Oh Sandra, you deserved it after all.

Don't let the title of this post fool you. I'm not ragging on Sandra Bullock. You see, I've always rather liked Sandra Bullock. As a comedic actress, I think that she is impeccable. Sure she's made some crappy movies. I sometimes think that it just comes with the territory of being a comedic actor or actress that people want to pay more attention to your bad roles than your good ones. My theory is that it's because people expect more out of a comedy. They tend to attract wider audiences, and if they disappoint, more people will be talking about it. And comedies are not easy. Especially romantic comedies, (which Sandra Bullock seems to specialize in) because let's be honest: the formula for those is older than any of us (think It Happened One Night). But I digress. The romantic comedy issue is one to be addressed on another day.

No. Today I am not writing about a romantic comedy. I am writing about The Blind Side. Have you ever watched a movie, and just known that you were being manipulated? To be more specific, consider films like Message in a Bottle, or City of Angels (which is a bad example until you get to the end). I mean, did the director or writer or whoever even have a goal other than to make you cry? Did they sit there and tell themselves that they are talented simply because they could do that? I think about that sometimes when I'm watching a movie. Anyway, that's what happened during The Blind Side. I knew I was being manipulated. They designed that movie to make girls like me sit there, get all choked up and say "Aw..." And while the film was very effective at this (The number of times I said "Aw..." is embarrassing, and we won't discuss it here), I still felt just a little manipulated. I mean I guess that's what a "feel good" film is supposed to do, and certainly the real life story is inspiring, but in this case it could have been way over the top.

So why wasn't it? I mean, if I had to rate it I think I would give this film an enthusiastic 4 out of 5 stars. The answer is simple: it was Sandra Bullock. And before I launch in to a paragraph to sing her praises, let me say first that she didn't save a bad film. It had many other qualities to recommend it. It was well paced, and well acted all around. The story was good, and the delivery coherent. The film would have stood without her. But man, did she make it shine.

I must admit, in spite of the fact that I am fond of Sandra Bullock and her work, I was a bit skeptical when she one the Oscar (Because to my undying shame, I had not seen the movie yet. Gotta pin the blame for that one on Law School). I suspected we had, what I would like to title, another "Julia Roberts incident." Oh come on. You know what I'm talking about. I saw Erin Brockovich. She won that Oscar because somehow, and America's Sweetheart type of hype got built up around her, very Obama style (Not a reflection on my political viewpoints, fyi). It wasn't a bad movie, and she wasn't bad in it, but the Oscar was better deserved elsewhere.

Perhaps in my skepticism I overlooked the crucial contribution that Sandra Bullock offered to one of my all time favorite films, Crash. I mean, clearly the woman's talent is not limited to her comedic efforts. But still, based on the previews, I couldn't help but be suspcious. I was very wrong. Sandra Bullock delivered a performance that was so stunning, I didn't even care that I was being manipulated. The vigor that she infused into the character she played could not possibly have duplicated. When you sit to watch The Blind Side, you know without a shadow of a doubt that you are watching a film that would not be the same with a different actress. I don't know how else to describe it, though I wish I could. I think it's something that you just have to witness for yourself. To say that she "lit up the screen" sounds trite, (and I hate sounding trite) but it's accurate. You simply did not want to take your eyes off of her. I was so in love with her character by the end of that film, that it almost didn't even matter what the rest of the film was about.

So there it is--my brief but very sincere ode to Sandra Bullock. Watch The Blind Side because it's a good film, and not just because she's fantastic in it. But if there are other critics out there besides myself who were suspicious of her well earned award, take the time to find out how wrong you are. It is well worth your time.