Same Kind Of Different As Me (Zellweger, Hounsou, Kinnear)

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I really loved this movie.

9/10

“We are all homeless, working our way home.” Truly powerful insight delivered remarkably well from an emotional and powerful film.

I had no idea going in that this was a true life story. I enjoyed the trailer and took a flier on the cast. I’m extremely pleased that I did. All these Oscar nominees and winners brought their A-game and have delivered one of the better movies of the entire year.

I wouldn’t even classify this as a faith based film. In fact, Greg Kinnear’s character never seems to embrace any particular religious sentiment. It’s a true story of a woman’s kindness and generous soul that is still reverberating through many people’s lives. Her simple philosophy of feeding the homeless and SEEING them bares fruit in many ways. Her life and by extension those who are carrying her torch are one’s to admire and even strive to emulate.

Her (Renee Zellweger) story is told through the eyes of her art dealer’s husband (Greg Kinnear) and heavily involves a homeless person (Djimon Hounsou) who we get to know as the film unfolds. Great racial strife and emotional scenes of his life are seen through flashbacks. Overall, all three character arcs are moving and fleshed out amazingly well.

It is a slow burn as the first act sets up very slowly. The pacing improves and the journey experienced is worth the exposition. While not a perfect movie (pacing issues, Hounsou’s Denver character shifts fast from crazy violent homeless man to wise sage, severe marital problems glossed over quickly) it is a movie that will make you think and even move you to tears.