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"The Blind Side," starring Sandra Bullock," could be headed for a field goal

Best Picture nominee “The Blind Side” could be the Oscars’ feel-good hit

As you may recall, I’ve decided to recap of all 10 films nominated for the Academy Awards’ coveted Best Picture prize.

Our series continues today with “The Blind Side.”

The Plot: A wealthy white woman reaches out to a homeless African-American teen, changing his life and hers in the process. His story, from society reject to All-American football player and NFL draft pick, was inspired by that of Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Michael Oher.

The Good: A box office draw since “Speed,” “Blind Side” star Sandra Bullock staked her claim on the title  “America’s Sweetheart” in a series of cute romantic comedies including “While You Were Sleeping,” “Miss Congeniality” and “The Proposition.” Over the years, she’s branched into drama and a few regrettable  thrillers (“The Net,” “Murder by Numbers”) — showing flickers of greater things in the Truman Capote biopic “Infamous” and the racially charged “Crash.”

As Leigh Anne Tuohy, a feisty suburban mom whose mission is nothing short of heroic, it appears Bullock has finally capitalized on that potential.

The Bad: It may be a true story, but the premise behind “The Blind Side” is almost relentlessly wholesome and uplifting. What’s more, the film glosses over difficult issues such as race, poverty and privilege in favor of easy answers and an emotional payload.

The Verdict: Will the Academy concede to millions of American moviegoers and crown “The Blind Side” as the feel-good hit of the year? Why not? It’s no less likely a winner than past champs “Rocky” or “Forrest Gump.”

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Image courtesy of MovieWeb.com.