‘The Blind Side’ shows Christian principles, real-life change
By Dani Nichols |
Posted 9:21 am on November 25, 2009
It’s incredible for us in the Christian conservative minority, when a film comes out of Hollywood that actually believes in the same things we do, and portrays them with love and conviction. Happily, this is the case with with the decidely pro-Christian film “The Blind Side”, which tells the true story of Baltimore Ravens rookie Michael Oher.
As a neglected and homeless teenager from one of the most dangerous projects of Memphis, Oher's life changes the day Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock) sees him walking on the side of the road on a rainy night before Thanksgiving. Telling him “don’t you dare lie to me” Touhy pulls out of the embarrassed boy that he has nowhere to go, so she brings Michael (Quintin Aaron) home, offers him a meal and a place to sleep, and eventually, along with rest of the Tuohys, begins to see him as one of their solid Christian family.
Touhy is no mushy do-gooder. She is strong-willed Christian, conservative, NRA member, wife and mom who unabashedly puts her family and faith first. She is tough, kind, sincere and down-to-earth, and Sandra Bullock perfectly creates a character that we can both identify with and admire.
Christian values often get a bad rap in Hollywood, “The Blind Side” is far from cheesy or unattainably holy. There are multiple touching moments in the film, like when Touhy’s young son helps Oher train for spring football, calling him his “big brother” and when Touhy’s husband Shawn (played by a wonderfully understated Tim McGraw) helps Oher with his final English paper by relating the Charge of the Light Brigade to football.
Anyone who appreciates down-home America and believes in the power of faith and freedom will love “The Blind Side”. It combines the stand-up-and-cheer power of a great sports movie with the poignant and often funny portrait of a Christian family.
The Touhys and their adopted son, Michael Oher, are a piece of America that Washington (and Hollywood) have mostly forgotten about. They are generous capitalists, sensible Christians and hard workers. They believe in true life-change, but rather than rely on a government program or an easy hand-out, they depend on God and their moral compass to see them through tough times. In the life of Michael Oher, the Touhys made an impression that government can only dream of; and seeing such an uplifting story on the big screen gives us all a chance to remember what really matters, and remind us of who we are.
Tags: football, Hollywood, Michael Oher, movies, The Blind Side
Dani Nichols is a freelance writer, editor and designer who has a passion for impacting our culture for Christ with creativity and critical thinking. She loves her husband, intelligent conversation, classic literature, gerber daisies, getting tan, the great outdoors, rural America, and blogging at http://www.wranglerdani.com.
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Latest Comments (1)
imabeliever - November 25, 2009