Such an awkward movie (SPOILERS)
As a person who doesn't believe in race, i find this Film awkward because of the race issue that was made in this film. It was never going to work - him living with his biological mother, he was too young to accept that circumstance - that scene where he's ripped away from his white parents was similar to the scene in "Fort Bliss" where she rips the son away from his father, the difference is that kid in F.B was older so he eventually got used to his biological mother, whereas in "Losing Isaiah" they didn't give it enough time, he only lived with his biological mother for a very short time then went back, if they'd have him stay with his biological mother bit by bit / once a week, then he could adjust, but it just went all wrong because of the drastic custody change.
The white adopted mother / black biological mother / black child situation was extremely tense and awkward, if they didn't make race an issue and just focused on the former drug addiction and Isaiah's current situation whether he was happy, whether they should allow him to get to know his real mother on a regular basis once or twice a week, it would have had a better ending and worked out well for everyone involved.
Halle Berry's character getting clean and her being his biological parent was enough of a case to get him back, race didn't have to be included, but it was the early 90s, and to be honest if research was done today in 2016 we'd probably find that it would be the same thing today with the same scenario.
I watched a video on youtube of the guy who played Isaiah, he's in his 20s now, and he said that he personally thought that a child should always get to know their biological parents. Was interesting to hear him say that due to the fact that he played a character that opposed that mindset.
Also the trivia says that Jessica Lange was talked into the movie and that she thought the script was all wrong, there was no ending and that the entire movie was just wrong.
Overall i think the performances were great and natural.