Same Kind of Different as Me (2017)

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

For the life of me, I cannot figure out why I have not heard more about this movie. It is a fantastic feel good movie if I've ever seen one. Maybe it is too "normal" for people these days. The story is touching, the characters are likeable and well acted. It is not drama of the year, but it has a Field of Dreams style of goodness. I am glad that I ignored some of the reviews. Worth the watch if you want something similar in feeling to the movies in the 80s. And it is a true story. Academy award winner, no - but a nice movie.

The acting is passable, it's nice to see a grown up Renee playing a grown woman. The story itself would have been interesting had it not been for the ever increasing god squad agenda. I should by now recognise it seems Greg K only does god movies but I was fooled into missing it given other cast. I find it remarkable the religious types are ok with this not so subtle pushing of their god agenda but god forbid a gay coupke kiss on a screen. I was disappointed by this movie because of this entire aspect which really makes this a fairy tale not a drama. If you want to make god agenda movies, at least be upfront about it so as not to waste the effort of those who aren't interested in your particular lifestyle choice.

In Fort Worth, there are two worlds. The first one is the successful part of town where art dealer Ron Hall (Greg Kinnear) lives with his beautiful wife, Deb (Renee Zellweger) and their two wonderful teenagers, in a spectacular house. The other side is where the poor and homeless reside, including Denver (Djimon Hounsou). Ron and Deb have grown apart as of late and Ron cheats on his wife. Yet, Deb, a strong Christian, decides to work through their problems and especially wants Ron to join her in volunteering at a soup kitchen near the homeless. Reluctantly, he does so. One day, Denver comes in with a baseball bat and starts breaking furniture. Deb confronts him and he leaves....for a spell. When returning more subdued, Deb and Ron reach out to him and a friendship begins. Little by little, they learn Denver's sad life story, from being abandoned by his mother, having his grandmother's house burn down, working as a sharecropper, etc. No wonder he is such a bitter man, at times. Yet, all parties learn how much they have in common, rather than dwelling on differences. Even over the objections of his bigoted and alcoholic dad (Jon Voight), Ron insists on staying pals with and helping Denver. Then, a huge crisis occurs, involving Deb's health. Will this crisis draw them closer together or tear them apart? This beautiful true story is hampered by a direction so slow that even a snail would object. As such, the impact of the tale is greatly diminished, despite good performances from Kinnear and Zellweger. Only Hounsou rises about the tedious pace; when he is on screen, the viewer is riveted. The Texas scenery looks great as do the costumes and art direction. Certainly, too, the message of forgiveness is welcome anytime so no one should be discouraged from seeing it for its themes. Yet, after a view, even the most casual movie fan will wish that the film had a better pace and better editing. Let's hope the producers of Pure Flix will learn from the down side of a story on screen which should have had greater meaning.

The signature manifestation of a cheap production is having prolonged opening aerial scenes of a car driving on a roadway usually in a foresty setting followed by scenes viewing upward toward trees rustling in the wind. Dead giveaway. But, moving on to the substance (script), basically it was a fantastical sweetened good converts bad into good storyline. A bit stereotyped (i.e. dramatized & admitted so in credits) of a black angry homeless person w/racially abusive growing up experiences within a cotton plantation setting and the always present white slave owners. However, to the rescue is an upper middle class white couple volunteering, where else, soup kitchen (a misnomer as food fare has improved the past decades especially w/donations at food banks). A sort of Union Gospel shelter to the rescue. Acting was overdramatic in both directions overly aggressive and overly submissive, but got the point across. Zellweger could convert Satin w/the calm sweetness of her voice alone. Not overly preachy, and had the potential to be so. The helping the homeless cause in America is valuable, but relative to the billion people worldwide who live daily w/debilitating disease, no medical care, hunger, poor/no sanitation, no potable H2O, little/no shelter, rape, abuse, very short life spans, murders based on religion or gender - it pales.