The Blind Side, Blu-ray + DVD/Digital Copy (2009)
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Quinton Aaron, Kathy Bates, Tim McGraw
Directed by: John Lee Hancock
Studio: Warner Home Video [3/23/10]
Video: 1.85:1 for 16:9 1080p HD
Audio: English DTS HD-MA 5.1; French and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish
Extras: Deleted scenes; “The Real Michael Oher” exclusive interview; “Sidelines: Conversations on The Blind Side” featurette; “Acting Coaches: Behind The Blind Side” featurette; “The Story of Big Quinton” featurette; “Free Willy: Escape from Pirate’s Cove” theatrical trailer; DVD copy; digital copy
Length: 128 minutes
Movie Rating: **** Video Rating: ****1/2 Audio Rating: ***
“The Blind Side” is based on the real-life story of NFL player Michael Oher. Michael (portrayed by Quinton Aaron) is a gentle giant of a man who was born in a Memphis black ghetto. In and out of foster homes throughout his youth, the teenage Michael is given the chance to attend a parochial school when an athletics coach recognizes Michael’s potential in sports. Homeless and struggling with his classes after being admitted into the school, Michael is taken in by the affluent Tuohy family that consists of designer Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock); her fast-food mogul husband Sean (Tim McGraw); and their two children, Collins (Lily Collins) and S.J. (Jae Head), both of whom attend the same school as Michael. Although Leigh Anne only plans to provide Michael with a place to sleep for a few days, a mutual attachment quickly develops, and the Tuohy family thereafter petitions to become his legal guardian. The Tuohys, who are all die-hard football fans, also introduce Michael to the sport, and after a rough beginning, he soon excels in the position of left tackle. Michael becomes so accomplished at left tackle that his prowess catches the attention of several coaches who aggressively compete for his commitment to attend their respective college programs.
“The Blind Side” is a great family film. It delivers a positive uplifting message without resorting to preaching to the viewer. Sandra Bullock’s Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role is well-deserved for her portrayal of Leigh Anne Tuohy. Bullock masterfully interweaves the qualities of Southern charm, spunk and compassion into her performance. Her supporting cast also does a fine job with Kathy Bates and Jae Head providing some of the movie’s funniest moments. “The Blind Side” is worthy of repeat viewings and makes a fine addition to any Blu-ray collection. Recommended.
The overall high definition video quality of this Blu-ray is excellent. Images are crisp with razor sharp detail. Black levels are consistently dark throughout the film. Colors are vibrant and rich with well-saturated hues. Picture defect mastering is commendable with no noticeable flaws or compression artifacts. The overall audio quality is good; the soundtrack predominantly favors the front channels. Dialogue is natural-sounding and always intelligible, even when Michael quietly mumbles through some brief conversations. The surround channels are mostly utilized for the football scenes and music score. The low frequency effects channel does not see much action but does deliver some thump when the football players collide on the field.
-Calvin Harding Jr.
