'BLACK OR WHITE': Three and a Half Stars (Out of Five)
Race relations drama flick, written and directed by Mike Binder and starring Kevin Costner. Costner also costarred in the 2005 comedy drama film 'THE UPSIDE OF ANGER', which Binder also wrote and directed; he was so passionate about Binder's screenplay, for 'BLACK OR WHITE', that he financed it's $9 million budget, himself. It tells the story of a recently widowed alcoholic, who becomes involved in a bitter custody battle for his granddaughter, who's half black, with her grandmother (who's black). The movie costars Octavia Spencer, Jillian Estell, Anthony Mackie, Andre Holland and Bill Burr. The film raises some interesting questions about race relations, but it fails to answer them fully.
The movie opens with Elliot Anderson (Costner) finding out that his wife, Carol (Jennifer Ehle), died in a car accident. He goes home and drinks himself to sleep, and then struggles to tell his granddaughter, Eloise (Estell), about her grandmother's death, the next day. It turns out that Elliot and Carol raised Eloise, since her birth; when her mother died during the delivery. Eloise's father, Reggie (Holland), was an abusive crack addict, who was never there for her. Now that Carol's gone, Reggie's mother, Rowena (Spencer), thinks that Elliot is unfit to raise Eloise alone, and she wants joint custody. Elliot refuses, and a viscous court battle ensues.
The movie is well made, and Costner gives a great leading man performance in it. It's dramatic, emotional and it also has a lot to say about race relations; as well as substance abuse. The movie never really answers the thought provoking questions it asks though (about racial prejudice or drug and alcohol addiction). It addresses the issues in a seemingly realistic way, for the most part (although some of the characters seem a bit too much like stereotypes), but it doesn't really draw any satisfying conclusions to them. Things get wrapped up, but not in a way that really teaches the viewer anything about the important issues, it brings up. The film is ambitious though, and it has a lot of heart.
Watch our movie review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: http://youtu.be/rxD9sln4Qkg
Race relations drama flick, written and directed by Mike Binder and starring Kevin Costner. Costner also costarred in the 2005 comedy drama film 'THE UPSIDE OF ANGER', which Binder also wrote and directed; he was so passionate about Binder's screenplay, for 'BLACK OR WHITE', that he financed it's $9 million budget, himself. It tells the story of a recently widowed alcoholic, who becomes involved in a bitter custody battle for his granddaughter, who's half black, with her grandmother (who's black). The movie costars Octavia Spencer, Jillian Estell, Anthony Mackie, Andre Holland and Bill Burr. The film raises some interesting questions about race relations, but it fails to answer them fully.
The movie opens with Elliot Anderson (Costner) finding out that his wife, Carol (Jennifer Ehle), died in a car accident. He goes home and drinks himself to sleep, and then struggles to tell his granddaughter, Eloise (Estell), about her grandmother's death, the next day. It turns out that Elliot and Carol raised Eloise, since her birth; when her mother died during the delivery. Eloise's father, Reggie (Holland), was an abusive crack addict, who was never there for her. Now that Carol's gone, Reggie's mother, Rowena (Spencer), thinks that Elliot is unfit to raise Eloise alone, and she wants joint custody. Elliot refuses, and a viscous court battle ensues.
The movie is well made, and Costner gives a great leading man performance in it. It's dramatic, emotional and it also has a lot to say about race relations; as well as substance abuse. The movie never really answers the thought provoking questions it asks though (about racial prejudice or drug and alcohol addiction). It addresses the issues in a seemingly realistic way, for the most part (although some of the characters seem a bit too much like stereotypes), but it doesn't really draw any satisfying conclusions to them. Things get wrapped up, but not in a way that really teaches the viewer anything about the important issues, it brings up. The film is ambitious though, and it has a lot of heart.
Watch our movie review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: http://youtu.be/rxD9sln4Qkg