by Wilson Morales

With films like 'Precious' out in theaters, demonstrating that anyone can overcome the grittiness of poverty and a disturbing urban life, here's come another with a similar story. But the difference is that this film is based on a true story.

Based on the nonfiction best seller by Michael Lewis on football player Michael Oher and directed by John Lee Hancock, 'The Blind Side' is an emotionally uplifting tale in which Sandra Bullock excels in her best performance since 'Crash.'

While the trailer suggests that the film, about a poor kid taken in by a white family and begins to gain strength in pride, may seem cliché, it actually happened to Oher. From the start of the film, Michael, played admirably by Quinton Aaron, is admitted to a private Christian school through the help of a family friend.

Michael is big and strong, but he's also quiet has a low IQ, which doesn't help his situation in school until Leigh Anne Tuohy (Bullock) spots him walking in the cold without a jacket and invites him over to her house. Tuohy happens to be a socialite in the community with strong ties. Before long, with the support of her husband Sean (Tim McGraw) and her two children (Jae Head, Lily Collins), Michael improve his grades and his social skills.

Looking to get to the root of his existence and what led him to be cast astray by his family, Leigh Anne goes the extra mile in searching for answers, including taking a trip to the urban side of town, where Michael is ready to protect her from the hooligans lurking at her car and her beauty. When his grades are good enough to join the football team, he excels at the sport, and many top colleges are hungry for his talent, yet they are skeptical about whether he can make it to the next educational level. That's where Kathy Bates comes in the film as the tutor and things seem to brighten for the future NFL player.

From 'Great Expectations' to 'Oliver Twist' and countless other films that bear similarities, 'The Blind Side' doesn't offer anything new to the genre, but it's the performances that stand out. For newcomer Aaron, the actor doesn't have much dialogue, but for the most part, he acts with his expressions and actions. Head is quite charming as the kid that accepts Michael into the family and helps him with his athletic skills. Sporting a blond wig and a Southern accent, Bullock is the catalyst that keeps the film from being anything but boring.