Same Kind of Different As Me will help you see the homeless differently

Movie Title:   
Same Kind of Different As Me

Grade:  B+

Rating:  PG-13, 119 minutes

In a Nutshell:   Based on a true story, this movie will make you want to do more for the homeless to let them know they’re not alone or invisible.

Tips for parents: 

• Some profanity, including racist slurs.
• Discussion of the Klu Klux Klan and racism.
• After watching the film, you should talk to your kids about the homeless and maybe even plan a special service project to help the homeless in your city!

                             

Uplifting theme: 

• “While the journey of the homeless may begin in a hopeless place, it didn’t have to end there.” – Ron Hall (Greg Kinnear)
• “God is in the recycling business of turning trash into treasure.” – Denver (Djimon Hounsou)
• “Sometimes you just gotta bless the hell out of people.” – Denver
• “It’s kind of incredible what a little love can do.” – Chef Jim (Thomas Francis Murphy)

                                       

Things I liked:

• Without the lead actors, it may have felt like just another sappy Christian movie, but the superb performances by Renee Zellweger, Greg Kinnear, Djimon Hounsou, and Jon Voight  elevate it to so much more. 
• I liked Debbie’s sweet, soft voice.  What an angel she was.
• I really liked the idea of “catch and release” friendship.  How do you treat your true friends?
• The scene with the yellow roses was very sweet.  Wouldn’t we all like to have such an impact on others?
• I always love seeing pictures and video clips of the real people at the end of a movie about them.

                                   

Things I didn’t like:

• I’m still not used to Renee Zelwegger’s new face.
• One of the first times we see Denver, he flies into a rage, but we’re never told why.
• I’ve never seen people clap and give a standing ovation for a eulogy at a funeral.  Have you?  It seemed odd and a bit inappropriate to me.
• It's pretty predictable.

Funny lines:

• “You wanna be my friend?” – Denver

“Uh huh…” – Ron

“I’m gonna have to think about that.” - Denver

Interesting lines:

• “I’ve done things I’m not proud of.” – Clara (Ann Mahoney)

“We all have.” – Debbie

• “I just don’t know how much a million dollars is worth anymore.” – Ron
• “When you’re as precious to God, you’re important to Satan.” – Denver 

I hear the book is different from the movie a bit, so if you’d like to dig in deeper, you can buy one with this link! 
                                               

  

                                          @trinaboice 

Suburbicon is a messy disappointment

Movie Title:   Suburbicon

Grade:  D

Rating: R

In a Nutshell:  Nope.  Hated it. The film tries to be a drama, dark comedy, murder thriller, and social commentary all at the same time, but it’s a messy downer.   I felt like I just wasted a part of my life.  Dang it.

Actor/Director George Clooney and the Coen writing brothers have talent, but it’s not revealed in this movie.  Super disappointing.

Uplifting theme: 

• Hypocrasy
• Racism

Things I liked:

• The 1950’s tone was well done.
• The talented cast did a great job with the material they were given, especially Matt Damon, Julianne Moore, and Oscar Isaac.

Things I didn’t like:

• The trailer was extremely deceiving.  It makes the film look like a fun, dark comedy with quirky characters.  Well, I guess it was those things, but without the fun.
• It reminded me of another ugly film that had great acting talent in it, but left me wanting to take a shower.  In 1989, Tom Hanks starred in the mystery thriller The Burbs.  

Tips for parents: 

• Lots of profanity, including F-bombs.
• The film shows a black family being bullied and violently attacked.
• There are slurs against Jews and Episcopalians.
• A child walks in on a couple having sex (no nudity).
• Bloody, violent deaths.
• Dead bodies killed in violent ways.

MOVIE REVIEW MOM

@trinaboice 

Black or White addresses racism on both sides

Movie: Black or White

PG-13, 2 hours 1 minute

Grade: B

In a Nutshell:  Inspired by true events, Academy Award winner Kevin Costner produced this heartbreaking and heart warming film that attempts to cross black and white barriers to understanding and accepting one another.

Uplifting Theme:

·         Unfortunately, race is still an issue in this country.  Kevin Costner plays a hard-drinking and newly widowed grandfather, trying to raise his mixed race granddaughter.  Academy Award winner Octavia Spencer plays Rowena Spencer (Grandma WeeWee).   Rowena says “But you don’t want her down here, do you Elliott…here with the black folks…?”  Elliott brushes her off and says “Don’t start with that.  What is it with you? Why do you always have to go there?” She spits back “What is it with you that you don’t want to admit that there’s a ‘there’ there?”

Things I liked:

·         There are some funny moments like when Kevin Costner tries to brush his granddaughter’s black hair.  Frazzled, he asks “This is every day?”  There are also a lot of funny/awkward moments, like when Grandma WeeWeePee tries to kiss Kevin Costner or give him "some love" with a hug.

·         The evolving relationship between Elliott Anderson and his granddaughter, Heloise, is very sweet.  It’s cute how they tap their heart with their fingers when they say goodbye to each other.

·         The math tutor (“Johnny Quest sidekick”)  played by Mpho Koaho is adorable.  I love how he has written papers on so many different subjects and is always there to support Elliott.

·         Jillian Estel (Eloise) does a great job and is adorable.

Things I didn’t like:

·         I don’t care what color you are…if you’re doing drugs, I don’t want you around my kids.  It bugged me that Rowena and her brother sued Elliott, claiming he didn’t want Eloise around her biological father because he was black, as if his drug use, prison time, and dangerous lifestyle had nothing to do with it.

·         Some of the characters in the story are ridiculously stereotyped on both sides.
          

Funny lines:

·         “I’m no good at math; I’m a lawyer.  Do you know what we’re good at?” - Elliott

“What?” – Heloise

“Nothing…….it’s a little joke.” – Elliott
  “Duvan, tell me the truth. What planet are you really from?  OK? I’m not going to report you.  I just would like to know.” - Elliott

Interesting lines:

·         “She’s not black.  Alright, she’s half black. She’s also half white.  What does that have to do with anything anyway?  That’s the stupidest thing you’ve ever said.” – Elliott

·         “I don’t watch much television.  I’m afraid for me it is not a nourishing form of entertainment.” – Duvan

          

Tips for Parents:

·         Language, including the “N” word and 1 F-bomb, drinking, drug use, and a couple of fights.
*    Custody battles often cause emotional hurt for both parents and children.  Because of the complicated nature of race and custody, this film would be boring and inappropriate for young children.  

Selma honors MLK and the Civil Rights Movement in a timely, sobering manner

Movie:   Selma

Grade:  A

PG-13

In a Nutshell:  This is a sobering film to watch, and especially now as so many racist clashes have been occurring around the country.  It’s not only a historic memorial, but a part of the continuing story of our country. We have come a long way, but there is still so much more distance we need to go.  Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Films appropriately released this powerful film to run during January, when we honor Martin Luther King Jr. for what he was able to accomplish in the Civil Rights movement for our country.

I visited the “eternal flame” at the Martin Luther King Jr. Center in Atlanta, GA when I was just out of high school.  I remember buying one of the books in the bookstore while I was there and reading some of his speeches for the first time.  One thing I enjoyed about this film was that it lets us glimpse into the personal life and private moments of this amazing and, at times, flawed Civil Rights leader.

Uplifting Theme:

·         “I’m no different from anyone else.   I want to live long be happy.  But I’ll not be focusing on what I want today.  I’m focused on what God wants.  We’re here for a reason, though many, many storms.  But today, the sun is shining and I’m about to stand in its warmth alongside a lot of freedom-loving people who worked hard to get us here.  I may not be here for all the sunny days to come, but as long as there’s light ahead for them, it’s worth it to me.”  - Martin Luther King  Jr.

Things I liked:

·         It was disgraceful that African American men were given the right to vote in the 15^th Amendment in 1870, but that they weren’t able to exercise those rights until many decades later.  Of course, women of any color weren’t allowed to vote until 1920. This film isn’t a history of the entire Civil Rights movement, but it takes a look at a small window of time in Selma, Alabama and that town’s struggle with suffrage.

·         I thought it was interesting to watch the interaction between Malcolm X and Mrs. King.  Although their tactics were different, they both wanted equal rights for the black community.

·         Several times Martin said unkind things to his wife and immediately apologized.  The movie portrayed a loving, forgiving marriage.

·         It’s difficult to watch such ignorant racism.  Tim Roth from Lie to Me: Season 1 does a great job portraying the bigoted and small-minded governor of Alabama.  (Season 1 was the best season, then it got a bit goofy.)

·         I thought British actor David Oyelowo did a FANTASTIC job as Martin Luther King Jr.   He nailed the accent and essence of the inspiring preacher.

·         I thought the song at the end was a clever mix of an earlier religious fervor with a modern-day respectful rap.

·         Tom Wilkinson did an excellent job portraying Lyndon B. Johnson’s conflicted attitudes prior to signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

·         Rarely in Hollywood movies are religious figures the heroes.  MLK and Christian values are portrayed in a very positive light in this film.

Things I didn’t like:

·         Someone barked “Jesus H. Christ!”  What does the “H” stand for?

      The movie is full of gravitas with no relief to counter-weigh the heaviness.

Inspiring lines:

·         “I accept this honor by our lost ones, whose deaths paved our paths,  and for the 20 million negro men and women motivated by dignity and a disdain for hopelessness.”  - Martin Luther King Jr. when he received the Peace prize from Norway

·         “There are no words.  But I can tell one thing for certain: God was the first one to cry for your boy.”  - Martin Luther King Jr. to the father of a young black man who was shot

·         “Our life is not fully lived unless we are willing to die for those we love for what we believe.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

·         “No citizen of this country can call themselves blameless, for we all bare responsibility for our fellowman.” – MLK

·         “I speak tonight about the dignity of man and the destiny of democracy.  At times, history and fate meet at the same time in a single place. “ – President Lyndon B. Johnson

·         “There is no negro problem.  There is no southern problem.  There is only an American problem.” – LBJ

·         “We shall do this.  We shall overcome.”  - MLK & LBJ

Tips for Parents:

·         2 F-bombs, bloody violence, upsetting scenes of brutality, full of racial slurs, vulgar hand gesture from actual footage of the time, reference to MLK’s affairs, and other profanity that are not appropriate for children.  Teenagers should be able to begin meaningful discussions about such topics as the Civil Rights movement, voting, equality, and racism after viewing this powerful film.

Another movie of this time period I recommend is The Butler.  You can read my review of that film here.

Want to learn more?   Check out these products: