I find just so cute when white people try to make well-meaning films on race, don’t you? You go, Mike Binder – you solve those bad old race issues. Give us some compassion and comprehension, but make sure you pull your punches just enough so nobody really gets hurt.
Ok, that was pretty condescending, and perhaps not as much as this film deserved. I saw Jupiter Ascending immediately prior to Black or White and it took the latter approximately 45 seconds to show more heart than the former. Grandpa Elliot (Kevin Costner) has just lost his wife to a car accident. Seven years earlier, he traded his teen daughter (lost in childbirth) for an adorable mixed-race granddaughter Eloise (Jillian Estell). His coping with being a single parent to 2nd grader while dealing with grief, alcoholism, and generational issues would normally be enough to make a crappy hallmark film, but this one decided to take on the race angle. Elliot lives somewhere near Beverly Hills; down in Compton is the child’s other remaining grandparent, Rowena (Octavia Spencer). An entire civilization can be found in or immediately around Rowena’s property, and she wishes this to have a greater influence on Eloise than Grandpa without Wolves.
Elliot makes a pretty good parent. He obviously cares deeply for Eloise and wants to do right by her. But, let’s face it. He’s a drunk. And he doesn’t know how to raise a girl. Also, he’s alone. He solves problems with money. And every time Eloise kisses him, I cringe, my internal monologue screaming, “don’t kiss Kevin Costner, little girl, you don’t know where’s he’s been!”
Rowena is, presumably, a good parent. Although it’s pretty clear her household is already stuffed to the gills and her son (Eloise’s father) is a loser. I wish I could even feign surprise when Rowena sues for custody of Eloise. I hate when big issue films go the U.S. judicial route. There are some wonderful avenues of true exploration here: can Elliot overcome his alcoholism for the sake of the child? Is he enough of a parent by himself? Does Elliot have a true bigotry within him that will hinder Eloise’s growth? Why doesn’t he let the girl stay in Compton from time to time? What’s the true harm in that? See, when these issues get sold in judicial terms, two things happen – 1) the polarization of gray into, dare I say, Black or White. You’re going to try Elliot on racism? As methods go for determining who should rear the child? Not a great one. 2) You have “winners” and “losers.” Eloise has a dead mother, a crackhead father, and now her primary 
nurturer is gone. There are no winners here. This is sleight-of-hand chicanery. Show us the story without the trial; we can determine for ourselves where the child is best raised; and it’s obvious from the outset the answer is joint custody.
So you know you’re getting a court battle. And you know you’re getting idiocy like the entire Compton clan inviting themselves to Elliot’s unannounced for a pool party – this is after Rowena sues Elliot for custody, mind you. Don’t worry, there’s plenty of cultural insensitivity to go around here — Check out Elliot … a trial lawyer by trade … using the n-word in court … in an effort to gain full custody of his granddaughter, who’s father is black. Arrrrgh, it is maddening how the writing here is both sharp and dull at the same time! That same testimony is one of the best moments in the film, clearly illustrating the attitude of the “white people who don’t think they’re racist,” which is sooooo common these days. Yes, there it is: the magic blanket of white privilege; too bad it doesn’t make sense coming from this man. Near miss, Mr. Binder. We won’t be citing this as an authority in any term papers, but it might get referenced in a queue with The Help.
♪Ebony and ivory
Living separate but equal in this story
Side-by-side in this SoCal venue? Not really.
We all know
Plot structure is the same
Wherever you go
There are A and B
And Conflict
We learn to live
When we learn
Resolution
Doesn’t need to invoke
Ersatz arbiters♫
Rated PG-13, 121 Minutes
D: Mike Binder
W: Mike Binder
Genre: Why can’t we all just get along?
Type of person most likely to enjoy this film: White people too far into the forest to see the trees
Type of person least likely to enjoy this film: Legal scholars
♪ Parody inspired by “Ebony and Ivory”
