Leigh Anne Touhy (Sandra Bullock) is a confidently assertive white, conservative, wealthy, southern belle wife and mother of two children. She resides in a large beautiful mansion in the rich neighborhoods of Memphis, Tennessee and sends her children to a private Christian school.

Big Mike (Quinton Anton) is a young and unusually large African American boy who comes from the dangerously poverty stricken Hurt Village in Memphis. He was abandoned by his drug addicted mother and a father who left one week after he was born. Big Mike has one change of clothes, is homeless, and occasionally sleeps on his friends couch.

Leigh Anne Touhy and Big Mike are two people you would never imagine together.

Despite Big Mike’s hopelessly poor academic records, Burt Cotton (Ray McKinnon), the athletic director and football coach at Wingate High School, manipulatively persuades the school to enroll Big Mike.

Once enrolled, all of the teachers realize how much of a lost cause Big Mike is. He lacks the ability to learn and communicate, however, they don’t give up.

As the Touhy family is driving home from their daughter Collins’ (Lily Collins) volleyball game, they see Big Mike walking in the freezing cold wearing only a t-shirt and shorts. Asking their son S.J. (Jae Head) who this guy is, S.J. exclaims, “That’s Big Mike!” Leigh Anne Touhy takes matters into her own hands. She hops out of the car and aggressively walks up to Big Mike and interrogates him about his destination for the evening. Finding out he does not have a place to stay she invites him home. The Touhy’s bring Michael (he doesn’t like to be called Big Mike) into their warm, loving family. They assist him through his struggle with education, help coach him through the beginning of this football career and stand by him through everything.

The Blind Side is a heartwarming, inspirational, and eye-opening film. Newcomer Quinton Aaron did a superb job playing the innocently strong role of Michael Oher. Additionally, this is by far the strongest role I have ever seen Sandra Bullock play. To be honest, I can’t recall one movie that I liked her in. This role was drastically different than all of the romantic comedies she stars in. First of all, she’s playing a mother, which makes her character seem more realistic than others that she’s played. I feel like she always gets cast for roles that are too young for her. Well, Sandra B., you were excellent! Another big surprise was the role of the Touhy father played by Tim McGraw. I didn’t even know that was Tim McGraw so when I found out I was very surprised, kind of shocked. Anyways, he did a great job.

The Blind Side touched on many important and existing issues such as educational inequity, bigotry, homelessness, etc. I hope that everyone that sees this film will walk away with a feeling of hope and openness like the Touhy’s exemplified.

Michael Oher will definitely have many new fans cheering him on this season as he starts as the Left Tackle for the Baltimore Ravens. He was drafted as the 23rd pick in the first round of the 2009 NFL draft.

The Blind Side is in theaters November 20th!