Oher’s story is close (enough) to the truth

When I’m being a typical guy, I don’t like to cry. In public or elsewhere. But especially not in public.

That may be why I have such a problem with movies based on Nicholas Sparks novels. I hate feeling manipulated toward emotions that cause my eyes to well up. It’s usually easy, then, to smirk my way to the exit.

Some films, though, do a better job of hitting those key emotional points. Not perfect, maybe. But effective. Such a film is “The Blind Side.”

Right off, when I found myself sitting through the trailers, I giggled at the thought of Sandra Bullock pushing her way into the “based on real life” story of a homeless kid (Quinton Aaron as football player Michael Oher ) struggling to overcome his brutal childhood. But then a couple of things happened.

One, I read the original New York Times article upon which author Michael Lewis’ book and later John Lee Hancock’s movie were based. It is an amazing story, one that Hollywood just couldn’t ignore. Two, the character played by Bullock is, more or less, close to reality.

Oher was an oversized kid who, having survived a traumatic childhood, was pushed by his uncle into a private Christian high school in Memphis, Tenn. Struggling with the course work, ignorant but not stupid, Oher came close to failing - until he attracted the attention of a few caring teachers and the Tuohy family (father Sean, played by Tim McGraw, and mother Leigh Anne, played by Bullock).

The Tuohys ended up adopting Oher, giving him a home, a tutor and helping him earn grades high enough to win a scholarship to their alma mater, Ole Miss (attracting an investigation by the NCAA, later dismissed). Today Oher plays left tackle for the Baltimore Ravens, protecting the blind side of quarterback Joe Flacco.

Yeah, the movie takes liberties. Among other things, Oher had played football since the eighth grade, so he wasn’t quite the raw talent the movie portrays. But Hancock gets enough right - including the scene where Oher carries an opposing player right off the field - and the acting is within believable bounds to make “The Blind Side” feel mostly right.

It is, as my wife says, a pretty good offering in the genre of Cheesy Sports Film.

Nicholas Sparks should check it out. He could learn a thing or three.

Below : Tape of Michael Oher being drafted by the Baltimore Ravens.