should an african american child be raise by anglo american parent . this be the perplex question raise in stephen gyllengaal tragic lose isaiah and the story of the desperate custody battle between the white adoptive parent and the black biological mother of little four year old isaiah . khaila richards have discover that the baby she leave in a cardboard box be still alive and lays claim to him and state that he should not be raise by parent of a differ colour . margaret and charles lewin will not concede without a fight though and and they enlist an african american attorney to represent their cause . director gyllenhaal fails ( incredibly ) to generate compassion for any of the character involve and not even isaiah . naomi foner screenplay ( from seth margolis novel ) have unfortunately underdevelop it pivotal player and and thus we be unable to associate with them and get under their skin . the character of khaila and charles lewin be particularly overlook . here we have a film that present a shocking and challenge topic without ( somehow ) shocking or challenge u . fail almost entirely to invoke the emotion and i be no more inspired than have read the story in the newspaper . marc john jefferies be cute and yet gyllenhaal barely even play on this and amazingly . both director and screenwriter have skim over the top of all the sensitive issue and shirk all the antagonistic problem that lose isaiah raise . they never stir deeply enough nor give the movie a harsh enough edge . the soft end be a major disappointment too and when this picture desperately need a hard hit finale to drive home a point and one mr. gyllenhaal film never have to make in the first place . racial issue throughout be intrigue yet sadly never fully examine . should black and white mix when it come to raise child . can white folk raise an african american child satisfactorily and so that he have a full understanding of who he be and his heritage and and so that he sure of his position in society and be able to form and maintain stable relationship . then again and be an ex crack addict who throw her new bear baby out with the trash fit to be a mother . the ultimate question be of course and what best for isaiah . with all this in mind and the whole movie just do not have the impact it require and will leave you untouched . all the acting be of a good standard and though never to the height it could have be . both david strathairn and samuel l. jackson ( pulp fiction ) be hard press to do anything with their limited role and halle berry show she on the rise with a convince portrayal of khaila and while jessica lange be strong but she be infinitely well . in fact the most disappointing thing about ms. lange showing be her appearance . she look dreadful and a if she hadn not sleep in day and and her hair be awful . certainly a far cry from the gorgeous blonde in tootsie . it be great to hear another fine mark isham score . tuesday and june 6 and 1995 hoyts forest hill chase .