"The Blind Side" - Based on a True Story from Foster Care to the NFL
The Blind Side: A Feel-Good Movie About the Power of Love and support in Foster Care
From the Streets to NFL Football: A Foster Child's Journey of Work, Talent, and Triumph
The Blind Side, starring Sandra Bullock, ranks among the top-earning sports films ever made. It boasts a 7.6/10 rating on IMDB and has raked in a worldwide box office revenue of $310 million. The movie was adapted from the Michael Lewis book, "The Blind Side: Evolution of the Game."
With a profit yield of ten times production costs, it was a success not only for movie makers but also for Sandra Bullock. She played the role of Leigh Anne Tuohy, a mom who took in a Black teenage boy from foster care and poverty. Her performance earned her first Academy Award for Best Actress in 2010. She also won the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Drama Motion Picture that year.
The real star of this based-on-true story is Michael Oher, who overcame the odds of many foster care teens. Oher journeyed from poverty and foster care to play the highest level of professional football as an NFL linebacker. Oher suffered neglect due to his birth parents' drug abuse and incarceration. He raised himself and found his way into the foster care system when his father died in prison.
The movie fails to detail Oher's natural talent and backstory. Before Tuohy's family took him in from foster care, Oher ranked as a Scout.com 5-star player and also the #5 as the most promising high school offensive lineman in the United States. It seems his talent for the game was in his genes, cultivated by hard work and opportunity.
Oher had talent and determination. However, without his foster family, he may not have gone to college or played professional football. He struggled academically and started his first year of high school with a GPA of only 0.6. Oher initially failed to meet NCAA Clearinghouse regulations.
Michael Oher put in the hard work and took advantage of a consistent support team. He was the beneficiary of instruction from his academic community and support from his foster family. Oher pulled his GPA up to 2.57, which met the criteria for him to play college football. He followed his dream to play football for Ole Miss.
"The Blind Side" is a feel-good movie for the whole family. Reviews criticized the movie for portraying an idealistic view of fostering youth. However, this big-screen story shows how every child can thrive with loving family members and a stable foster home.
The story's true message is that abuse and neglect do not define children. Adults who have failed them need not diminish their hope for their futures. The love and support of family are amazing, and children can seek support and care from many others, as well. In Oher's words, "I'm not dumb, I just wasn't educated."
While Virginia entitles foster kids to full college scholarships, fewer than 4% earn a college degree by age 25. Foster kids age out of the system at the age of 18 years. Without a family to support them, these youth often struggle to meet their basic needs. Many haven't earned a high school diploma and must find housing and an income before they can contemplate college.
Foster teens supported by a loving family can focus on their potential rather than on survival. This inspiring story features stellar acting performances and exciting cameos within the realms of sports and entertainment.
In real life, Oher continues to inspire millions of kids with his life story and his football. The Baltimore Ravens drafted Oher as the 23rd pick out of 256 players in 2005. Oher and the Ravens completed the season with a Superbowl XLVII victory in 2013. Reports indicate that his lifetime NFL revenue exceeds $34 million.
Michael's Oher's personal review of the movie about his life is mixed. He liked the movie and remains friends with Sandra Bullock and others. However, he felt his portrayal as an introvert missed the mark. He considers himself to be a fun, outgoing guy focused on his community.
Oher and his family join the ranks of alum as passionate Ole Miss football fans.
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