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THE BLIND SIDEMovie Reviews
Drama about a homeless teen who is taken in by a wealthy suburban family and blossoms into a star football player. Cast:Sandra Bullock, Kathy Bates, Tim McGraw, Quinton Aaron, Lily CollinsDirector:John Lee HancockRelease Date:November 20, 2009DVD Release:March 23, 2010From:Warner Bros.Rating:PG-13Length:2 hr 9 min
The Blind Side played to good not great reviews. • Glenn Whipp wrote for Associated Press, "...a feel-good crowd-pleaser... also drained of the kind of subtle nuances that might have separated it from other Hollywood Hallmark-like efforts..." • And Colin Covert wrote in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, "Uplifting. Heartwarming. Schmaltzy but effective." More Reviews Below...
The Blind Side Positive Reviews (36 Reviews, reviews below)
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: MODERATE(cg) "...offers a kind of liberal Hollywood version of conservative values: all rock-solid valor, all the time. The result isn't solid at all -- it's more like cotton-candy uplift."(See all of Owen Gleiberman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 768 words, 11/20/09
Glenn Whipp, Associated Press: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...a feel-good crowd-pleaser... also drained of the kind of subtle nuances that might have separated it from other Hollywood Hallmark-like efforts..."(See all of Glenn Whipp's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 525 words, 11/19/09
Thelma Adams, Us Weekly: VERY GOOD(cg) "Sandra Bullock shows a new sense of maturity and confidence in this uplifting heart-tugger... While the drama's script is a little formulaic, its message still inspires."(See all of Thelma Adams's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 146 words, 11/19/09
Claudia Puig, USA Today: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...while inspiring, it's a little myopic.... has strong performances and stirring football scenes. But its superficiality keeps it from being the moving story it could have been."(See all of Claudia Puig's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 450 words, 11/20/09
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NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (11 Reviews)
A.O. Scott, New York Times: FAIR "Will you be moved? Maybe, though only in the sense that 'moved' can describe the experience of defensive player, overpowered by a blocker and left flat on his back..."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 995 words, 11/20/09
Richard Roeper, Chicago Sun-Times: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...one of my favorite sports movies of the decade.... 'The Blind Side' knows its football, but it's even smarter about the priceless thing known as a family."(See all of Richard Roeper's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 667 words, 11/20/09
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: EXCELLENT "Bullock infuses the role with empathy, not pity; Quinton Aaron brings an aching vulnerability and an innocence that are remarkable for someone with no formal training."(See all of Betsy Sharkey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,096 words, 11/20/09
Lou Lumenick, New York Post: VERY GOOD(cg) "What makes it a treat is Hancock's subtle touch and admirable refusal to yield to sports movie clichés, something he did with 'The Rookie' and 'Remember the Titans.' "(See all of Lou Lumenick's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 388 words, 11/20/09
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune: MODERATE(cg) "...fumbles a remarkable, true story of an African-American product of the West Memphis projects... veers perilously close to the concept of poverty tourism."(See all of Michael Phillips's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 610 words, 11/20/09
Melissa Anderson, Village Voice/LA Weekly: POOR "...peddles the most insidious kind of racism, one in which whiteys are virtuous saviors, coming to the rescue of African-Americans who become superfluous..."(See all of Melissa Anderson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 649 words, 11/18/09
Mick LaSalle, Houston Chronicle/San Francisco Chronicle: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "In directing the film, Hancock takes his time, which is good thing, but then after a while he starts taking your time, and that's not so good."(See all of Mick LaSalle's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 626 words, 11/20/09
Michael Granberry, Dallas Morning News: OUTSTANDING(cg) "Bullock is smart, sexy and talented.... the overwhelming reaction upon seeing this performance is 'finally!' followed quickly by, 'Why the heck did it take so long?' "(See all of Michael Granberry's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 497 words, 11/20/09
Randy Cordova, Arizona Republic: OUTSTANDING(cg) "Sandra Bullock is almost always worth watching, but she is just sensational as a wealthy Southern socialite in 'The Blind Side'... exhilarating..."(See all of Randy Cordova's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 415 words, 11/20/09
Wesley Morris, Boston Globe: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "Bullock's levelheaded acting frequently saves the movie from emotional garishness.... This is basically one of her comedic parts given a 'Real Housewives' gloss."(See all of Wesley Morris's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 672 words, 11/20/09
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star-Tribune: VERY GOOD(cg) "Uplifting. Heartwarming. Schmaltzy but effective.... I felt my emotions being stage-managed, but once or twice I got something in my eye."(See all of Colin Covert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 566 words, 11/20/09
John Hartl, Seattle Times: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...almost as squeaky-clean as an old Disney movie. Unfortunately, it can also be just as cute and condescending.... may be the best work Bullock's done since 'Crash'..."(See all of John Hartl's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 315 words, 11/20/09
Clint O'Connor, Cleveland Plain-Dealer: EXCELLENT(cg) "...terrifically touching... the PG-13 rating is somewhat misleading, in that it was earned for essentially one scene involving some thugs and a violent outburst."(See all of Clint O'Connor's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 395 words, 11/20/09
Marc Mohan, Portland Oregonian: FAIR(cg) "...some might fret that his tale would be massaged into a facile, feel-good fable that substitutes cliché for reality at nearly every turn. Sadly, they'd be right."(See all of Marc Mohan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 195 words, 11/20/09
Joe Williams, St. Louis Post-Dispatch: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...its not-so-secret weapon is Sandra Bullock, who gives her strongest performance in years as the sassy but soft-hearted socialite who inspired him to greatness."(See all of Joe Williams's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 367 words, 11/20/09
Steve Persall, St. Petersburg Times: EXCELLENT(cg) "...the most uplifting sports movie since 'The Rookie,' which, not so coincidentally, Hancock also directed. The guy knows how to game-plan a jock flick."(See all of Steve Persall's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 713 words, 11/19/09
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel: VERY GOOD(cg) "Bullock gives her best performance in years... a film that's about compassion, empathy, family and that old-time Southern religion -- football."(See all of Roger Moore's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 518 words, 11/20/09
Michael Sragow, Baltimore Sun: VERY GOOD(cg) "...speaks of faith, hope and charity with the down-to-earth tones and rhythms of a high school percussion band in a Thanksgiving Day parade."(See all of Michael Sragow's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 809 words, 11/20/09
Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post: VERY GOOD(cg) "Kathy Bates is amusing as Miss Sue, the tutor hired to help Michael reach a 2.5 grade point average in order to be eligible for college ball."(See all of Lisa Kennedy's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 830 words, 11/20/09
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (4 Reviews)
Melissa Anderson, Village Voice/LA Weekly: POOR "...peddles the most insidious kind of racism, one in which whiteys are virtuous saviors, coming to the rescue of African-Americans who become superfluous..."(See all of Melissa Anderson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 649 words, 11/18/09
Chris Faraone, Boston Phoenix: VERY GOOD(cg) "...without adding too much cheese, John Lee Hancock channels genuine emotion from the Michael Lewis book (and the reality) that prompted this moving chronicle."(See all of Chris Faraone's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 136 words, 11/19/09
A.O. Scott, New York Times: FAIR "Will you be moved? Maybe, though only in the sense that 'moved' can describe the experience of defensive player, overpowered by a blocker and left flat on his back..."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 995 words, 11/20/09
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: EXCELLENT "Bullock infuses the role with empathy, not pity; Quinton Aaron brings an aching vulnerability and an innocence that are remarkable for someone with no formal training."(See all of Betsy Sharkey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,096 words, 11/20/09
MOVIE INDUSTRY (4 Reviews)
Joe Leydon, Daily Variety: GOOD "Hancock applies more than a smidge of sugar-coating to his dramatization... [still,] the film remains involving, affecting and, for the most part, emotionally honest."(See all of Joe Leydon's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 953 words, 11/16/09
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: EXCELLENT "Bullock infuses the role with empathy, not pity; Quinton Aaron brings an aching vulnerability and an innocence that are remarkable for someone with no formal training."(See all of Betsy Sharkey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,096 words, 11/20/09
A.O. Scott, New York Times: FAIR "Will you be moved? Maybe, though only in the sense that 'moved' can describe the experience of defensive player, overpowered by a blocker and left flat on his back..."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 995 words, 11/20/09
19.8 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
The Blind Side's reviews are separated by an average 19.8 percentage points. The norm for this measure is 18.4 percentage points. Less than 18.4 indicates more consistent reviews; greater than 18.4 indicates more mixed reviews. In the chart below, each dot represents a review, with the dots at the top more positive than the dots at the bottom. From left to right, the dots represent reviews in big, bigger and biggest publications. Roll over each dot for more detail.
The Blind Side (36 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:The Blind Side's reviews cover 63.1% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 18,898 words involume (average is 20,194 words). Length:The film's reviews average 525 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
The Blind Side Coverage, Volume & Length (36 Reviews, reviews below)
Reviews Broke 7.1 Hours Before Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
The Blind Side's reviews on average broke 7.1 hours before opening. Norm for this measure is 1.2 hours before. The chart below shows reviews on opening day and the days before and after opening; the left side is earlier and the right side is later. The red bars extending above the horizontal mid-line represent more positive reviews, and the red bars extending below represent more negative reviews. The white space/red bar in the middle is The Blind Side's opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
The Blind Side (36 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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