I went to see The Blind Side today. There were lots of previews that had nothing in common other than being dramatic. Or comedies. Or just some totally random collection of movies that had no tie-in to any other movies out at this time. Oh, well, it’s still good to see. But by the time they were finished, I had forgotten what we came to see.
In full disclosure, I had absolutely nothing to do with this movie except as a viewer. With that caveat out of the way, let me say how much I enjoyed this movie. I found it excellent in nearly every way possible. The actors all gave great performances, including the young Jae Head playing SJ Tuohy in a scene-stealing performance. It seemed Kathy Bates had less than five minutes on-screen, yet her presence was immense.
The essential plot is given in either of the two excellent trailers that I saw (which gave the essence of the movie without giving away the movie – a rare feat in trailers today). Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock in her best role so far) and her husband family take in Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron), a large, quiet, practically-homeless black teenager, one Thanksgiving eve and give him a home. They help him to learn, play sports, and become a young man who can live in society rather than be stuck in the trauma of his young life.
Having graduated from Mississippi State, I detest Ole Miss, probably as much as Leigh Anne detests Tennessee. Other than being located on a beautiful campus, I don’t know that I’ve ever had a pleasant thing to say about Ole Miss. Yet, the power of this movie was such that I was actually rooting for Ole Miss. My maroon blood had a blip of red & blue.
Maybe The Blind Side will receive Academy Award attention; I believe it’s certainly worthy of nomination. With a field of ten best-picture nominees, surely a place can be found to honor this movie; it is great enough to be nominated were there merely five choices.
Regardless of critical acclaim and awards or lack thereof, something deeper is at work in this movie. While we all can be better people and treat each other better and be more humane, this movie sounds a clarion call to Christians to step outside the ghetto of the church and be a force of change for good for the sake of people, not power or fame or control. While money can help and is necessary, throwing money at a problem will never solve said problem. It sometimes requires blood, sweat, and tears.
Years of inactivity, lip service, entitlement, and judgment have lead to our society in which Christianity is belittled (somewhat rightly) for overt hypocrisy, in which Christians seem to act merely to gain political power, and in which God is ascribed the source of all things evil and wrong rather than the Father and Author of all things Good in our world that He is.
Christian, you have been called to a higher standard and at great cost and sacrifice. Is it enough to say, “Thank God I’m saved”? is that the extent of the value of our lives? It is not enough to just be right; we must also do right. It is not enough to just be good; we must also do good. It is not enough to just be loved; we must also love.
“…continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” – Philippians 2:12-13, NIV
