To me there are two problems with this film.
The "introduction" sets the stage, but it is boring and you sit wondering for some time where this film is going, and twice I nearly turned off the film. I was glad I didn't.
The second problem was very poor acting on the part of Renee Zellweger. To begin with, I didn't even recognize her! That's how much her appearance has been...changed. I had missed the opening credits, so it wasn't until I stopped the film and checked the internet that I knew who she was. But I thought she was awful in this film. And her role is crucial.
On the other hand, there are two performances that are very good. Back when he was the host of "Talk Soup", who would have ever thought that Greg Kinnear would become such a fine, dependable actor? But that's exactly what he is...usually...and in this film. The other acting performance I admired here was that of Djimon Hounsou. I've seen him before...thought he was good...but this film gave him a chance to demonstrate two different personas as the film progressed.
Some people have criticized this film as being a religious movie. I'm an atheist/agnostic, and that didn't bother me at all. I can watch a film that has religious angles, providing the film doesn't preach to me...and this film doesn't do that.
The plot of this relatively true story is a rich couple (primarily as a result of the dying wife) helping homeless people, and one African-American homeless man, in particular. It transforms the homeless man, and it transforms the somewhat reluctant husband. I found it quite touching, and it gives a very different picture of homeless people.
This film was good enough that I was tempted to give it an "8", which I rarely do. But I was bothered enough by the dull beginning and the poor performance of Renee Zellweger, that I put it down to my more common rating of a "good" film...a "7". But this is worth watching.
The "introduction" sets the stage, but it is boring and you sit wondering for some time where this film is going, and twice I nearly turned off the film. I was glad I didn't.
The second problem was very poor acting on the part of Renee Zellweger. To begin with, I didn't even recognize her! That's how much her appearance has been...changed. I had missed the opening credits, so it wasn't until I stopped the film and checked the internet that I knew who she was. But I thought she was awful in this film. And her role is crucial.
On the other hand, there are two performances that are very good. Back when he was the host of "Talk Soup", who would have ever thought that Greg Kinnear would become such a fine, dependable actor? But that's exactly what he is...usually...and in this film. The other acting performance I admired here was that of Djimon Hounsou. I've seen him before...thought he was good...but this film gave him a chance to demonstrate two different personas as the film progressed.
Some people have criticized this film as being a religious movie. I'm an atheist/agnostic, and that didn't bother me at all. I can watch a film that has religious angles, providing the film doesn't preach to me...and this film doesn't do that.
The plot of this relatively true story is a rich couple (primarily as a result of the dying wife) helping homeless people, and one African-American homeless man, in particular. It transforms the homeless man, and it transforms the somewhat reluctant husband. I found it quite touching, and it gives a very different picture of homeless people.
This film was good enough that I was tempted to give it an "8", which I rarely do. But I was bothered enough by the dull beginning and the poor performance of Renee Zellweger, that I put it down to my more common rating of a "good" film...a "7". But this is worth watching.