Originally published January 31, 2015. Updated April 13, 2018.
Black or White, 2015.
Directed by Mike Binder.
Starring Kevin Costner, Octavia Spencer, Jillian Estell, Anthony Mackie, and Andre Holland.
SYNOPSIS:
A grieving widower is drawn into a custody battle over his granddaughter, whom he helped raise her entire life.
Black Or White is one of the more refreshing racially charged dramas to come out in quite some time, namely because it isn’t a biopic. Instead, it is highlighting the current age we live in, tackling issues many people in the world might not feel comfortable discussing. And what makes Black or White work, despite some flaws, is just how earnest it is with its depiction of society.
Every character in this film, from the mourning alcoholic grandfather (Kevin Costner) to the junkie deadbeat father (Andre Holland) attempting to bring his life back onto the right track, to the sassy black grandma (Octavia Spencer) fighting for custody of the mixed-race child all feel real and as if they could exist in our world. Part of that is probably due to the fact that the story is inspired by some events in the life of writer/director Mike Binder, which enables him to put together this script in a way where the race arguments and courtroom drama all come natural.
Simply put, the greatest strength of Black or White comes from its multi-layered characters that leave the viewer questioning which family this child should be with. Every single character is flawed but they also have their redeeming qualities, placing the movie in a gray area where there are no protagonists or antagonists, but rather real people with real issues trying to defeat their personal demons. Again, that can be anything from alcohol to drugs to shamelessly playing the race card.
Naturally, with a great script and direction comes fantastic acting from a cast loaded with Academy Award winners and all-around reliable performers. Reggie, a recovering drug addict internally struggling and juggling heavy decisions such as contemplating whether he is fit to raise the daughter he abandoned pops as it is brought to life on-screen with heaps of humanity. Kevin Costner also makes for a good hurting sympathetic drunk depressed over the recent tragic death of his wife.
Where Black or White slips up a bit however is its lack of direction during the second half and as it approaches its ending. The final courtroom scene is rather anti-climatic and reeks of Binder not knowing what to do next with the story as he has taken it as far as it can go. And so he just decides to abruptly resolve everything with part silliness and part randomness. Essentially, the journey is far more riveting than the conclusion, especially considering that you can predict the ending to the movie before you even see it.
Kevin Costner gives a monologue in court about race and how people initially perceive one another; it’s one of the most realistically written scenes regarding the touchy subject because there is truth to it, even if we don’t want to believe it. Moments like that and more are what make Black or White a heartwarming film on the barriers of race, but it’s also a deeply moving film about what it means to be family, and how we should all be supporting one another instead of gunning for each other’s throats.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★
Robert Kojder – An aficionado of film, wrestling, and gaming. He currently writes for Flickering Myth, We Got This Covered, and Wrestle Enigma. Follow me on Twitter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?x-yt-ts=1422579428&v=qqtW2LRPtQY&x-yt-cl=85114404&feature=player_embedded&list=PL18yMRIfoszFJHnpNzqHh6gswQ0Srpi5E
