Black or White

A young girl's future is at stake in this emotive drama from director Mike Binder (Reign over Me). Widower Elliot (Kevin Costner) fights for custody of his granddaughter Eloise, entering a bitter legal battle with her paternal grandmother (Octavia Spencer), who's keen for Eloise to learn of her African-American identity. The film asks big questions about the way society views race, affluence and culpability, especially when it comes to delicate issues such as the care of a child. It's an ambitious approach, with the core message being that in family matters there are no easy answers. Certain aspects are handled clumsily, particularly the issue of how race plays into Elliot's feelings towards his legal opponents. Still, this tug of love is able to create enough of a moral conundrum to make the outcome worthwhile. Costner and Spencer elevate the occasionally dry material, particularly in the hit-or-miss courtroom scenes, and bring a healthy dose of humanity to an otherwise shaky plot.