Several features and characteristics differentiate the book and screen versions of “The Blind Side” by Michael Lewis. Perhaps, one of the most striking and noticeable contrasts is the “volume” and “size” of the story. Thus, the book has many precise details; the main essence is indicated, and the characters of the heroes are better revealed. Moreover, the narrative about Michael Oher turned out entirely in a concise format in the film. Undoubtedly, the director is not obliged to convey the author’s thoughts on the original book verbatim. Nevertheless, the film was shot perfectly, the scenes are dynamic, and the live acting is incomparable.
Another and no less important detail that one should pay attention to is the difference in the presentation of the material. The writer wanted to outline American football’s key features through the characters in his book. The book shows the evolution and development of a particular sport and its technical moments. At the same time, the film demonstrates an incredible story about the life and activity of one of the successful players and athletes. There, the image of Michael Oher is an example to follow, from whom it is worth learning perseverance and courage. Instead, it looks like an inspiring history rather than a deep and detailed story about football.
The third detail that highlights the dissimilarity between the two types of art in “The Blind Side” is the presence of some contradictions. The book’s author covers some ethical problems and situations related to sports. For instance, one of the coaches decides to “take advantage” of Michael Oher for his selfish purposes, without thinking about the character’s future and condition. In the film version, the case related to the recruitment of players was not covered. Instead, the director emphasized other obstacles the hero faced on his life path – racism, inequality, and discrimination.