SAME KIND OF DIFFERENT AS ME

US, 2017, 119 minutes, Colour.
Greg Kinnear, René Zellweger, Djimon Hounsou, Jon Voight, Olivia Holt, Geraldine Singer.
Directed by Michael Carney.

As the title indicates, this is about human similarities and differences, in the context of American society, black and white. In fact, the words of the title are spoken by the central black character, Denver Moore (Djimon Hounsou), at the funeral of his white friend, a woman he admired and who had asked that he speak at her funeral, Debbie Hall (René Zellweger). His friend is Ron Hall ( Greg Kinnear).

This is the kind of film that gets the label “inspirational�. And so it is. However, it is not a fiction. It is based on the story of the three central characters, actual characters from Texas. In the event, Denver and Ron collaborate on a book about their stories, their tentative meetings, the growing friendship, all in the context of a soup kitchen and the outreach to the homeless. After they completed the book, they toured the United States, a speaking tour, a fundraising tour, donations which were in the millions.

At first the film seems to be the story of Ron, an art dealer, driving to stay with an artist friend to write a book. Then it goes back two years. Ron seems to be something of a celebrity, happily married to Debbie, two children. Then we find that he has been unfaithful to her, his lover urging him to tell the truth to his wife, his doing so, her dismay, her ringing the lover to say that she forgave her, forgiving her husband.

In some ways, Debbie seems too good to be true. But she is good. She works diligently at the soup kitchen, getting Ron, who is rather reluctant as might be imagined, to help her with the serving. One of the clients of the soup kitchen is an irascible man, causing a lot of disruptions, seemingly absorbed in himself and his woes. This is Denver Moore.

In fact, the story of Ron and Debbie seems rather matter-of-fact all things considered. And so the film veers towards the story of Denver himself, Ron making some outreaches towards him, Denver gradually being accepting, and Denver then telling his stories, taking the audience and Ron into his past through flashbacks.

The audience is taken back to the cotton fields, the world of slavery, Denver as a boy, living in poverty, as an adolescent, working in the cotton fields, his desire to run away, discovering the wonders of town life which amazed him, but his bad decision, an attempted robbery, years in prison.

While Denver admires Debbie, he comes to like Ron, who gets him some better clothes, and even takes him to an art gallery where he makes astute comments on Picasso.

This also sadness in the film, but an atmosphere of joy and triumph at Debbie’s funeral, the applause at Denver’s speech (a standing ovation, even including Ron’s quite bigoted alcoholic father, played with quite some aggression by Jon Voight).

This is a film for ordinary cinemagoers who are prepared to welcome a story of good people, their struggles, triumph over evil. It has a high profile central cast. (But some audiences, especially some critics, don’t have an appetite for seeing goodness in film, preferring more dramatic conflicts between good and evil.)

There are photos of the two men in the final credits – and a clip of the actual Denver speaking on tour.

1. The title and its tone? As spoken at Debbie’s funeral by Denver? Indications of themes, human equality, issues of racism and prejudice? Issues of the repercussions on individuals?

2. An inspirational film? Based on actual characters and events? Ron Hall and Denver Moore writing the book, that to, lectures, raising money for the homeless?

3. The Texas settings, homes, the poorer areas of the city, the refuge and engines, the forests, the surrounding countryside? The flashbacks to the past, poverty, the cotton fields, the small towns, prejudice, prisons and harshness? The musical score? The songs?

4. The initial focus on Ron, his voice-over, art dealer, intending to write a book, visiting the artist, the conversations, the paintings?

5. The initial flashback, two years earlier, shows Ron and his life, the dealings, the social, his liaison, the woman threatening to tell his wife? The scene of telling his wife, the tension between the two, possibilities for reconciliation, Debbie, her stances, ringing the woman and forgiving her, giving her husband a second chance? Her strong character? His weaker character, the challenge to be better? His admitting the wrongs? And the lack of intimacy between them after so many years of marriage? The presence of the two children?

6. Debbie, her work in the soup kitchen, demanding that Ron join her, his excuses, his coming, serving the meals? Debbie and her personal approach to those lining up? Ron and his mixed reactions? The children working there?

7. The introduction to Denver, Denver’s story taking centre role? An older man, strong presence, his angers, upturning the tables? His defiance? His concern about others? Living alone, across the road and out the back?

8. Debbie and the outreach, Ron and his beginning jn outreach, trying to talk with Denver, the rejections, Ron bringing him the food? The gradual breaking down barriers? Denver more willing to come to the centre?

9. Denver, the flashbacks, the harshness of his life as a boy, family, the cotton fields? His growing older? Harsh life continuing? His decision to run away, literally, going to the town, amazed at the town and the traffic, the police, trying to rob the bus, his arrest, prison, the long years in the harsh prison? The effect of telling his story? His embarrassment, shame and regrets?

10. Ron listening, the effect on him, more sympathetic, sharing the meals? The clothes and suits? His taking Denver to the gallery, the discussion about the Picasso and Denver’s perceptions? Debbie inviting Denver into the house, Ron’s reactions? Breakfast? Denver’s reaction to the house? The breaking down barriers?

11. Debbie and Ron, the development of the relationship? Debbie religious? Ron saying he was not religious? Denver a believer, God making treasure out of trash?

12. Ron and his relationship with his father, his father’s drinking, boorish manner, driving around the property, the meals, his father’s rudeness? Taking Denver to the meal, Earl and his bigotry?

13. Debbie, in all, the collapse, the diagnosis, the treatment? Ron and his support, the children? Ron taking the whole family and Denver to see his father, Earl’s dismissal of Debbie’s illness? Ron severing ties with his father?

14. Debbie, the illness, the setting up of the dance floor and their dancing? Denver and his care for Debbie?

15. Debbie’s death, the funeral, Denver leading the procession, the homeless men and the flowers on the coffin? The announcement that Debbie wanted Denver to speak at her funeral? The heartfelt speech, “same kind of difference as me�, Debbie’s impact on Denver? The congregation standing and applauding?

16. Denver telling Ron that there was one thing he had to do, Ron going to see his father, the reconciliation?

17. Ron, going to the artist to write the book, his return home? The subsequent history, he and Denver and the book, the tour with the talks, the raising of millions of dollars for the homeless?

18. The photos of the two men and their tours? And the clip of the actual Denver and his speech?

19. The impact of such an inspirational films?