I hate to return from my two day blogging hiatus with a critical post, but I just can’t help it. I’ve been holding back on writing this post for a couple of months now, but I just can’t hold back anymore.
Sandra Bullock used to be America’s sweetheart. She was likable and fun. She was beautiful in a girl-next-door kind of way that made it impossible for women to hate her. She took a two year break from the big screen, and returned this Spring, and then two other big movies followed. Let’s discuss.
First we had The Proposal with Sandra starring opposite the adorable Ryan Reynolds. Ryan Reynolds is 34. Sandra Bullock is 45. I don’t think it was part of the script’s intention for “Margaret” to be 10 years older than “Andrew.” Sure, she was supposed to be mean and hateful, successful. But the relationship was only supposed to be far-fetched because he was nice and she was mean. Not because she was a cougar! Age was never addressed in the movie, so I think they were supposed to be about the same age. She doesn’t look 35. Her skin is stretched so tight that it’s hard to even recognize her anymore. And, honestly, that age difference and poor chemistry kind of ruined the movie for me.
Then she was in All About Steve. I didn’t see it, so I can’t say much except that, again, she’s 45. Bradley Cooper is 35. I know that her “people” wanted to get her back out there in movies again, but isn’t there a role somewhere better suited for her?
So here comes the perfect role for Sandra Bullock. The Blind Side. Todd and I read the book by Michael Lewis and really enjoyed it. We loved the story of Michael Oher and we started watching for him during all of the Ole Miss games. Sandra Bullock plays Leigh Ann Tuohy, a mother, who notices this boy and his talent and removes him from his underprivileged life and makes him a part of her family. I’m hopeful that this will redeem Sandra Bullock for me. The movie looks amazing– and it looks like women and men will both enjoy it. Here’s my only criticism: the movie seems to be highly focused on her character and the book wasn’t written that way. But I guess since she’s the star, it’s going to have to focus on her character the most. Right?
Thanks for letting me vent about such a useless topic. You can now return to your regularly scheduled Thursday activity.
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I saw an interview/preview for that new movie and I think it will be good. The small clips I saw, she was excellent in it.
i saw “all about steve”, and it was maybe the worst movie i’ve ever experienced. but i LOVED the proposal. she’ll never do better than “while you were sleeping.” best ever.
I totally agree with you. It seemed, to me, that in the first two movies they were “trying” to hard.
I have seen the trailers for the last movie and am looking forward to seeing it.
Oh this is funny! I wondered when you’d finally explode with all of this – you tweeted about it quite a bit there for a while. I am very excited about The Blind Side after seeing a preview a few months ago. I’m sure the movie will be quite a bit different from the book, but I’m sure the trailer focuses on her to pull people in. Movie trailers do that a lot – focus on the biggest star to get people to want to see it, but that person isn’t the main character in the movie.
I didn’t see either of the first two movies because I can’t stomach her all cougared out like that. I saw a preview for The Blind Side this past weekend and it looks SO GOOD! I can’t wait to see it and from the preview it looks much more age appropriate!
we saw a preview for the blind side and i cried! it looks so good, hope it’s not too far from the book (which I haven’t read=)). i was so bummed for her about the other movies, we still have to see the Proposal (only saw snippets on the plane) but it looked so cute. and the other one, definitely too old. i liked her so much, she was so cute, and funny, hopefully she’ll switch back to age appropriate movies=).
I think The Blind Side looks really good…and I normally hate football movies!
All About Steve looked really lame…I didn’t see The Proposal but I heard it was good. I thought from the previews that the intention was for her to be a cougar/his mean boss? Now I don’t know if it is worth seeing!
I thought the same thing when I watched the Proposal last night! Couldn’t they have found a younger actress!
LOVED The Proposal…and will probably love All About Steve (think it might have something to do with the main actors!). But, I totally agree about them trying to squeeze Sandra into roles she’s not really suitable for. I can think of 100 actresses that would have been better for the Margaret role! With that said, I can’t wait to see The Blind Side. Looks wonderful!
Hmm… I didn’t get that vibe from The Proposal at all! I took it like she was the boss with the larger office, and he worked under her with the little cubicle… and since my bosses have always been older than me (though, I suppose now that I think about it, a boss doesn’t HAVE to be older than their employees), it just kind of made sense that she was older than him and it was accidentally that they winded up together. I thought it was purposely selected to have an older female role, not as a “cougar” but for the whole older, more powerful, further-along-in-career than the male… it’s been a while since I saw the movie, but don’t they refer several times throughout the movie to the fact that he works under her, he hasn’t advanced in his career, so wouldn’t it naturally seem like he would be younger?
I’ve STILL not seen The Proposal or All About Steven but I totally see what you are saying. She has to “grow” up sometime in grow into some believable roles! I’ll hope to see The Blind Side!
I will admit that I actually watched All About Steve and it was the WORST movie ever. I was embarrassed for her in the movie. It’s awful!
I didn’t see “All About Steve” – it just looked bad! I liked “The Proposal”, but mainly for the scenery (helloooo gorgeous house… and Ryan R. isn’t bad to look at either
They did kind of lack chemistry, but maybe that is just because we are used to seeing Sandra with her scruffy, earthy husband, and Ryan with his sex-kitten wife in real life?
The Blind Side looks awesome!
I saw the proposal and liked it – but definitely felt like she was older than him. I had no desire to see all about steve – thought the previews looked pretty terrible! She looked like an older, psycho stalker cougar in the preview
As for The Blind Side, I really hope it lives up to the book and the story of Michael Oher and his family. I went to Ole Miss (and have close family & friends from Memphis) and can tell you that Michael the nicest, most humble young man – and so are the Tuohys. One of the sweetest moments was one Michael came up in the stands after the cotton bowl to see them. Anyway, the only thing from the previews that looks like it might bother me is Sandras accent. I know down here in MS we have a southern accent, but trust me we do not talk like all the movies make it sound like!
I hope I look that good when I’m her age. Rather be a cougar than a frump.
The whole time I was watching “The Proposal” I kept thinking about how old she looked compared to him. But I’ll watch anything with Ryan Reynolds in it
i can’t wait for the blind side! i don’t mind that she plays opposite younger men at all. i think it is kind of cool that she can still do it! i wish i had her body now, let alone at 45.
Oh I can’t wait for The Blind Side!!! Looks amazing!!
I agree with everything you said. I hope her next movie is better!
Oh, okay.
Do you also complain about actors in their 40s who play the love interests of women in their 30s or even 20s?
No, I guess you do not complain about them. Gee, isn’t your post very sexist. The saddest part is that you are a woman.
I wish my rear looked like that in white capri pants on the movie poster.
Emily Blunt would have been a better boss in The Proposal, IMO. Sandra isn’t a believable meanie.
I totally agree and I’m just looking at the posters.
And not that it’s my place, but Lori whoever you are, you must have had a bad day. This is a blog post and most of the time in the blog world, the blogger is writing about their opinion. I’m not saying you’re not entitled to yours; in fact I think you are entitled to yours.
BUT SERIOUSLY!
You could have said what you did ten times better.
You also could have been “woman” enough to leave your name linked so the Blue Eyed Bride could have her chance to respond to you too.
But she’s very classy and adheres to the “Golden Rule”.
Me on the other hand, for this moment in time, well…I’m not. So the next time you start to write something think about the fact that there is a person with very real feelings who wrote the post. And if you think it might be remotely rude to say what you’ve said.
Please do me a favor and stop yourself.
For some reason I don’t see her as being as old as she is (perhaps her plastic face has something to do with that). I think that it’s always going to be more challenging for women actors to find work once they reach a certain age whereas men don’t lose their sex appeal as fast as women do ( look at sean connery). Basically, it’s to an actress’ benefit to play younger roles for as long as they can. Sure there will always be a great actress like Meryl Streep who’ll embrace her age, but this is Hollywood we’re talking about.
In The Proposal the age difference made more sense to me considering that Margaret’s job was so much better than his (I’d like to hope that he’s not working as an assistant forever!) and the fact that it wasn’t a natural romance.
The real age differences that continue to puzzle me are Demi and Ashton; Cartherine Zeta and Michael Douglas; and let’s not forget Celine Dion and her ultra old manager husband Rene. Ryan Reynolds was also engaged to the older Alanis Morsette if you remember. While Sandra once dated a very young Ryan Gosling. And then there was Heath and Naomi.
Ok, I actually really like the proposal in theory. I would have preferred someone or than sandra bullock to play margaret, but the age thing didn’t really bother me (just her acting).
Also, SO EXCITED for the Blind Side. I think you’re right, the movie will focus more on her but I figure that’s typical.
And why again are you sexist? All you said was the you didn’t think sandra bullock was right for the part. Did i miss something?
aw, that book and more is about michael oher from the baltimore ravens. great story. looking for to seeing the movie…haven’t read the book. i’ve always been a fan of hers & these kinds of stories are so uplifting. I thought that the age difference was supposed to be in the Proposal because she was his boss…I don’t know. I liked it and I normally am not a fan of Ryan Reynolds, but after i was in love!
I totally agree! Watching Sandra Bullock is just painful these days. I do want to see that movie – I’m so glad she’s not going to be a “boy-crazy 28 year old). I don’t think I could hang!
I certainly hope Blind Side is good because the story is fabulous. The trailers are so moving. {There are some interesting articles about Michael Oher’s opinion of parts of the book.} I loved Sandra in Two Weeks Notice. Laughed out loud movie! Have a great day. xoxoxo
I can’t wait to see Blind Side! I remember when Michael played for Ole Miss. I just wish they had filmed the part where he plays for Ole Miss in Oxford. I think Sandra will do a great job!
I liked the Proposal! I never saw “All About Steve” but I won’t rent it after reading the reviews.
You are so right!! I like how someone else mentioned that great actresses accept their age and choose roles to fit it. Sandra needs a little lesson on that!
Funny because I’ve heard so many good things about The Proposal and was wanting to see, it, haha!!
I read that book a few years ago and LOVED it! I was hoping it would be made into a movie!
I saw The Proposal and loved it. She’s his boss and a successful business woman…so I think it would have been weird if they were the same age.. I think she was supposed to be an older woman. Anyways, I loved it and other than The Hangover it was definately the funniest movie I saw this summer. I haven’t seen All About Steve….I’ll probably watch it eventually but it wasn’t one of those movies that I had to see….
I actually really liked The Proposal. Cute story, though I must admit I stared at Ryan most of the time!!
I wouldn’t even pay to see that 2nd one. I agree with the age related role. Although the blond mullet might be even scarier than her role.
She does need to start picking some “older” roles. Time to play someone’s mom Sandra B.
Agreed…the Proposal was funny but I didn’t love her at all in that movie like I used to in all her old movies. I am definitely looking forward to The Blind Side, though!
I wasnt a big fan of The Proposal either but sucked it up so I could watch Ryan Reynolds…. i have no shame in admitting that I would watch him read the phone book…..He is just YUMMY! Sandra wont ever be what she was in WHile You Were Sleeping to me.. I saw that movie the night I was devirginized so it holds a special place in my heart!!! I am anxious to see The Blind Side as well. I cry at the commericals so… and as For that Bradley Cooper movie.. if I see it I wont even notice Sanrda… I will notice Bradley Cooper