CheerupSilver Very Cool!!!

TrueJoshNight Truly Dreadful Film

CrawlerChunky In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

ChicDragon It's a mild crowd pleaser for people who are exhausted by blockbusters.

nicholls_les Black or White is the story of a grandfather (Kevin Costner) who is suddenly left to care for his beloved mixed race granddaughter.When her paternal grandmother (Octavia Spencer) seeks custody the usual legal battles begin.Based on real events, the movie doesn't gloss over anything. Costner gives a brilliant performance and his little speech when asked if he is racially prejudiced is brilliant and honest.The little girl Jillian Estell playing Eloise is one to watch as she grows up and I hope she carries on as an actress because she did a great job here.Anthony Mackie is good as Jeremiah and Paula Newsome is perfect as Judge Cummings (she bears a startling resemblance to a young Oprah Winfrey which was a bit distracting) Overall a good film and one that anyone with any racial prejudices should watch.

MartinHafer From the title and the way the film was marketed, you'd get the impression that this is a movie about a custody dispute that all boils down to race. Well, this plays only the tiniest part in a film and is instead a film where there are lots of gray areas...and the custody situation is NOT black or white (metaphorically speaking).When the film begins, Elliot (Kevin Costner) is at the hospital, as his wife just died. It's not just going to effect him, however, as he and his wife was the caretakers for their granddaughter, Eloise. However, although it's always clear that Elliot loves her, he's also got a drinking problem...though it does not appear to impair his ability to care for the child...at least at the present.Soon, Eloise's Grandmother (Octavia Spencer) has filed for custody of the child. Much of this might have been avoided if Elliot had allowed the other side of the family (the black side) to see the girl. He, however, is angry at them as Eloise's father is a crack- head and the father's family is in denial about his current drug use or ability to care for the child. He's a mess, and clearly he should NOT care for any child...let alone a pet! But, the rest of the family seems to possibly be able to care for Eloise...but they've got to get over the Grandmother's fantasies about her son and his addiction. How does all this work out? See the film.Overall, I enjoyed this film but must strongly point out that it is NOT strictly a film about race. Instead, it shows how both sides of the family care but are really screwed up...and it's up to the judge to determine what's best. I appreciated this and enjoyed the film. My only reservation is the last 10 minutes or so of the movie...it didn't seem all too realistic in many ways. So, I am recommending it but think it does, in some ways, miss the mark. Well worth seeing.

writemetoo It took me 24 hours after viewing to process why I didn't like this film.  First the positives:  the actors, Kevin Costner and Andre Holland who plays Grandma Wewe's son Reggie deliver stellar performances.  Octavia Spencer did the best she could with what she had to work with.  Also, kudos for trying to make the black family a likable and respectable one.  The negative:  All the supporting cast outside of Costner's Elliot are one dimensional.  At first glance one would think the film goes out of its way to avoid black stereotypes to the point that this family borders on unbelievable.  For example, Grandma has 6 successful businesses and real estate holdings, yet she lives in a questionable neighborhood across the street from a crack house.  She's raising several other grands, nephews and nieces which implies that there was something seriously wrong with the adult members of her family.  (Where are they, in prison?)  And that family jam session!  What kind of black family is this?  By trying too hard to paint a picture of a loving, extended family, the movie successfully masks old familiar stereotypes:  Hard working no-nonsense matriarch, absent man, effed-up male spawn; but hey, they gotta lotta love, musical ability and good times to give even if they can't provide the safety, comfort, and stability that a child needs to be successful.  And oh yeah, maids are now Hispanic.  If I were white, this movie would reinforce for me the common misconceptions whites have about black people: 1) They make everything about race even when it's clearly not, which they are more concerned with than the plight of their own communities and their own families' failings. 2) They have nothing but excuses for lack of achievement:  compare 30 year old high-school-dropout-can't-spell-his-own-daughter's-name native son Reggie, to 19 year old entrepreneurial-polyglot-pianist-immigrant Duvan. 3) No amount of money that you give them will fix the problems they themselves create. 4) White fathers still need to protect their vulnerable daughters from potential permanent ruin from the lowest elements of black America--political correctness about race be dammed.Had the two families been on equal economic, educational, and social footing, there might actually be a story worth telling, one that at the very least could create a meaningful conversation about race or perhaps transcend it.  However, this movie isn't a conversation about race but a soliloquy, eerily reminiscent of the one begun 100 years ago in the premiere of The Birth of a Nation.

chickenlittle-309-990263 I'm sorry people, but this movie is nothing more than a vehicle for Kevin Costner and Octavia whatever her name is to do some "acting". There is nothing real about this film, everyone is a caricature. The white people, the black people. You never feel for a second that either grand parent loves the girl.(who is also a caricature and is the wisest, most well spoken 9 year old I've ever seen, did I mention adorable?) The court room scenes are so hokey it's almost laughable. The no nonsense black judge, that does nothing but put up with nonsense in her courtroom. The crack head son in law, I mean c'mon, it's like they don't even try anymore. It was truly an uninspiring time waster.