Hard luck stories of someone overcoming what seem like impossible odds to achieve their dreams or live a better life always have a great selling point. You can see it in the endurance of ancient Greek hero myths, the fairy tales of Cinderella or Snow White, even in modern day television shows like Glee or Hannah Montana. Stories like this show us that dreams are reachable, that regular people can achieve anything. And even if you already know that everything will turn out all right in the end, stories like The Blind Side still have that charm that makes you want to watch, that makes you want to follow the journey yourself. And even if you're one of those cynical people (or maybe you prefer to think of yourself as a realist) who doesn't believe in fairy tales, you should still see this movie. The performances alone are amazing.

You might know that Sandra Bullock won a few awards for her work in this movie, including an Academy Award, but you might not know that she actually turned down the role several times before finally agreeing to the part. She didn't think this movie was the right step for her to take in her career, and who can blame her? She's made her mark in the world of romantic comedies, but her dramas are frequently overlooked or forgotten about. She needed a movie that would really make her stand out, and she most definitely achieved that in bringing Leigh Anne Tuohy to life on screen. Sandra Bullock is able to convey so much emotion in just a look, something a lot of actresses have trouble with, and I am so glad she got recognition for her work on this film. She absolutely deserves it.

And she isn't the only one who did a great job. Every single cast member turns out a great performance. Even Tim McGraw as her husband, who I've only ever before seen as a character in the movie version of Friday Night Lights, is easily separated from his country music persona. I was pleasantly surprised by how good he actually is. Lily Collins, who plays their daughter, is barely on screen in the movie, but when she is, she shines. Like Sandra Bullock, she can convey exactly what her character is feeling with a single expression. And Quentin Aaron takes on the role of Michael, the boy the Tuohys take in. He is such a large presence in the movie, yet it doesn't feel like the film is solely his story. He's also incredibly funny in the few comedic moments his character has. Of course S.J. (played by Jae Head), the youngest child in the Tuohy family, steals every scene he is in, meaning that Lily Collins and Quentin Aaron do get overshadowed when they share their camera time with him. He is equal parts adorable and hilarious.

Whether you like true stories or not, whether you love happy endings or despise them, you need to see this movie. It might make you shed a few tears, but it will leave you smiling.