she nails it. I once had a crush on Sandra Bullock after I watched Speed, and now I think I do again. Quinton Aaron plays the gentle giant that Oher is to a 'T'. From the first minute you meet him, you want to help him, you feel great when great things happen to him, and feel crushed when bad things do. Although he is larger than any normal human should be, and is the physical protector, you really feel what the Touhy's felt in needing to emotionally protect him.

I recommend that everyone goes out and watches this movie. Young or old, guy or girl, football fan or football hater, if you like to smile you'll love this movie. For those of you who don't like to smile, well...watch this movie and you'll do it anyway. (The Real Oher and Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy) -------------------------------->