Sandra Bullock Makes History

No other female star has taken a film past the $200 million mark until this year. Sandra Bullock’s performance in The Blind Side has helped her become the only actress with that distinction, including Julia Roberts, whose Pretty Woman peaked at 178.4.

Of course, there are other things to consider with this success. The football star, the Christian themes and homespun family values — it’s also been given a lot of air time on the major networks here. It is the farthest thing from a film critic’s list as anyone can imagine – and the Academy might turn their nose up at it in the end, but the truth cannot be denied: this is huge. Even if wasn’t Bullock’s doing, she should take this honor and run with it.

This is a film many Americans can actually see without having to deal with the depressing issues so many of our filmmakers concern themselves with. Since the country has been hit with such hard times, a feelgood movie is just what they seek. Up in the Air is kind of that movie, except that it isn’t really feelgood in the end. The Blind Side is a story with a happy ending, a satisfying ending, and one that makes people feel good about themselves just by seeing it.

It is also a movie that people love to hate. Since people choose films that define who they are most critics haven’t yet embraced this movie – though I suspect people dislike it more for the “whitey saves the negro” part of it. No one is out there saying it’s a bad film; just that they chafe at its broad ideas.

Since the Oscar ratings have tanked in recent years, and the overall economy is collapsing – one might draw the conclusion that the mere presence of Sandra Bullock at the Oscars at all, representing The Blind Side, could amount to much better ratings for the telecast. Oh, and then there is that little space movie by James Cameron which could also bring them in in hoards. Can Bullock and Avatar save the Oscars from obscurity?