Yes folks, after years of challenging and uncompromising work, it was finally time to recognise the awesome talents of...er, Sandra Bullock. On March 8th this year, Oscar, clearly making amends for his lack of recognition for sterling work in Speed 2: Cruise Control, Practical Magic, and Demolition Man, handed over the Best Actress statuette to Sandy for her performance as sassy, southern, big-black-guy-adopting Leigh Anne Tuohy in The Blind Side. Ok, that's enough sarcasm for today. Bullock has always been an average actress, and she's average in this average film.

Based on the true-life story of African-American Michael Oher, a homeless and barely educated son of a drug addict who was taken in - and eventually adopted - by a rich white family and helped on his way to become a college-football superstar, it's all very familiar Hallmark Channel Sunday afternoon stuff. We've got heart-warming sports montages, soft lighting, gentle dramatics and messages learnt by all. Racism is glossed over, and diversions from the feel-good factor are brief, lest we start to feel anything that's not 'awwwwww'. Even Michael's supposedly drug-ravaged mother looks quite healthy, save for a few wrinkles and a frizzy mop. Yep, everything is gonna work out just fine.

It's hard to take offense, however, when everything is just so inoffensive. The Blind Side is watchable, entertaining and affecting in it's own way. It's no mean feat to get a European audience to understand any of the intricacies of American football, but director John Lee Hancock - opening his movie with the titular metaphor explained through footage of a horrific injury played out on live TV - manages it quite nicely.

As the gargantuan Michael, Quinton Aaron's performance is all in his hulking, sad-sack demeanor and he's more than suitable, if a little out of his depth when turning that frown upside down. Bullock's bafflingly praised turn - all high-heeled Erin Brockovich sass, jangley jewelry and not much else - doesn't get anywhere near a convincing portrayal of a real human being, as Leigh Anne certainly is. Most frustratingly, she never convinces with the reason for taking Oher into her home, with 'kind and rich' seeming to meet the motivation requirements for the 45-year-old actress. Perhaps we'll finally get that female version of Tom Hanks we've all been waiting for; make a career with comedy...win an Oscar...become a VERY SERIOUS ACTOR. Don't forget Sandra, thanks to the Razzies, Hollywood named you the worst actress of the year the night before it named you the best.  

Released: Out Now

Rating: 12A

Duration: 2hrs 7mins

Written by :

Michael Pope