The Blind Side

I saw this a while ago, but it is still fresh in my mind. The Blind Side surprised me. I thought it would be a fluffy feel-good film about people being nice to each other and learning acceptance. It was far more complicated than that; not in plot (the plot was, essentially, a feel-good film about people being nice to each other and learning acceptance). The emotions were real. They weren't fake. They showed every side of the characters. I felt I knew this family and who they were. I did not roll my eyes at their generosity; I was genuinely touched by it. I don't think this film was hard-hitting or original enough to win Best Picture. I am not even one hundred percent sure that it would be nominated if we were still using the (better) five film system. But I do think that Sandra Bullock did one of the best performances of her career flawlessly and effortlessly and deserves to win. Not because she has had it coming for years (although I'm sure that is why most academy members will vote for her), but because when I looked at this woman, I did not see Sandra Bullock; I saw Mrs. Leigh Anne Touhy. It is very difficult for an actress of her renown to get so lost in a character, but she pulled it off; especially when the character is not quite so different from herself. Meryl Streep has had her turn in the spotlight (several turns, actually), and so has Helen Mirren. Both Gabourey Sidibe and Carey Mulligan are young, and in the Academy's mind, have time to do other spectacular performances that can be recognized. I think Bullock may just walk away with it. And that would be fine with me (although, I wouldn't complain if it went to Carey Mulligan).