“Black or White” movie quotes tell the story of one granddaughter in the middle of a custody battle between her white maternal grandfather and black paternal grandmother. The drama film was written and directed by Mike Binder. After premiering at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival, “Black or White” opened in theaters on January 30, 2015.
In “Black or White,” Eloise (Jillian Estell) is a biracial little girl who, after her mother’s death during childbirth, was raised by her white maternal grandparents (Kevin Costner and Jennifer Ehle). But after her maternal grandmother dies in a car accident, maternal grandfather Elliot is left with Eloise all alone.
So when paternal grandmother Rowena (Octavia Spencer) hears of the news, she pushes for custody of Eloise, much to the displeasure of Elliot. Rowena feels that Eloise needs to spend more time with her side of the family and Eloise’s father Reggie (Andre Holland), who has a drug problem. The matter ends up in court where the issue turns into one about race, family and love.
“Black or White” joins the early 2015 movie season which already includes films such as ”Mortdecai,” ”The Boy Next Door,” ”Black Sea,” ”Strange Magic,” ”Still Alice,” ”The Wedding Ringer,” ”Blackhat,” ”Taken 3,” ”Predestination,” ”A Most Violent Year,” ”The Interview,” ”Unbroken,” ”American Sniper,” ”Into the Woods,” ”Big Eyes,” ”The Gambler,” ”The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies,” and ”Annie.”
Black or White Movie Quotes,
You Really Plan on Raising Her All By Yourself?
Attorney: “You really plan on raising her all by yourself? Do you need to call her other grandmother?”
Elliot: “Grandma WeeWee?”
Attorney: “Yes”
Elliot: “The last person I need around me right now is Grandma WeeWee.”
Elliot’s attorney questions if he can really take care of Eloise on his own. He suggests Elliot should call Eloise’s paternal grandmother, a suggestion Elliot has no interest in.
This is Everyday?
Elliot: “Toothpaste, toothbrush, in your mouth now… What?”
Eloise: “Louder, you’ve gotta be mad at me like you mean it.”
Elliot: “Eloise, you brush those teeth! Don’t make me come in there and have to say it twice.”
Eloise: “Nice”
…
Elliot: “What are you doing?”
Eloise: “I’m going to make pancakes. Set the table please.”
…
Elliot: [combing Eloise’s hair] “This is everyday?”
Eloise: “Yep”
…
Eloise: “It needs a bow. You tied it like a shoelace.”
Left to take care of Eloise by himself, Elliot works to get into the groove to meet her needs. For his sake, Eloise is there to help him find the tone he needs.
We Need to Start Talking About Shared Custody
Rowena: “You got a plan for Eloise in light of all this? She’s got a whole lot of family down with me.”
Elliot: “Well, you can always come for a swim.”
…
Rowena: “I’m thinking we need to start talking about shared custody.”
Elliot: “Not going to happen”
Rowena: “She has a father!”
Rowena approaches Elliot about Eloise, then later shows up with her extended family for a swim day. Rowena also uses he opportunity to suggest that she and Elliot should share custody, not that Elliot is listening to any of that.
We Had a Bad Night Last Night
Elliot: “We had a bad night last night, Eloise, you and I. Grandma Carol was killed in an accident, a car accident. A man hit her and she and he and several others, they’re all gone.”
Eloise: “Have you been drinking?”
Elliot: “I have, yes.”
Eloise: “I don’t like it when you drink.”
Elliot: “I know. I’m so sorry about your grandma, Eloise. I know you loved her a lot and she loved you so very much. I’m sorry. Are you okay?”
Eloise: “No, I’m super sad.”
Elliot: “So am I sweetheart. It’s the worst day of my life.”
Elliot has the tough task of informing granddaughter Eloise that her grandmother, who raised her from birth, has died. Neither take the news well, and rightfully so.
Now Her Grandmother's Gone Too
Elliot: “This is Eloise. She’s my granddaughter. My wife and I raised her after my daughter died. Then life threw us a curve and now her grandmother’s gone too, the love of my life.”
Elliot explains his current situation and the overall plot of the film. He and his wife were raising their granddaughter after their daughter died. Now that his wife has died too, he and Eloise are left all alone, or so he thinks.
This is About Eloise
Rowena: “You just want her away from us, the black people.”
Elliot: “I’ve lost everything. I can’t lose her too. This isn’t about black and white. This is about Eloise.”
Rowena accuses Elliot of making the custody battle about race. But to Elliot, it’s not about black or white, it’s about family.
You Petitioned for Custody
Rowena: “This is a little girl’s life we’re talking about.”
Jeremiah: “You know what, Rowena? You petitioned for custody!”
Jeremiah reminds Rowena that it was her doing that got them into this custody battle, one that is heading to court. She asked for this mess and must stand by as it is now figured out.
And You're a Drunk
Elliot: “You live in a blind spot when it comes to your son. He’s a junkie.”
Rowena: “And you’re a drunk!”
Elliot: “Okay, thank you”
Rowena: “Run on home, fill your bathtub with whiskey and just soak in it. Have yourself an old drunk man’s bubble bath.”
Elliot: “Got it”
Rowena: “Good”
Elliot points out to Rowena that Eloise’s father is not stable enough to take care of his daughter. But, as Rowena points out, Elliot has some demons of his own that make him less than a perfect caregiver.
Do You Dislike Black People?
Rowena: “Eloise needs more love than just her grandfather can give her.”
Elliot: “What she needs is stability, especially now since she’s lost her grandmother…”
Rowena: [clears her throat loudly]
Jeremiah: “One of her grandmothers”
…
Jeremiah: “Do you dislike black people?”
Elliot: “Not all of them”
In court, Jeremiah grills Elliot about his ability to care for Eloise and his feelings on black people in general. He also corrects Elliot when he mentions that Eloise’s grandmother has died.