Black or White (2015)

Excellent, smart action film.

A Brilliant Conflict

Blending excellent reporting and strong storytelling, this is a disturbing film truly stranger than fiction

Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

Major Spoilers "Black or White" is a drama co-produced and starring Kevin Costner, written and directed by Mike Binder.The plot is, and "is not" about race. It's about the ties of family, forgiveness, and stepping up to responsibility-- but race also is in the midst of each of those issues, complicating each for the characters.I don't know that anyone's social views will be all that changed by the events of the film. If anything, they might be affirmed.Oscar winner Octavia Spencer does solid work with maternal grandmother Rowena, who is more nuanced than the film's trailer might suggest. Nonetheless, the film gives her character plenty of the "tough & sassy eye-rolling mama" tropes to wade through.Rowena's attorney brother Jeremiah (Anthony Mackie) is set up as a kind of Johnnie Cochran stand-in, with racial-bait ideology at the forefront of his mind.The granddaughter Eloise is written as very precocious for her age; surprisingly, any "deeper insight" as to her feelings about her father suddenly coming back to her life are not revealed. I was halfway expecting a segment where she is allowed to speak in court but, it doesn't happen. Curiously, Rowena's gay daughter and family are introduced in a matter-of-fact way (perhaps an oblique commentary that Rowena is not homophobic), but the daughter's take on these issues aren't dealt with at all; she just kind of stays in the background. (I'd have to see the film again to even be sure which one was the daughter, and which was the partner. They're THAT much in the background.) Elliot can apparently go on as many benders as he wants, but the drinking is just seen as "a little problem", that Elliot is "addicted to anger" and not "full blown" alcoholism. It seems to sidestep taking the issue seriously.Duvan, an African immigrant of nondescript nationality (except that his hometown was war-torn) serves as an "alternative black" in Elliot's life. He's given a kind of "model minority" backstory in his college-student status, prolific paper-writing and multiple-language fluency. He's quite visibly nervous in his first visit (albeit an impromptu one) with the Jeffers family. The family treats him with respect, though no one seems curious at all as to where he's originally from. In another kind of film, someone in Rowena's family might have made fun of his accent on his first visit. But the glaring uncuriosity concerning Duvan came across as a little disingenuous.We see nothing of Elliot's blood relatives or any in-laws via his wife's family. Seemingly nobody of note at the funeral/wake, just, nothing. Do any of them know or care about Elliot/Eloise? Maybe this would have complicated the balance of characters, but anyway..The film resolves itself in a somewhat surprising way. The narrative is flawed, but well-meaning. It is tolerable for a second watching.

After a tragic accident, a grieving grandfather is suddenly left to care for his beloved granddaughter. When her paternal grandmother seeks custody with the help of her brother, the little girl is torn between two families who love her deeply. With the best intentions at heart, both families fight for what they feel is right and are soon forced to confront their true feelings about more sensitive subjects.....Well done to Costner for footing the majority of the budget, because if he had not, we wouldn't have been privileged to see such an emotional, brilliantly acted piece of work. And it's a shame that not many people will get to see this film, because it didn't really do that well in the U.S and here in the U.K, it went straight to home cinema.He film is a difficult sell, and the racial undertones can be quite unsettling at times, but the film is about Costner's quest to keep his granddaughter, as the film depicts that her fathers side of the family haven't really been interested, until now.Step in Spencer, who is absolutely fantastic as the grandmother. But just as you expect the film to go into the predictable zone, it surprises the viewer by showing that despite the feud that is going on, the two grandparents are quite amicable with each other, it's what's going on beyond this relationship where the bad blood lies.Step in the father, who Costner blames for the death of his daughter (although this is never fully explained, the films only real flaw), and this brings back emotions, and makes him just ever so slightly more aggressive toward his loved ones, which doesn't help his cause.For such an important film, there is a lot of humour scattered around, but it works, despite the fact that it is focusing on Costner's drinking problem, which is a pivotal point of the narrative, because there are times you really think he's going to lose it with his grand daughter.But all in all, it's a wonderful film, and Costner hasn't been this good in a long time.I urge you to seek it out.

For some reason & it's been that way for awhile I always get excited for Kevin Costner films, three days to kill, no way out (old movie I know) but this one I knew I should'be pass on from start to finish it became less about a black or white thing versus how everyone around the girl were idiots, her grandmother, grandfather etc even the extras annoyed me it was as they used a title to draw in people for the movie but in telling the story for the film so that way everyone can feel & understand what's going on & they super failed on it the only thing that made the movie exciting was the scene where Costner's character had that speech in the courtroom I said now only if he was more like that in the film he would'be been more enjoyable kind of like Clint Eastwood in Gran Torino but wishful thinking horrible film even the little girl was annoying my god I'm gonna go watch something good to get this bad movie taste out of my mouth

Elliot Anderson (Kevin Costner) loses his wife Carol in a car accident. He's left along to take care of his bi-racial granddaughter Eloise. He is drinking too much. He hires Duvan Araga as a tutor. There is tension between Eloise's grandmother Rowena Jeffers (Octavia Spencer) and Elliot which explodes when Rowena takes Elliot to court. Her brother Jeremiah Jeffers (Anthony Mackie) is a partner in his law firm. He insists that the case should be based on Elliot hating black people. Elliot's animosity centers on drug-addicted Reggie Jr. who refused to allow Elliot and Carol to come to the birth resulting in Elliot's daughter's death.I am good with the central court case with racial overtones. However the movie seems intent on making everybody with their own cartoon problems. The constant drinking by Elliot borders on silly. He's drinking in almost every scene where he could stand still or sit down. It's ridiculous. When Fay starts clapping in court, I just about gave up on the movie. Rowena having a stare down with the judge is subtle by comparison. Octavia Spencer does give a terrific performance. When the movie tries to treat the material with sincerity and care, it's actually very touching. The interconnection between Rowena and Elliot is compelling. The Jeffers family drama is also compelling. There is a great opportunity here but there are a lot little moments that come off badly especially the little weak attempts at humor.