Racial tensions run high both on screen and off for the film Black or White. Though the movie won’t be released until January 30th, the film did premier at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival. Reviews of Kevin Costner’s performance of a widowed grandfather have been generally favorable but early reviews of the film have been mixed.

Like other racially charged movies like The Help and The Blind Side, the movie has been criticized of white-washing. “This is a tiresome interracial custody dramedy in which white non-guilt righteously dukes it out with black melodrama,” says Wesley Morris of Grantland. Kevin Jagernauth of The Playlist had this to say: “The film’s sentiments are so hollow they wind up doing an injustice to the very real problems that exist in a world where racial inequality and the myriad of concerns the spring from it, are far more complex than simply black and white.”

Still other critics are more forgiving:

“The filmmaker and his on-screen proxies boldly go places our national discourse desperately needs to go, yet rarely does.” (Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times)

“A broad but touching dramedy about the racial barriers that divide us and the family ties that bind.” (Jordan Mintzer, Hollywood Reporter)

All that chatter makes me look forward to the film all the more.

In case you are unaware of the film, the story centers on the recently widowed Elliott Anderson (Kevin Costner) who has raised his granddaughter, Eloise since his own daughter died in childbirth. While trying to adjust to the new normal, he gets notice from Eloise’s grandmother, Rowena (Octavia Spencer), that she is demanding that Eloise be handed over to Reggie, the biological father, who is also a drug addict.

The film is written and directed by Mike Binder and also stars Gillian Jacobs, Jennifer Ehle, Anthony Mackie and Bill Burr.