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The Success Of “The Blind Side” (Things That Make You Go Hmm)
So while we’ve all been Precious-consumed over the last several weeks, Sandra Bullock’s contribution to the “Magical Negro/White Savior” cannon, also known as The Blind Side, has been somewhat quietly stealing box office cash, as if the bank manager left the vault open – specifically, to the tune of close to $100 million in just about 2 weeks in release! What the hell is going on here? Some in the industry say it could surpass the coveted $200 million mark, while enjoying a 73% “fresh” rating at review aggregator site, RottenTomatoes.com. I ask again, WTF?
The trailer of the film, which was previously posted and discussed on this blog (HERE and HERE), was such a turn-off that I was certain the film was doomed to fail. As Qadree put it, “With different performers this could easily be a Saturday Night Live or MADtv skit.” And, as a matter of fact, it was! (See my “Nice White Lady” post as a refresher). Granted, I haven’t seen the film, so maybe there’s something else about it that’s attracting audiences which I won’t know unless I actually see it; but, in this age where Hollywood movie trailers practically reveal all the key moments of an entire movie, and having seen the trailer enough times, I really don’t think I need to see the film to know that I likely will not like it, for reasons previously given! In fact, there’s a good chance it’ll piss me the hell off! So, I ask once again, WTF? Given how much money the film has made, and will likely end up making, it’s clear that a wide swath of people are not only paying to see it, but are also encouraging others to do the same. My concern here is that, once again, as Hollywood has shown many times in the past, given the surprising financial success of The Blind Side, there’s a strong possibility that studios will produce similar product in succession. Great, right?!? Have you seen it? If so, please share your thoughts on it in the comments section below, and convince me that my reaction to the film thus far has been unfounded. 15 comments to The Success Of “The Blind Side” (Things That Make You Go Hmm) |
  
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LOL! Like you, Tambay, I have no interest in the film. But a few critics I respect did like the film despite not wanting to going in. Now a couple of these critics (who are white) did make a point to comment about how they were uncomfortable with the idea of the good white family saving the poor, black kid. I am glad they made mention of that but at the same time I have to ask myself did they feel to make any such disclaimers when gushing about “Precious” considering that movie’s views of dark skinned black people, incestrous black fathers and the horrific lives of black folks living in poverty may also be seen as overdone and stereotypical?
Anyway at least this film has a relevant role for an African American male character. That in itself seems to be a rarity these days.
Off topic: Tambay, there’s a column/opinion piece I would like to write for this site regarding an article of a movie. This time though I would like to proof-read and send it to you directly and let you judge if its good enough to actually get posted. But I have no idea how to get in touch with you via email. Since I filled out my email info when I first joined this site, I was wonderng if you could use that to get in touch with me. If you don’t have access to that email address then please post here in this thread informing me of that and I will give a followup post with my email address. Thanks.
Our email addresses are in the “About” section above. I guess I should make that more obvious – tao @ tambayobenson . com.
Cool. Good to know. I think I clicked on every link except the “About” one (always foolishly thinking it would just be a page dealing with what this site was all about). My mistake.
I haven’t seen it and doubt I will. However, I don’t find it surprising that this type of film would be popular with mainstream audiences.
I’m not altogether surprised by its success – it keeps things in perspective in these ‘post racial’ times and must be a reassuring comfort to some, w hilst also serving as a reminder of the ‘correct’ order of things, lest they get carried away.
Of course, ignoring the cynic in me, it could just be a well told, heartwarming tale…
MsWOO I was just coming here to say the same thing! I 100% agree and I don’t think it’s being cynical at all.
I’m still waiting for this weekend’sB .O. numbers to come in. It’s slower then usual today and I was going to make a point about The Blind Side and why it’s doing so well. I think it’s not more compiacted than the fact that it’s plays very well the audience that it’s aimed for. Just like how TP’s films plays to an exclusively church going, manless, black female audience who haven’t found movies that appealed to them, The Blind Side appeals to moderate, “Red State”, family values audiences who find most movies either too violent, too raunchy or too West Coast/East Coast centric. The Blind Side is for them good clean wholesome entertainment and there are a lot of people for whom comic book movies and Judd Apatow films are something they can’t connect to.
Plus its about football and the recruiting of SEC coaches. That stuff really appeals to Red America. To many white folks in Red America the only black people they take interest in are those that play football.
I was just about to comment . . when Sergio hit the nail on the head . . . this is a “Family Values Film.” This movie goes right along with good Christian Values . . . which plays to audiences regardless of color. I recently had a conversation with a friend . . . friend being white . . . suggested I go see this film . . . she said that she and her husband were touched by the story of people being selfless and helping others. I think that as educated and highly aware black viewers . . .we look at things in a way that most people don’t . . . we are wearing our blackness on our sleeves and letting it color our judgement of things . . . that on talking to my friend made me think . . . maybe shouldn’t be judged. She made me want to see it, this idea of checking in with your gut and doing something about it. Because how many times have we seen a situation that maybe we could have lent a hand to . . . and we didn’t.
Don’t get me wrong . . . it’s still a magic Negro story . . . but maybe they to have their place and their audience . . . as the box office receipts are telling us . . . and as my friend represents . . . these stories may not be for us . . . I think instead of being critical of the magic Negro story . . . we need to as a collective find ways to get the other stories we want told out there . . . for example giving what we can afford toward the making of independent projects on the landscape. How many gave even a dollar to Brandon Harris on his upcoming project that was mention on this site? I’m just had this thought. . .
I agree with most of the article.
What will be interesting is if anymore of this type of film gets made, especially in this so called “Post racial” era where supposed to be living through.
I would like to see Will Smith & Queen latifah in a lead role – directed by T.D. Jakeish type person. I think it would do well. Not as well as blindside but it would do well.
Maybe it should be noted that one of the producers and financiers of “The Blind Side” is black. It is Broderick Johnson, co-founder of Alcon Entertainment, which in the last 10 or so years has become one of the more reliable production companies in Hollywood (and one that still has a studio deal — in this case Warner Bros. — when many such companies don’t anymore). Johnson and his partner got their company off the ground when they dazzled the founder of Federal Express with their business plan and convinced him to finance their company. Johnson himself has produced films including “Dude, Where’s My Car?”, “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,” and “Love Don’t Cost A Thing.” He’s also a producer of the upcoming Hughes Brothers film “The Book of Eli.”
I once met Johnson at Disney in a setting where I and a few others were able to pepper him with questions for a couple of hours. He’s a nice guy and really smart. Regarding where his interests lie, he’s all about the business aspect of movies, making marketable product for the mainstream, and making money. And undoubtedly one of the happiest guys in Hollywood right now.
So what? black people routinely sellout their own to make crap in Hollywood. I don’t even know why it was necessary to mention it.
It might not be necessary to you, and that’s cool. But some people, me included, like having that kind of added insight into who it is that gets films like “The Blind Side” made. That’s why I mentioned it.
Don’t know if I can or want to convince anyone but a few reflections on the film from an “essay” [was a review but has been expanded to include analysis of other reviews] I am writing.
First, I enjoyed it because it brought back many memories for me. I was born in 1951, lucked out and was awarded a scholarship to a Prep School in New England, and went from urban Baltimore to an environment which was totally unlike anything I had ever experienced. I kept my sanity and managed to survive with the few other brothers and sisters who were there and many families like the Tuohys. The strange thing is that the families that “adopted us” were all families of faith – Quaker, Jewish, Catholic etc – and they made us feel just a wee less like strangers in a strange land.
2. Many critics complain because they say that racism is not explored – I disagree because the film shows what i call the flip side of the Crash – there is no racism quite like “genteel” racism – the softly spoken, eloquent and seeming polite comments which are said with smiles over lunches and at parties – as with Crash, I think that many critics who complain about the lack of burning crosses in the film still sit and listen to these comments but deny they do and unlike the main character in The Blind Side never take the step of telling people off in those same polite terms and leaving the table-
3. Many ask why this could not have been a black family who adopted him – Not withstanding the fact that this is a true story, I also challenge that critique because black men [to a large degree] have not taken the responsibility for young black men. I work with at-risk youth in both a work and volunteer capacity – my experience is that when I need help, the places that I am most likely to find it is churches of all kinds and organizations of Black Professional Women – may not be the norm but it is my experience.
Finally – The story is first and foremost a “Momma Story”. It is what I have seen in my life – if a Mother invites you into her life as a ward – she does indeed “have your Blind Side” and will defend it with her very being until she thinks you are ready to do it on your own.
Just a few thoughts – all of them only my opinion.