Introduction
“The Blind Side,” which John Lee Hancock filmed in 2009, is based on the true story of a football player that Michael Lewis had told in his cognominal book three years earlier. Notwithstanding the seeming commonness of the plot, it raises several problems, such as social isolation and solitariness of orphans, prejudice towards those, and the obstacles that declassed youngsters face on their way to self-actualization. Along with this, the movie makes it clear how hard the work that lies behind achievements is. The acute social conflict that stimulates the development of the main character makes the work under review an exemplary drama, thrilling and inspiring its audience.
Response
The primary emotional reaction to “The Blind Side” is astonishment, which then accompanies the viewer in further watching. The outstanding height and strength of the protagonist, Michael Oher, make an indelible impression from the very beginning; later, the dissonance between those and his mild nature deepens it. The moviemakers presumably sought to communicate the unreasonableness of judging people by their appearance to the audience. Throughout the plot, it becomes apparent that Michael has a strong will along with kindness, which combination is quite untypical, hence naturally arouses admiration. The gradual evolution of the character, which is mandatory in a high-quality drama, provides the viewer with an understanding of his response to difficulties and therefore serves as a motivating example.
The main attraction of “The Blind Side” is its realistic setting that simplifies the plot through the lens of personal experience or dreams. Simply stated, the movie shows ordinary people in their normal surroundings rather than fantastic universes or others, due to which the viewers are more likely to develop an emotional connection with the characters. The latter, in turn, enables transmitting the necessary messages to the target audience, as many may have found themselves in similar situations, hence are able to make the relevant conclusions.
The happy end is another point of interest, as it offers an illustrative example of the eminence to which a person can rise, even notwithstanding his or her humble origin. Actually, the closing scenes are documentaries and show the real Michael Oher during his Baltimore Ravens selection test (Hancock). Such integration of non-fiction materials into a piece of art not solely adds to the realism of the latter but makes it an inspiring success story. Therefore, the movie is possible to classify as a biopic since it describes the maturation and self-development of a famous individual.
It is worth noting that “The Blind Side” is suitable to watch in any circle because everybody can find something essential in it. Thus, a group of mates may see a bright illustration of how important it is to appreciate and respect every person in opposition to the stereotypes. For the members of one family, the movie under review is about support and understanding from the nearest that are critical on the way to success. To students at any level, it will provide a good example to follow, showing that goal commitment and diligent work can surmount the obstacles that seem to be overwhelming. In addition, this positive and appealing work can simply make its viewers happy and restore their optimism.
Finally, the outstanding acting makes the movie not solely artistically valuable but also maximally persuasive. Along with the professionalism of the screenwriter and the dialogist, the high-quality performance enables a realistic expression of emotions. This makes the audience empathize with the characters and probably associate themselves with one or several of those. Simply stated, verbal as well as non-verbal communication in “The Blind Side” is the main evidence of its high standard.
Criteria for Assessment
As said above, the key peculiarity of the dramatic genre is the depiction of a social conflict, involvement in which launches and catalyzes the development of a personality. Therefore, the circumstances that determined the formation or evolution of certain traits in the characters should be apparent to the audience. The clarity of the cause-and-effect relations is one of the key parameters for assessing a drama, as it is critical for the coherence of the plot and, consequently, its adequate perception.
A good sports drama, in particular, has to provide a vivid description of the trials that athletes undergo, normally at the early stages of their careers. The purpose of this is to show the moral strength of the protagonist that becomes apparent from his or her response to challenging or disappointing circumstances. This is another reason why the maximal transparency of causes and effects is essential.
Assessment
The entire plot of “The Blind Side” is built on emotion-driven decisions, which makes it logical and intuitive in parallel. For instance, the only reason why the Tuohy family shelter Michael, who is living as a tramp, is altruism. Later, they adopt him, which choice apparently emerges from their admiration of his mild character and the subsequent emotional attachment (Hancock). Even the improvement in the protagonist’s academic performance, as well as his achievements in sports, derive from feelings rather than ratio; he is simply willing to please those who are kind to him. These and other examples show that the motivation of the characters is clear, which marks a high-quality movie in general and based on emotions, which makes the work dramatic.
Emotions, in turn, are guessable not solely from words but also from intonations and body language that add to their brightness. Thus, in the scenes where Michael plays football, his mimics and gestures indicate the peak of concentration, while those of the spectators show that they are thrilled and astonished (Hancock). The ability of the cast to express feelings non-verbally is the cornerstone of creating a dramatic atmosphere, and “The Blind Side” is a textbook example of this.
The sentiments of the main character are, however, not the only sports-related feature of the movie. The turning point happens when Michael’s adoptive mother, Leigh Anne Tuohy, tells him how to use his height and strength properly during the game, making an analogy to his behavior in his new family (Hancock). After that, his performance improves dramatically, hinting to the audience at the importance of acceptance. Simply stated, the Tuohys respected their adopted son, notwithstanding his drawbacks, and communicated that to him, which soon became his main source of inspiration and motivation. The moviemakers apparently sought to highlight in this scene that the maturation of the athlete would be impossible without emotional security that, in turn, derives from warmth and support. This actually is the culmination that incorporates the dramatic, sports, and biographical components of the movie, making it a complex and multidimensional piece of art.
Competing Viewpoint
Notwithstanding its above universality in terms of the reasons for watching, “The Blind Side” has certain limitations that predominantly are genre-specific. In particular, a sophisticated viewer is hardly likely to find this piece of art extraordinary due to the lack of visual effects. Traditionally realistic settings of dramatic works do not presuppose those, which, however, may be a serious disadvantage for the audience that appreciates spectacularity.
Neither is the movie under review suitable for those who seek relaxation and entertainment, as it appeals to emotions and awakens a variety of them in the process of watching. Notwithstanding the happy end and general positive mood, the work requires a thoughtful and reflective perception; otherwise, there is little to no motivating and inspiring effect. Subsequently, the viewers should be emotionally strong and prepared for the tense moments to perceive the piece of art appropriately.
Conclusion
“The Blind Side” is John Lee Hancock’s adaptation of the book by Michael Lewis that, in turn, focuses on the adolescence of an American football player Michael Oher. The movie represents the genres of a biopic and a sports drama, hence corresponding to the canons of both. First, it tells a true success story with an emphasis on the factors that determined the maturation of the famous personality and were crucial for his career. Regarding the dramatic component, it comprises the difficulties that the protagonist has to overcome, such as being an orphaned tramp and the rejection that he consequently faces from society. Meanwhile, acceptance, approval, and a respectful attitude encourage him to do sports more diligently, which not solely motivates and inspires the audience but also is able to teach them tolerance
Work Cited
Hancock, John Lee, director. The Blind Side. Warner Bros., 2009.