Quinton Aaron

While I was in LA for the weekend covering the Grammys, I happened to bump into a very, very tall Quinton Aaron, the star of The Blind Side, at a red carpet event. You know I couldn't pass up the opportunity to get his opinion on all of the hoopla surrounding the film — don't forget it's Oscar-nominated now! He was incredibly humble as he talked about the movie, his crush on Sandra Bullock, and his thoughts on that golden statuette.

On if he knew that the film would go on to be such a huge hit:
“I didn’t have any clue about the success of the film. I just knew that it was a great story, and that it was a lead role and something that I wanted to do. Being an actor, you want to be in a movie that’s going to put you to the next level in your career. And that turned out to be the perfect role for somebody my size. It worked out.”

For more of what Aaron had to say, read more

It's not that the trailer for The Blind Side isn't compelling; the problem is that it combines Sandra Bullock's twangiest, most-over-the top lines with a heartrending song, which makes it seem schlocky. That's exactly what I expected from the movie, but I have to admit that I was wrong — to my surprise, I found it to be a sentimental gem that's actually quite restrained.

The Blind Side is the true story (based on Michael Lewis's book) of NFL player Michael Oher, who grew up in Memphis's projects with his drug-addicted mother and landed in and out of foster homes. He ended up in a fancy private school and in the home of a wealthy family, the Touhys, led by tough-talking Leigh Anne (Bullock). The weaving of Michael's newfound life in the movie is effective, with sweet bits of humor and just enough emotion.

To see what I liked about the film, just read more

Sandra Bullock gathered her on- and off-screen families together in NYC last night for a screening of The Blind Side. Her husband Jesse James was out showing his support for both Sandra's film and her return to dark hair. Tim McGraw plays Sandra's better half in the movie, and he posed for photos with his own wife Faith Hill. Many of you didn't seem too excited about seeing the screen adaptation of Michael Lewis's novel, but Buzz will be ready with tissues when it hits theaters on Friday.

Lots more from the premiere when you read more

I think it's possible to recognize that something (say, a trailer) has been created to manipulate your feelings and force you to cry, and to still cry anyway. This is what watching the trailer for The Blind Side was all about for me. The movie is based on a book by Michael Lewis which, as I recall from reading it a while ago, focuses a great deal on technical football analysis. Still, Lewis also weaves in the story of the remarkable left tackle Michael Oher, who was a homeless kid in Memphis until he was taken in by a wealthy white family. Soon after, his size and impressive abilities on the football field brought him attention — and recruitment battles — from college coaches. The movie centers on Oher's (played by Quinton Aaron) story, with Sandra Bullock in the role of the mother who takes him in.

I love watching Sandra Bullock and still, I was so engrossed in this trailer that I'd forgotten who she was by the end of it. It may turn out to be a predictable, sentimental film but I'm going to watch it nonetheless. What do you think?

The Blind Side opens Nov. 20. To check out the trailer, read more