The Blind Side ***

Like "Precious," "The Blind Side" is about a timely intervention in someone's downward-spiraling life. Unlike "Precious," a fictional construct set in 1987 Harlem where an abused, obese, black and pregnant teen is placed in an alternative school and eventually starts to make something of her life, "The Blind Side" is set in present day Memphis where a rich white family takes in a really big homeless black teenager and helps him become an All American football player and first round NFL draft pick. "The Blind Side," clearly, is the fairy-tale version of the story. Except that it's true.

It's grounding in reality, I think, is what makes for such an emotionally satisfying movie experience. This is what we wish would happen in so many other cases: White Protestant Southern Republicans acting on their ideals and shared humanity to help someone who needs it. And the fact that it's the true story of Michael Oher of the Baltimore Ravens and the Tuohy family, especially Leigh Anne, a remarkable woman wonderfully played by Sandra Bullock, lets us think, for a while at least, while we're there in the dark suspending disbelief, that there is some hope for us, that religion and ideals can really make a difference. I say see it and enjoy it without guilt, but don't forget the other stories that fall in the much darker column.

Rated PG-13. 128 minutes. John Lee Hancock - Director/Writer, Michael Lewis - Writer (book "The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game"), Broderick Johnson - Producer, Andrew A. Kosove - Producer, Gil Netter - Producer, Alar Kivilo - Cinematographer, Carter Burwell - Composer, Michael Corenblith, Production Designer, Mark Livoli - Editor. Produced by Alcorn Entertainment. Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.

Principle actors: Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, Kathy Bates, Quinton Aaron, Lily Collins, and Jae Head.