Movie Review

Name: The Blind Side

PG: 13

Length: 02:29:32

Rating: 7/10

Director: John Lee Hancock

Writers: Michael Lewis (Book), John Lee Hancock

By Mohau Ramashidja

Shaking off the mindset of the matrix he was born into turned out not to be an easy task for him to implement. “I go to the bathroom, look into the mirror and say ‘This is not Michael Oher’,” he said.

Born to a mother who was a drug addict and forming part of the 12 siblings from different fathers, Michael Oher had to learn how to survive on his own. Having been in and out of foster homes Oher finds himself living off the streets and sometimes accommodated over a friend’s house for a night.  

The Blind Side: Staring Sandra Bullock as Leigh Anne Tuohy and Quinton Aaron as Michael Oher is a must see.

If you are an emotional rollercoaster ride junky then this is a definite fix for your uncontrollable habit. Based on a true story, this biographical tale takes you straight in to the wits and warts-and-all of the making of the “NFL Star” Michael Oher.

An unplanned motherly affection towards a homeless child and the adaptability of the child’s new understanding of being loved, will keep you glued to your screens throughout.

Amongst many other things, John Lee Hancock did a commendable job by bringing to light the racial divide between Blacks and Whites and the gap between the rich and the poor within the American society.

The movie however, failed to share a light on the fact that Sean Tuohy, before becoming a millionaire, grew up a poor White child, hence that’s why he had a heart of helping out kids from disadvantaged backgrounds (Black or White). Second, although it was the Tuohys who took Michael in, it wasn’t Leigh Anne (Sean’s wife) who taught the boy how to play football.

Maybe it is advisable that, after watching this piece, you get yourself a copy of Michael Louis’ The Blind Side: The Evolution of a Game; published 2006. The scenery is much better there.

FC Barcelona: Messi Scores a spell breaker

 

By Mohau Ramashidja

FC Barcelona travelled to England on Tuesday hoping not to get a royal hiding from the queen’s knights, Manchester City FC.

Barca entered into their tenth in a row last sixteen clash of the UEFA Champions League with a record of 14 defeats, eight draws and six wins playing in England. However the newcomers had a far much more impressive record sheet. Man City had only lost once against Bayern Munich in their 23 continental clashes earlier this season. And given the level of managerial experience under Manuel Pellegrini; Man City fans sure hope for a tailor-made defeat for the Spaniards.

But it was in the first seven minutes after Kick off that Etihad Stadium was arrayed with the style of football their opposition had brought to their park. Quick ball distribution was the order of the day. Calmness and absolute concentration was a necessity to defuse a ticking bomb (or ball) set before them.  Xavi’s thunderbolt Cleared away by Man City’s Joe Hart and Negredo missing one of his many scoring chances telegraphed to him.

Although the first half birthed out unnecessary fouls and a goalless tie between the two, the 2^nd half had a different story to tell. It was all thanks to Man City’s Defender Demichelis’ foul on Messi which awarded Barcelona a penalty spot to score a spell breaker of the last seven years without a win in England. It was Messi who did the honours in the 54^th minute, scoring his 388 goal for his current club.

Both sides made substitutions in the 73^rd minute to solidify their squads. But it was Barca’s manager Gerardo Martino who had the winning cards on the table.

Slick passing between Naymar and Dani Alves birthed out a classical finish in the dying ends of the 2^nd half, thanks to the rightback’s impeccable finish.

Manchester City is set to lock horns for a comeback with FC Barcelona at Camp Nou stadium on March 12. Match kicks off at 9:45 PM South Africa standard time.

...hope this helps.