Loved The Blind Side - now need good recommendations!!

I got The Blind Side for my birthday in December and both my husband and I loved it. Being that my husband is not a great film lover this was quite something. I'd love to find some more films in a similar vein, uplifting and feel-good, can anyone help with ideas?

Thanks, Monica. Glad you enjoyed The Blind Side. Yes, it's very life-affirming and positive. It can be difficult to find a film that leaves you feeling really positive, since a realistic film will usually have some conflict and struggle, and can often be dark - while a film which is thoroughly nice may be a bit unrealistic and over-sweet.

Anyway, here are some positive films from the 1990s:

Field of Dreams (1989) - a farmer (Kevin Costner) follows his dream of building a baseball pitch in his corn field. about fulfilling your lost and broken dreams, and about the father-son relationship. quite surreal and spiritual.

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistlestop Cafe (1991) - gentle, warm story about friendship between women and empowerment. switches between the 90s and the main story in America of the 1920s

The American President (1995) - the tricky business of dating when you are the US President.

Thank you for the recommendations, I will definitely try those. I was not expecting The Blind Side to be as good as it was and so other films have a lot to live up to now! :-)

Thanks Monica - good to hear from you. Yes, The Blind Side is a cracker and an encouragement about the goodness in people: you wouldn't believe the story if it wasn't true.

We all have a few favourite films which stay with us - sounds like The Blind Side will be one of yours !

Here are a few other thoughts:

Jerry Macguire (1995) - a successful young sports management consultant (Tom Cruise) develops doubts about the money-driven values of his work, and seeks a new approach built on good relationships with his clients. along the way, he learns a lot about friendship, love and commitment. a very warm, human story, with a great script and great performances from Cuba Gooding Jnr as a football player and Renee Zellweger as Jerry's partner.

Invictus (2009) - (haven't seen it) could be similar to The Blind Side. About the 1995 Rugby World Cup held in South Africa and how Nelson Mandela linked up with the South Africa rugby team to unite the country.

How To Make An American Quilt (mid-1990s) - Several American women tell their stories to a young woman (played by Winona Ryder) as they weave her wedding quilt.

Forrest Gump (1994) - very light-hearted but moving story of a simple but good man, and his journey through the events of late 20th century USA. Deeper and more thoughtful than it appears on the surface: it's about friendship, dutifulness and whether each of us has a destiny or not.

A Room With A View (1985) - historical drama, set about 1900 in the Home Counties, England and Florence, Italy. About the English relationship with Italy (restrained admiration or passionate engagement ?) and the parallel development of a young woman (played by Helena Bonham Carter)

The King's Speech (2010) - the recent Oscar winner. the moving struggle of King George VI to speak in public when millions across the world needed to hear him during World War 2.

Sleepless in Seattle (c 1993) - light romantic drama about a lonely widower in Seattle (played by Tom Hanks) and a journalist in (?) New York (played by Meg Ryan). it's about the magic of romance and whether there is a 'right' one

Miss Potter (c2006) - (haven't seen this yet) the story of Beatrix Potter's early career and relationship with her publisher. She was very talented: scientist, story-teller, artist. She could draw animals which were both anatomically correct and yet with human expression !

Amazing Grace (c 2006) - story of William Wilberforce and the campaign to abolish the Atlantic slave trade. very good depiction of the historical and political background c 1800, with the role of William Pitt and the backdrop of revolution in France.

Dances with Wolves (early 1990s) - Kevin Costner plays a US soldier on the Western frontier, building bridges with the Sioux Indians. Contains some violence. Heart-breaking, but also quite uplifting.

finally, some Shakespeare: both very colourful, life-affirming productions:

Twelfth Night (1996) with Helena Bonham Carter, Mel Smith and others

Much Ado About Nothing (1993) with Kenneth Branagh, Emma Thompson

Hope you enjoy the viewing !

Brilliant, thanks again - strangely I have just been lent a DVD of Miss Potter - must be a sign! Got a fair few of the above on my to-watch list now, there were a couple that you mentioned that I have already watched. Really appreciate you taking the time to reply, hope some of the films match my now high expectations :-)