This is the story of Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy who take in a homeless teenage African-American, Michael "Big Mike" Oher. Michael has no idea who his father is and his mother is a drug addict. Michael has had little formal education and few skills to help him learn. Leigh Anne soon takes charge however, as is her nature, ensuring that the young man has every opportunity to succeed. When he expresses an interest in football, she goes all out to help him, including giving the coach a few ideas on how best to use Michael's skills. They not only provide him with a loving home, but hire a tutor to help him improve his grades to the point where he would qualify for an NCAA Division I athletic scholarship. Oher was a first round NFL pick in 2009 for the Baltimore Ravens.
It only dawned on me halfway through the film that i recognised the name Michael Oher, and that this was infact a true story about how he came to play in the NFL, but i was already enjoying it, so the fact that it was true only served to enhance my interest!
Sandra Bullock and Quinton Aaron who play Leigh Anne Tuohy and Mike Oher respectively both played their roles very well, presumably why Bullock won an Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role.
That aside, the movie really evokes the sense of lonliness that Mike Oher suffered as a teen in school, and the drastic change the Tuohy's had on his life.
I love this film. It's sooo good.
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