The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

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.

The point of the film was useful and the cast was good. Overall a good movie but . . . with this one huge flaw that the director and writers missed completely. When Elliot was defining himself in court as not racist, the most obvious point he should have made would have been that when he looks at his little grand-daughter he just sees her - he doesn't see her colour. As I watched that scene I kept waiting for him to say that - but he didn't and, in real life, I'm sure he would have made that very obvious point - in fact, that would have been the only point he needed to make rather than the rambling defense he mounted. I don't know how everyone involved in the film missed that rather crucial fact.

Overall, I liked "Black or White." The title states clearly that there will be edgy questions about relations between Black and White people. The result does not disappoint--there is a good treatment of real issues without stereotyping. As much as I like the ideas the film presents, I think it could be improved in the storytelling.It would be even better if the character played by Andre Holland had been fleshed out more. He wasn't given as much attention as he should have gotten, and he is one of the most important characters to the story. Besides these points, the movie is thought-provoking and memorable.

Thank you Kevin Costner for such a wonderful touching moving movie. A great Dad by Mr.Costner is a real fighter for his sweet little granddaughter, the only close person he has. Such a great performance by the wonderful actors, I couldn't help crying at some moments. Its terrible that the race problem is still occurred day by day but its really good that people (actors, writers whoever) care about it and try to fight the problem their way. And yes I would definitely recommend the movie to others because thats one of those touching movies one will never forget and will watch it again and again. 10 out 10. Thank u Kevin! Ure the greatest!