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THE BLIND SIDE

Director: John Lee Hancock

Based on the book by Michael Lewis.

This heart-warming drama is based on a true story of Michael Oher, a homeless African American boy who overcame his troubled childhood to become an All American football player and First Round draft pick.  Nominated for a Golden Globe Award the story focuses on Michael’s journey as he grows in self-confidence and self-awareness and about the loving support he received from his adoptive white family which was so vital for him to grow into the man he was destined to become.

Sandra Bullock plays a central role in this film as Michael’s adoptive parent, Leigh Tuohy, a feisty mother of two who connects with the boy when she discovers he is homeless. Tim McGraw plays Sean Tuohy, the supportive husband who stands behind his wife’s convictions. Kathy Bates puts in a cameo appearance as a tutor who encourages Michael to reach his full potential as a student.

It is a turning point in all of their lives when Leigh Tuohy finds Michael and offers him a room within their home. Once Leigh takes the young boy under her wing her motherly instincts take over and she stops at nothing to protect the newest member of her family. She even searches out Michael’s mother to learn about his past in order to understand the boy she took under her wing.

Adjusting to the new household is a shock to the young Michael but fortunately he bonds with the younger son and feels more comfortable in his role as older brother to his teenage sister. Having spent his childhood years lost in the foster care system we find a young boy who believes he was different from his classmates because he knows so little of his parents.

Feeling like an outcast for most of his life he later comes to term with the prejudice of other people due to his upbringing within a white family. The Tuohy family later acts as legal guardians.  Eventually Michael grows into a promising young man and realizes that the old “friends” he once knew as a child have become caught up in a world of violence with which he can no longer identity as he chooses to fulfill his own dreams in life. Eventually Michael thrives as a football player and later becomes All American Offensive left tackle.

This is a touching film. There are no real surprises when you see it. Over all it is thoughtful, warm and engaging. All the actors do a fairly good job at portraying their characters and it is impressive when you stop and think about it that this story is actually real. Not exactly a G-Rated film it is nonetheless a good film which may inspire one to think about the importance that love and compassion play in shaping the lives of children.

First I would like to start by saying that I loved the television version of Speed Racer and had unrealistic expectations when I heard they were making a movie. I did not quite envision the Speed Racer the Wachowski Brothers brought to Hollywood but it was an enjoyable experience none the less.

Emile Hirsch is handsome and brought a sensitivity to Speed that made you understand his drive toward success. The seductive lure of Royalton’s offer held little appeal when faced with the truth behind the company’s need to win in racing.

Loyal to his father  (despite how badly Pops handled his older deceased brother Rex’s career and fall from grace) Speed’s honor would not let him desert his family when Royalton vows to ruin them all.

The ending was satisfying although I would have wished for more actual racing rather than the CGI version of glitz and glamour.

I sat next to two eight year old male twins that found themselves a bit distracted during parts of the film where I thought they would have appreciated all the bright lights on screen.

Trixie (Christina Ricci) was well cast. She is quite talented and I feel she is an under rated actress. She has made her mark in independent film and much like Johnny Depp seems to choose films that she likes rather than the salary they command.

Pops Racer (John Goodman) was great as the race car builder who was once a professional wrestler. Susan Sarandon (who looks marvelous) as Mom Racer was the perfect fit. She’s a bit quirky but her eccentricity adds to the character of Mom.

Racer X (Matthew Fox) was one of the highlights of the film for me. Despite the fact that he is wonderful eye candy in black he added a darker element to the movie and of  course raises the question of whether or not he was Racer Rex or another type of racer vigilante who worked to right the wrongs of the racing world.

I liked the film and would give it a strong 4 out of 10 but the flash and CGI racing lost its appeal for me. It was a bit too campy. Although the younger brother Spritle (played by Paulie Litt) was entertaining at times he was a bit too annoying for me. After a while I found myself wanting to watch the chimp more than the kid. And with so many kids in the audience I wonder if the character of Spritle will serve as a bad influence on the younger audience by encouraging them to be brats when they leave the theater.

Oh well.  There are always the original television series on DVD. I only hope that future television adaptations like the anticipated Incredible Hunk will do the characters and story the justice they deserved.

Steve Carell best known for THE OFFICE and THE FORTY YEAR OLD VIRGIN surprised me with his portrayal as Dan Burns, newspaper columnist and relationship expert in DAN IN REAL LIFE.

I kind of thought Carell was a talented one note comedy actor but I saw a different side of him in this movie that led me to believe he has a future as a dramatic actor.

In the movie, Dan Burns is raising three young daughters after his wife’s death. Work and child rearing seems to be his life until he travels home to get one his daughter’s away from an ardent suitor.

There he meets Marie, a beautiful woman played by the extremely lovely and talented Juliet Binoche. He falls instantly in love while talking books and being himself for the fist time since his wife had died.

Hours later he learns the beauty is his younger brother’s girlfriend and he finds it extremely difficult to be cooped up with his whole family and the object of his love and growing lust.

When the lady shows him the least bit of encouragement he flirts and passes snide comments to both his lady love and his brother unable to keep his anger controlled at the injustice of it all.

When Marie is given Dan’s book in the movie to her horror she learns every clever and romantic line Dan’s brother ( Dane Cook) has spoken to her had been stolen from his elder sibling.

Unable to continue the farce any longer Marie leaves only to call Burns and asks him to meet her at a nearby bowling alley. There they are free to laugh and enjoy one another’s company without the awkwardness and watchful eyes of his family.

As they indulge in their first kiss the entire family walks into the bowling alley and chaos ensues. The girls are disappointed in their father, his brother punches him in the face and Marie runs away.

Later Dan explains to his family that the woman he told them he met on the first day of his arrival was his brother’s gal and that he had every intention of just letting her go but he fell in love.

His brother seemed to rebound quickly finding comfort in the arms of a wild gal his mom set Dan up with which only confirmed to Dan how much he was in love with Marie.

After the family comes to terms with all that has transpired they accept Marie into the family once again as Dan weds her at the family’s home where all the mischief and chaos took place.

The secondary love story of Dan’s daughter and her young suitor teaches Dan despite his words to the contrary to his daughter one can indeed fall in love with someone in three days.

This movie delivered in a wonderful way. I especially like the fact that it was a family movie and you would not be the least uncomfortable watching it with folks of all ages. That is rare these days as most movies are filled with fowl language and excessive nudity.

Dan in Real Life was directed by Peter Hedges and written by Pierce Gardner and Peter Hedges.

21 has director, Robert Luketic (Legally Blonde, Mother-in-Law) and a well crafted screenplay by Peter Steinfeld and Allen Loeb. It is based on a book by Ben Mezrich. All of these factors has made this film a sure winner at the box office.

Six MIT students are seduced by riches by their ego-maniacal professor(Kevin Spacey) to win big at the casinos to pay for their tuitions and live the high life on weekends in Vegas.

Greed and revenge finds its way into the mix to send the most talented of the players Ben Campbell (Jim Sturges) into a tailspin as he loses everything when he and the professor (Spacey) have a falling out.

Cole Williams ( a security specialist) played rather well by Lawrence Fishburne has a beef with the professor (Spacey) from long ago and sees a perfect opportunity to use the talents of Ben Campbell to act out his revenge.

In the end the MIT students learn a serious life lesson as Ben Campbell who has fallen in love with fellow card counter, Jill Taylor(Kate Bosworth) must decide what is more important in life. Their futures or what greed has taught them.

Overall this was a great movie. The ending is humorous and satisfying. I give it four out of five stars. ****

Footnote* The actual student the book and movie is based on, Jeff Ma has a cameo role as a card dealer in the movie.

This story is all over the media. Apparently Heather LockLear’s psychiatrist was so concerned for her mental state he sent medical help to her home telling them she was attempting suicide.

Can you imagine if everyone who felt depressed with or without the aid of antidepressants confided in their psychiatrists only to have him/her practically call out the national guard because we were having a bad day. How embarrassing. Poor Heather.

If there was a legitimate reason for his full blown response to their phone conversation then he made the right call but according to Heather he overreacted big time.

Frankly I never had the need to take pills for depression but I do know several people who could become suicidal if they did not take their meds.

I often wonder if depression is a mental disease which comes upon us without warning or is it mainly genetic?

I remember while I was growing up when someone would act strangely they would be labeled “nuts,”, “looney” or “insane.”

Now there’s so much more research going into the cause and cure of mental disease. People are listening to other folks’ cry for help. Why is this such a worldwide epidemic?

I feel for those whose lives are disrupted by mental illness. Words such as bi-polar and manic depression were not commonly known and talked about in polite company.

I have several people in my life who are bi-polar or manic depressive. There illnesses escalated when they were in their teens.

People have this image of others who suffer from mental disease as something out of “One Flew out of the Cuckoo’s Nest”. Folks strapped to tables in rubber rooms babbling like imbeciles. It makes for great entertainment but there are far more people walking around with depression than those in mental hospitals.

The many who live with mental illness are full functioning individuals some are famous celebrities, scientists, writers, executives,every day folks from all walks of life.

So getting back to Heather Locklear. We are wrong to assume because actresses have privileged lives they are immune to what ails those who do not have glamorous jobs. They have other types of pressures we don’t have-just take a look at Britney Spears. Oh Boy!

Whatever Heather’s problems are I wish her the best she has given my family and friends much entertainment over the years from Dallas,TJ Hooker to Melrose Place.

You get well, girl!