The 2009 family sports drama movie “The Blind Slide” was directed by The Alamo’s John Lee Hancock. The story, which takes place in Tennessee, centers on Michael “Big Mike” Oher (Quinton Aaron), a young African American man who faces extreme poverty. His father is not involved in his life, and his mother struggles with addiction. Despite being placed in a number of foster homes, he keeps eluding custody and returning to his mother. He is assisted in enrolling at Wingate Christian School by Tony Hamilton, the father of one of his friends, but struggles academically there, leading the teachers to believe he is not the best candidate for the school.
Following his expulsion from his friends’ house, Michael moves into the school gym. When he attracts the attention of Leigh Anne Tuohy and her family one evening on his way back to the gym, everyone’s lives are subsequently changed. The Tuohys warmly welcome Michael into their family and assist him in realizing his full potential while Michael helps them stay together as a family. Michael continues to accomplish great things. He participates in football, goes to college, and is chosen to play in the National Football League. You should know this if the film’s upbeat story has you questioning whether it was based on real events.
Is The Blind Side Based Upon A True Story?
The Blind Side is, in fact, based on a true story. The script for the movie was written by Hancock himself, and it was adapted from Michael Lewis’ non-fiction book “The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game” from 2006. All five of Sean’s biological children, Collins (Lily Collins), Sean “S.J.” Tuohy Jr. (Jae Head), and Leigh Anne’s husband Michael (Tim McGraw), are real people. Though the project received some criticism, including from Oher, for the liberties the film took in the adaptation process.
As a devout Christian like Leigh Anne, Bullock was initially hesitant to accept her role in the movie because she thought she couldn’t portray the character convincingly. However, after she met Mrs. Tuohy, she had a different perspective. She even consented to a pay reduction in return for a share of the profits. After becoming a huge hit and surpassing its $29 million budget at the box office, “The Blind Side” earned Bullock the Best Actress Academy Award.
What Does The Blind Side Mean?
The term “blindside” in American and Canadian football refers to the area a player (typically a quarterback) cannot see. The tackle is the name of this position in a game. In both the movie and real life, offensive tackle Michael Oher is involved. Protecting the quarterback and anyone else with the ball is his primary responsibility. The focus of Lewis’ first book is not solely on Oher. The other subject of the source is linebacker Lawrence Taylor.
Taylor is mentioned numerous times in the movie even though he doesn’t actually appear in it. ‘The Blind Side’ contains both true and made-up events. As depicted in the movie, Michael Oher’s real biological father was murdered, and his mother had a history of addiction. Moreover, as the film depicts, Michael’s family was indeed big — he had 12 siblings. Tony Henderson, who oversaw an athletic program for the youngsters in his neighborhood at the time the movie was released, is the inspiration for Tony Hamilton, the friend’s father who helps Michael get into Wingate Christian School. Wingate Christian is a made-up institution.
Which School Did Michael From The Blind Side Go To?
Michael actually went to Briarcrest Christian School. The school administrators asked the producers not to use their institution’s name out of concerns about the script’s artistic license. Hugh Freeze was Michael’s football coach at Briarcrest. Based on him, Burt Cotton appears in the movie. He did assist Michael in enrolling at Briarcrest, and he later contributed significantly to the younger man’s growth as a football player.
Sean and Leah Anne eventually adopted Michael, as the movie depicts. Collins, their daughter, first told them about him. But according to reports, Sean got in touch with Michael before Leah Anne did. To assist Michael in raising his grades, the Tuohys actually hired Miss Sue, a private tutor (Kathy Bates). The Baltimore Ravens picked Michael in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft after attending the University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, the alma mater of Leah Anne and Sean. The NCAA investigation that was the subject of the movie actually took place.
On Shaming
An affluent white family, the Tuohys. Since the movie’s debut, it has come under fire for allegedly propagating the myth of the “white savior.” Michael also took issue with how the movie portrayed his intelligence and how, prior to moving in with the Tuohys, he didn’t know much about football. In his 2011 autobiography, “I Beat the Odds: From Homelessness to The Blind Side and Beyond,” he provided his own perspective on the events. So, despite some obvious inaccuracies, “The Blind Side” is ultimately based on a true story.
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