Black Or White

I tried to figure out a way to describe the film Black or White and the only thing I could come up with is the word “inconsequential.”

Black or White follows the trials and tribulations of a man, Elliot Anderson (Kevin Costner) who just lost his wife. He is the grandfather to a young girl, Eloise (Jillian Estell) who’s mom (and his dauther) died earlier. Elliot is an alcoholic in denial and is about to lose custody of his grand daughter to her maternal grandmother, Rowena Jeffers (Octavia Spencer).

The story kind of moves along and there’s some conflicts and some yelling and some bonding and some laughing. But, by the time the credits started rolling, I felt that nothing really happened in the film. It all just ended so inconsequentially. And this is a crime because the actors all bring some of their best to the screen. This was one of Costner’s best performances in recent memory. Spencer is fantastic as Rowena. And the young Estell is going to be a start. Worth mention is Mpho Koaho who plays Eloise (and Elliot’s) tutor, driver and confidant. Koaho shows a great deal of range in his performance and he stole every scene he was in. Anthony “Cut The Check” Mackie also brings his A-game to this film and it was nice to see him in a normal role, rather than as a super-hero.

So, is Black or White worth watching? Not really. That is unfortunate because of all the excellent performances in the film.