How historically accurate is The Blind Side?

By Fan Arch February 15, 2024 07:44

Photo by MATTHEW SHARPE/GETTY IMAGES

"The Blind Side," a 2009 film, depicted the real-life story of Michael Oher, a Black teenage football player, and the Tuohy family who took him in. However, recent events have brought into question the historical accuracy of the film. Let's delve into the key aspects of Oher's story and how they were portrayed in the movie to determine its historical accuracy.

Oher's Childhood and Family Situation

"The Blind Side" accurately depicts Oher's childhood affected by food insecurity and homelessness due to his mother's drug addiction. However, the film leaves out the crucial detail that Oher was one of 12 children, struggling with 11 other siblings, which is a significant departure from the real-life story.

Oher's Knowledge of Football

One of the biggest discrepancies in the film is how it portrays Oher's knowledge of football. In reality, Oher continued to be involved in football, track and field, and basketball before meeting the Tuohys. Contrary to the film's depiction, Oher had already been studying the game of football since he was a kid, which challenges the accuracy of the film's portrayal.

Adoption by the Tuohy Family

The film portrays the Tuohys as adopting Oher out of homelessness. However, in reality, Oher was 18, legally an adult, before the Tuohys entered his life. Oher expressed that he feels his struggle for survival was mostly a solo journey, questioning the film's portrayal of the Tuohys as saviors.

Financial Allegations

Recent events have brought to light a lawsuit filed by Oher against the Tuohy family, alleging that they implemented a conservatorship to secure millions in profits from his story without providing the same for him. This has raised questions about the financial aspects depicted in the film, challenging its historical accuracy.

Oher's Own Reflections

Oher himself has expressed sorrow over how he's depicted in the film, particularly the way it portrays his academic struggles. He has also highlighted that the film misrepresented parts of his life and did not accurately paint his story. These reflections from the real-life figure the film is based on further bring into question the historical accuracy of the movie.

While "The Blind Side" was promoted as being based on an extraordinary true story, it becomes evident that the film altered several key details of Michael Oher's real-life story. The discrepancies regarding Oher's family background, knowledge of football, adoption, and financial aspects raise significant doubts about the historical accuracy of the film. Oher's own reflections further emphasize the disparity between the movie's portrayal and the actual events, calling into question the authenticity of the story depicted in "The Blind Side."

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