slightlymad22 Continuing my plan to watch every movie in Kevin Costner's filmography in order, I come to his final movie of 2014 black or white. Kevin Coaster certainly wasn't resting in his laurels in 2013/14. For the first time in his career, 2014 saw him release 4 movies in a year. Plot In A Paragraph: A grieving widower (Costner) with a drink problem, is drawn into a custody battle over his granddaughter, whom he helped raise all her life.This is a great movie that is filled with great performances. It's a tricky subject and it could easily go very wrong stepping on a lot of land mines, but it doesn't. It's an uncomfortable watch at times, but it's compelling and totally absorbing. You can tell both Costner's and Octavia Spencer's characters both love the child, but both get caught up in their own feelings a little too much. I'm surprised this didn't garner much notice upon release, and even more surprising it was released straight to DVD in the UK, in January of this year. I think that's a real shame as KC gives one of the strongest performances of his career. Because no studio would finance it. Not for the first time, KC personally financed this film himself because he was moved by Mike Binder's screenplay, and wanted to tell the story of the family.The movie credits show that this movie was dedicated to the memory of J.J. Harris, who was Kevin Costner's first talent manager and also a close friend. Harris passed away a year ago.

eddie_baggins A curious mix of comedy and drama that's surrounded by a quite loaded scenario, Black or White marks the return of writer/director Mike Binder after 7 years in the wilderness between this film and his previous underrated drama Reign Over Me from 2007 and while Black or White succeeds in ways, it fails in an equal share also.Getting to the crux of Black or White's inability to stick it out as a fully formed winner isn't too hard of task as what brings the film down is an uneasy tone. Flirting throughout its runtime between a strange hybrid of comedy and straight up intense family/racial drama, Black or White finds itself in that unwanted middle ground of a film that feels less the sum of its parts either way you look.Binder has found success with darkly comedic films before, Reign Over Me did it well and his breakout The Upside of Anger was a great example of the mixing of genres but Black or White can't seem to shake the narrative shackles holding it back despite the best efforts of its cast.Continuing on his fine comeback form, Kevin Costner is the true winner of Black or White, enhancing the film with his on point acting turn as Elliot Anderson the recently widowed and grieving grandfather of young Eloise. While Elliot isn't an overly affable person (never far from having a drink in his hand) Costner makes the character work and holds the film above water when Octavia Spencer's over the top and caricature like Rowena "Wee-Wee" Jeffers finds herself with some screen time.The character of Wee Wee is a fine showcase also for why Binder's film fails to fire on all cylinders with commentary about dissociation between white and black prevalent throughout, such playing to genre staples like the kindly hearted/loud mouth talking Wee Wee belong to another film, perhaps a Wayan's Brother comedy or another Big Momma's House, not a courtroom focused drama.At one time spoken about regularly as an Oscar contender, Black or White failed to make much of mark in a commercial or critical manner and upon home video inspection it's quite clear as to why that is the case. With a fine Kevin Costner lead performance at front and centre and a nice debut turn from young actress Jillian Estell, Black or White has its moments but in the end there is no illusion to the fact the final result here is a highly forgettable one.2 ½ unwanted pool parties out of 5

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.

SnoopyStyle 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.