Kevin Costner uses the n-word in his latest film Black and White. He plays Elliott, a man who’s raising his grandchild when his wife is killed in a car accident. Elliot drinks too much, lets his legal practice flail and then is taken to court by the mixed-race child’s other grandmother (Octavia Spencer). Elliott and his wife have raised the young girl in their white-collar neighborhood. The Octavia Spencer character believes that with Elliott’s wife gone, she could do a better job raising the girl in Compton.
Costner was asked by Entertainment Weekly if having to use the n-word made playing Elliott more difficult. Costner said: “No, it’s not more difficult. It’s difficult to watch. It’s not difficult to perform.” Costner gave screenwriter Mike Binder much praise. Binder also wrote The Upside of Anger which starred Costner with Joan Allen. Black and White makes its debut September 6 at the Toronto Film Festival.
