This movie is as simplistic as its title "Black or White", and lacks authenticity in the writing, acting and plot development. In the beginning, there's on-screen mention of being inspired by a true story, but nothing provided at the end to identify whose story it was. The subject matter is timely and important in this race-baiting world we live in, but characters never developed enough to get beyond actors reading their lines, and doing the unlikely stuff they're directed to do. Three examples follow. First, the mixed race little girl, Eloise, who is the subject of the custody dispute, has lost her mother, father and grandmother, never shows in her expression or behavior any of the effects of the terrible tragedies that have befallen her. Second, her white Grandfather, Elliot, never exhibits the qualities that would make her want to stay with him so much. Played by Kevin Costner, he is unconvincing as both a grieving drunk guy and concerned grandparent. Swaying slightly through scenes and calling his long-time law partner's wife "Fudge" instead of "Fay" comes off as playing the role rather than really feeling the devastation of the recent death of his wife (we never find out why), the death of his young daughter in childbirth (again, we don't know why, and we see photo flashbacks of her, and would she ever be stupid enough to get pregnant by a crack-smoking criminal?) Third, the instigator of the custody battle, Rowena, the child's paternal grandmother, as played by Octavia Spencer, is a caricature of a bossy, controlling black Mama, with lots of wide-eyed officious bantering, demanding hugs and slapping her drug-addled son into submission. She's in danger of becoming "Medea" in a Tyler Perry movie rather than a first rate actress. Other scenes lacking credibility are the ones with the extended black family, all happy campers making dinner, watching TV, and playing instruments together one side of the street, while across the street, front porch crack-smoking is going on among Eloise's father and friends. At movie's conclusion, during the custody courtroom scenes, Elliott gets to unload in a moving speech, where Costner finally gets to use his acting chops. And, then turns over to his partner attorney a question to his granddaughter's shaky father on the witness stand, which is "how do you spell Eloise", and he botches it, so judge gives Elliott full custody. And all opposition fades away. Teary-eyed Elliott off to rehab, and Eloise visits cousins for two weeks. I wasn't bored,thank you, but this is a movie made for Lifetime TV, not the big screen. It's a subject that needs to be addressed, but could have been so much more thought-provoking and memorable!
Review of Black or White
