Analysing Scene in The Blind Side

In this segment, we see the Tuohy family driving home from the school Thanksgiving play when they come across Michael Big Mike Ohr, who is walking down the road in the cold and rain. They stop him and Leigh Anne talks to him, deciding to let him stay at their house for the night because he has nowhere to sleep and it is very cold.

- Extra-long shot of Tuohy family walking away from Middle School Thanksgiving Pageant (shown on sign)- All people walking out are white

- Shots of Tuohy family together and close ups on faces- Building family dynamic- Comfortable, banter etc.- They introduce the idea of race (they arent really bothered by it)- Almost every clip shows more than one family member- Warm, brighter lighting- Costumes reflect character- Leigh Annes dialogue imperative, to the point and everyone follows her

- Panning camera as Michael walks down the road- Shots of Michael through the window in the rain- Close ups of Leigh Annes face- Long shots of Michael- During conversation, close ups of both faces- Leigh Anne filmed from high angle- Michael looks down- Blue filter- Tuohy costumes contrast with Michaels- Slow but uplifting soundtrack

- When Michael arrives at Tuohy house, he is shot from high angle- Soundtrack changes when he arrives- Tuohy house warm colours- Warm light

Lighting

- Warm lighting on Tuohys in car- Blue filter, dim lighting on Michael walking in road- Very warm lighting in Tuohy house

- Warm lighting on Tuohys supports the idea that they have a fun, warm family dynamic- Contrasts with the dim, blue lighting on Michael walking down the road, showing the different life he has- The lighting in the Tuohy house is also warm, making it feel like a real, welcoming home to Michael

Costumes- Warm colour pallet on Tuohy costumes (golds, browns, reds)- Cold colour pallet on Michael (blues, blacks)- Establishes the kindness and charity of the Tuohys and the isolation and loneliness of Michael- Style of clothes show the wealth

Soundtrack

- Starts off sad and slow, but with an uplifting edge to it- Questioning, curious music at Tuohy house

Facial expressions

- First he is very closed off, looking down- Curious at Tuohy house

Hancock uses lighting to highlight the contrasts between the lives of the Tuohy family and Michael. As the Tuohy family is talking in the car on the way home from SJs thanksgiving show, the lighting is warm and bright. Hancock uses this to support the idea that the Tuohy family has a warm, fun, family dynamic. They care and are kind to each other. This warm lighting is also shown in the Tuohy house, which further illustrates this warmth and kindness they exude and the good relationships they have with each other. However, the lighting on Michael when the Tuohys come across him is dim, with a blue filter. This cold, dim lighting is in direct contrast with the warm, bright lighting on the Tuohys. This helps illustrate Michaels situation in life he is cold, hungry and homeless, and doesnt belong anywhere. Later on in the movie the lighting on Michael changes to the warm colours of the Tuohys, as he finds a place to belong and is happy. Hancock combines costume with music to emphasise the contrasts between Michael and the Tuohys. The colour pallet of the costumes for each character reflects the lighting the Tuohys wear clothes with warm colours such as golds, browns and reds. Michael wears a cold colour pallet of pale blue and black. This contrast highlights Michaels isolation and loneliness. Whereas the colour pallets of the Tuohys match with each other and strengthen the idea of their family bonds, Michael is the only one who wears his colour pallet. This, like lighting, changes in the movie when he starts wearing clothes with a warm colour pallet like the Tuohys lots of reds and yellows. This means that in The Blind Side, Hancock used lighting and colour to show Michaels journey from poverty, unhappiness and isolation to a rich, happy family life and finding a place where he belongs.