Black or White (2014)

A grieving widower is drawn into a custody battle over his granddaughter, whom he helped raise her entire life.

Director:

Mike Binder

Writer:

Mike Binder

Stars:

Kevin Costner, Octavia Spencer, Gillian Jacobs

2 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kevin Costner	...	Elliott Anderson
Octavia Spencer	...	Rowena Jeffers
Jillian Estell	...	Eloise Anderson
Bill Burr	...	Rick Reynolds
Mpho Koaho	...	Duvan Araga
Anthony Mackie	...	Jeremiah Jeffers
André Holland	...	Reggie Davis
Gillian Jacobs	...	Fay
Jennifer Ehle	...	Carol
Paula Newsome	...	Judge Cummins
Indigo	...	Young Nurse
Bertha Bindewald	...	Rosita
Joe Chrest	...	Dave
Ireyon Johnson	...	Kristen
Janeline Hayes	...	Dondi

Storyline

Black or White is the story of a grandfather (Kevin Costner) who is suddenly left to care for his beloved granddaughter. When her paternal grandmother (Octavia Spencer) seeks custody with the help of her brother (Anthony Mackie), the little girl is torn between two families who love her deeply. With the best intentions at heart, both families fight for what they feel is right and are soon forced to confront their true feelings about race, forgiveness, and understanding. Anchored by an all-star cast and based on real events, the movie is a look at two seemingly different worlds, in which nothing is as simple as black or white.

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Plot Keywords:

granddaughter | custody battle | grandfather | grandparent | three word title | 

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Taglines:

There's more to family than what you see.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 on appeal for brief strong language, thematic material involving drug use and drinking, and for a fight

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 January 2015 (USA)

Also Known As:

Black and White

Filming Locations:

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$9,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,456,000, 1 February 2015, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$21,569,041, 10 May 2015

Company Credits

Production Co:

BlackWhite, Sunlight Productions, Treehouse Films (II)

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Datasat Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Elliott (Kevin Coster) jokes that Duvan (Mpho Koaho) is his bodyguard. Kevin Coster played Frank Farmer, bodyguard to Rachel Marron (Whitney Houston) in The Bodyguard (1992).

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Goofs

The screen in Elliot's car jumps around during the early school drop-off scenes: first, the time on the clock jumps backwards, and later, when Roy is driving, the song title changes, then changes back.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Rick Reynolds: Elliot. Hey.
Elliot Anderson: [dialing his phone] David, it's Elliot. I'm not going home, they'll be takng her body to Richter Memorial. I'll come back in the morning, meet them, go with her, see what's the next step. I'll take to you in the morning.
Elliot Anderson: [now to Rick] ... My brother.
Rick Reynolds: She's gone?
Elliot Anderson: [yes]
Rick Reynolds: Well, what did the doctor say?
Elliot Anderson: That they, um... that they did what they could.
Rick Reynolds: Oh, God, Elliot, I'm so sorry.

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Connections

Referenced in Late Night with Seth Meyers: Kevin Costner/Rose McIver/Action Bronson/Fab Moretti (2016)

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Soundtracks

"Refuse To Lose'
Written by Cowya Hackett, Cheapshot (as Colton Fisher), Jason Rabinowitz, James Katalbas and Jared Jackson
Performed by C-Rev
Courtesy of Bridge Compositions

User Reviews

A definite must see movie that shows off some of the best acting work Costner has ever done. I really highly recommend this.

"This isn't about black and white, it's about right and wrong." Elliot (Costner) has just lost his wife and is grieving the only way he can, by drinking. Him and his wife have been raising their granddaughter since she was born, but when her other grandmother Rowena (Spencer) wants custody things get ugly. Elliot must now fight to keep his granddaughter while struggling to put his life back together. I was very much looking forward to watching this movie. I am a huge Kevin Costner fan and the subject hit close to home with me. I have to say that I was not disappointed in this at all, and in some ways it was actually better than I was hoping it would be. The movie is emotional and will make you cry, think and get mad, sometimes all at once. This is really a movie I could just keep going on and on about but that would do the movie a disservice. All I will say about this is that this is a definite must see movie that shows off some of the best acting work Costner has ever done. I really highly recommend this movie. I easily give this a high A-.