THE BLIND SIDE

About The Production
The ideal left tackle is big… He is wide in the butt and massive in the thighs. He has long arms, giant hands, and feet as quick as a hiccup. This is a rare and expensive combination, the need for which can be traced to that Monday night game and Lawrence Taylor. For on that day, he not only altered Joe Theismann's life but mine as well. Leigh Anne Tuohy in "The Blind Side”

Family and football were two things Michael Oher had never experienced in his life. But they ultimately became the two things that changed his life forever. Growing up virtually abandoned in the poverty-stricken projects of Memphis— appropriately called Hurt Village—Michael had had few options and even fewer opportunities. But that was before he crossed paths with an unstoppable force in the person of Leigh Anne Tuohy. What followed was a series of events that would be hard to believe…except for the fact that the events are true. Michael became a member of the Tuohy family, who nurtured his abilities both on and off the football field, resulting in an inspiring story that is still unfolding today.

Director/screenwriter John Lee Hancock states, "It really is two different stories, one of which is more of a question: Who is Michael Oher and why did the stars align to shine so brightly on this kid from the projects in Memphis? And then on the other side, it's a great story about how this unique family evolved, and the unconventional motherson relationship at its center. Sports, specifically football, was the engine that propelled the story forward, but he could have been a dancer or a pianist—it wouldn't have made any difference. The journey that Michael and the Tuohy family go on is the heart of the movie.”

Sandra Bullock, who stars in the role of Leigh Anne Tuohy, notes, "The beauty of the story is that you think it's one thing and it turns out to be something else, and those are usually the best things in life. I thought the script was going to be about football until I read it and realized that it's really about family.”

She adds that, while it is obvious how much the Tuohys did for Michael Oher, "it was not that one-sided. They certainly did a good deed in taking in this young man in such a loving and generous way. But, in turn, he brought out a side of their family that they didn't even realize was missing. The family seemed to have all the success and joy in the world, but when Michael showed up, it was as if he was the final piece to the puzzle.”

The actress's observation is confirmed by her real-life counterpart, Leigh Anne Tuohy, who offers, "I think Michael had a much greater impact on our lives than we did on his. You take so much in life for granted, but when Michael moved in with us, he made us realize how blessed we are. We viewed life differently after he joined our family.”

How Michael Oher became a part of the Tuohy family was first chronicled in the best-selling book The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game, written by Michael Lewis, who had previously focused on the sport of baseball in his bestseller Moneyball. The author reveals that he stumbled on the story of Oher and the Tuohys almost by accident. "For anyone who wants to interpret the whole thing as some kind of miracle, there's a lot of evidence,” he laughs.

Lewis, who had gone to high school with Leigh Anne's husband, Sean Tuohy, had initially contacted his old classmate to interview him for an article about their school baseball coach. That eventually led to his meeting Michael and learning of his relationship with the Tuohys.

The book The Blind Side juxtaposes Michael's story with an in-depth look at how the position of left tackle on a football team has grown in importance, instigated by a single, unforgettable play—Lawrence Taylor's career-ending sack of quarterback Joe Theismann i

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