Rover Film Review: The Blind Side

The Blind Side

Directed By: John Lee Hancock (The Rookie)
Starring: Sandra Bullock (lots of things)
Tim McGraw (Friday Night Lights, Four Christmases)
Quinton Aaron (Be Kind Rewind)

Rating: PG-13 for one scene involving brief violence, drug and sexual references.
Running Time: 128 min.

Rotten Tomatoes: 73%

Review:
Based upon the 2006 book by Michael Lewis, The Blind Side highlights the origins of current NFLer Michael Oher. If you're looking for a film that details the Christian spirit, while proving that anyone can overcome long odds with the right support, this film is for you.

Michael ( Quinton Aaron ) arises from a dysfunctional home torn apart by violence and drugs in the project. A wealthy Taco Bell franchisee ( Tim McGraw ) and his strong Southern wife ( Sandra Bullock ) take the orphan in, clothe him, feed him, shelter him, and raise him.

Several montages follow, with some memorable cameos by former and current SEC coaches (including Notre Dame's own Lou Holtz), depicting the development of this young man from the ghetto to the top of the recruiting lists. He decides on Ole Miss, following in his new family's foot-steps, but not without some trouble along the way.

The film follows the plot of so many other movies and "true-life stories" in depicting the triumph of one over long odds. Although I was slightly bothered by the negative portrayal of every black person except Oher, in the end, the Christian message of charity and love triumphs over stereotypes (of which this film abounds). The movie is decent, although fans of the books might miss the analysis of the Left Tackle position that Lewis detailed.

A largely family friendly movie and one churning towards a nice box office return and Oscar buzz for Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side is a decent movie that follows the trajectory of so many other sports movies of the last years (including the director's own The Rookie)

3/5

Picture of the Day

Happy Thanksgiving! From the Irish Rover

Bishops and Politics

Not to make this a blog solely dedicated to health care, but...

This piece on Politico provides a nice, relatively unbiased account of Bishop's lobbying in the debate over health care.

Although it refuses to call out Rep. Kennedy as acting contrary to his religion as the reason for Bishop Tobin denying communion to him, the article is a nice overview. It highlights the Catholic Church's advocacy for withholding federal funding of abortions, support for a conscience clause, and appeal for coverage for all - legally and illegally - within the United States.

The Catholic Church is also highlighted as one of the largest providers of health care in the country right now - an important fact that should be remembered by Congress as they seek to reshape the country.

Your Second Homework Assignment...

Following the bloated House bill, we now have an even larger Senate Health Care Bill. However, unlike the House bill which included the Stupak amendment barring the funding of abortions - the Senate version has no such provision.

The 2,074 page document would essentially leave the decision up to the Health and Human Service Secretary's discretion as to when abortion would qualify as part of the Federal Public Option.

The bill also states that one insurance plan must have abortion coverage and mandates taxpayers' funds be allocated for the procedure which ends the life of a child.

The bill also provides Louisiana with a two page definition validating an additional 100,000,000 dollars. In other words, Senate Leader Harry Reid is buying the vote and support of Senator Mary Landrieu.

Republican democracy is awesome! Especially when Senator's votes go for 100 million dollars and the people and House's will is ignored.

Production Night

The clock is turning past 2am, and we still have three or four articles to edit, then the long process of placing and copy-editing begins.

As I reflect on the previous seven hours, Kathleen is clearly the driving force of tonight's issue. She tirelessly worked on almost 90% of our content making sure it was edited and sent to Brandon for placement. Brandon always works hard and late into the night ensuring that the Rover looks great and is sent to the printers. These are the people who give it all each Production night to ensure a quality product.

Atta-a-boys all around.

Catholic Advocacy Wrong?

Democratic Representative Lynn Woolsey is calling for the IRS to investigate the Catholic Church's tax-exempt status following their advocacy calling for a ban on federal funding for abortions in the new health care bill.

The real money quote: “They seemed to dictate the finer points of the amendment, and managed to bully members of Congress to vote for added restrictions on a perfectly legal surgical procedure. And this political effort was subsidized by taxpayers, since the Council enjoys tax-exempt status.”

That's right, according to Rep. Woolsey, abortion is a surgical procedure. Babies have been so dehumanized, it's the equivalent of having a tumor removed. Wow.

More: http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/faith/2009/11/house_democrat_investigate_cat.html

Abortion and the Health Care Bill

This past Saturday, the House passed a new Health Care Act extending coverage to 98% of Americans 220-215 (one Republican voted for the measure). Included in the final passage of the Bill was the so-called Stupak Amendment (named after Rep. Stupak (D) of Michigan). The amendment "not only prohibits abortion coverage in the public insurance option included in the House bill. It would also prevent private plans from offering coverage for abortion services if they accept people who are receiving government subsidies."

The amendment passed 240-194 [all 176 Republicans and 64 Democrats], however lawmakers already are moving to strip the amendment from the compromise version.

“I am confident that when it comes back from the conference committee that that language won't be there,” Wasserman Schultz said during an appearance on MSNBC. “And I think we're all going to be working very hard, particularly the pro-choice members, to make sure that's the case.” Wasserman Schultz is the Democratic Chief Deputy WHIP.

The Senate currently is considering its version of the health care bill, of which Joe Lieberman has stated he will not vote for if it kills the private insurance industry. If the Senate manages to pass a bill, the House version and Senate version would then be reconciled. It is here that the Stupak Amendment would be stripped or neutered.

Our work as Pro-Life Catholics is far from over.

An Excellent Piece

My dad sent me this piece in the Weekly Standard and written by Charles Krauthammer. It's an interesting presentation of a theory in which Krauthammer ties together Obama's foreign and domestic policies so that it suggests the this "neoliberalism" seeks to weaken America purposely both here and abroad because we lack the moral right to be a hegemon, whether for good or bad.

All together an excellent piece.

Fox News

Two issues I made an error in my editorial regarding whether Fox News was biased or not. I apologized for this error - I was more interested in using the marketing slogan "Fair and Balanced" than in actually calling out the cable news channel.

Anyway, as a follow up is this article. In essentially examines the Democrats who are working and have worked for what some perceive as the Republican dominated channel. Interesting reading to say the least.

A Homework Assignment

Alright, as a college student I've had some pretty ridiculous reading assignments. One Theology class requiring 300 pages a week comes most significantly to mind. But this? This is ridiculous.

1990 pages in one week?

Well at least, all I'm going to have to do is check that this new health care legislation works, doesn't violate any morals, and actually saves money. Hope there's no pop quiz, Professor Pelosi.