"GOOD CAST, STRONG MOVIE"
The Butler is a drama movie directed by Lee Daniels.
Cecil Gaines was a black White House butler who served for 34 years & was eye witnessing notable events of the 20th century. This was during the civil rights movement, Vietnam, and other major events.
Its starring Forrest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, David Oyelowo, Elijah Kelley, Yaya DaCosta, Aml Ameen, Cuba Gooding Jnr, Lenny Kravitz, Robin Williams, James Marsden, John Cusack, Alan Rickman + many more...
#FilmFact: In the original script, the character Cecil Gaines has a scene where he meets President Barack Obama. The director Lee Daniels even considered asking the president to play himself. Since the film was shot during the height of the 2012 presidential election, Daniels decided to cast actor Orlando Eric Street in the role instead.
Tweet & Follow the writer of this blog @sliderbee
.
IN CINEMAS 15TH NOVEMBER 2013.
.
THE REVIEW:
I was able to catch Lee Daniels' The Butler earlier today, and i can tell you its a whirlwind of emotions and is packed with colorful performances. Based on a true story, we are taken through a timeline of eight presidency in the White House and follow a Butler through his 34 years tenure.
.
MOVIE FANS, I want you step away from the gun blazing action films, the rom coms, the wild adventure movies and go and watch The Butler, and see what it was like to be a coloured back when the white man ruled. We've all heard and read stories about the past of how Africans were lynched, raped and murdered because of their skin color. This film portrays that on screen. There aren't any dull moments, its entertaining & powerful. Also, the heart tugging scenes gets to each point with some depth and meaning.
I had a good feeling about this movie prior to seeing it, when i watched the trailer i saw an overload of stars of which i knew was capable of pulling off notable performances. Because with a strong cast comes an even better movie. Even though this story-line has been glammed up Hollywood style and the profile of the Butler has been edited such as his name, life, and family involvement in the moments etc. His real name was Eugene Allen, he did not have 2 son, his mother was not raped by a white cotton owner and his father was not killed by the same man. But from what i saw, there is still the important historic events on screen to be absorbed, its acted out brilliantly. Each scenes either brought joy or sorrow, the insight to the events happening in the White House and a Butler's sons passion for equality is the driving force of this movie. To make a movie like this, little edits into the story has to be made to push it further. Director Lee Daniels deserves a "good job" at least for this because he is still able to depict life in the 20th century for a Butler and a colored.
I am happy with the headliners of this movie, they are what pushed this film overall mark from good to great. I have been sitting here racking my brain, thinking of someone else who could have played a better Cecil Gaines.... I couldn't think of nobody who could be such a sensitive, genuine, obedient and likeable character such as like Forest Whitaker was. In my opinion he gave one of the performances of his acting career. I haven't been this impressed since watching him in The Last King Of Scotland, 2006.
.
This was also my first time ever seeing Oprah Winfrey act, she played Mr Gaines' wife Gloria. Her character held its own very well and thankfully she wasn't stale. David Oyelowo played the son, Louis. His character was played impressively as he was always at the front line trying to change the white mans perception of colored people. He is ready to fight for fairness. The rest of the cast formed together with ease, its packed with cameos by famous actors as presidents of The United States of America. To point out a negative on my way out of this review i would say the script was already strong enough, so putting so many stars in this movie diluted the taste. The editing of the front man's profile can also be seen as wrong as this is no the real persons story. We could have had a totally different movie.
Still, A bookmark movie for 2013.
Cecil Gaines was a black White House butler who served for 34 years & was eye witnessing notable events of the 20th century. This was during the civil rights movement, Vietnam, and other major events.
Its starring Forrest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, David Oyelowo, Elijah Kelley, Yaya DaCosta, Aml Ameen, Cuba Gooding Jnr, Lenny Kravitz, Robin Williams, James Marsden, John Cusack, Alan Rickman + many more...
#FilmFact: In the original script, the character Cecil Gaines has a scene where he meets President Barack Obama. The director Lee Daniels even considered asking the president to play himself. Since the film was shot during the height of the 2012 presidential election, Daniels decided to cast actor Orlando Eric Street in the role instead.
Tweet & Follow the writer of this blog @sliderbee
.
IN CINEMAS 15TH NOVEMBER 2013.
.
THE REVIEW:
I was able to catch Lee Daniels' The Butler earlier today, and i can tell you its a whirlwind of emotions and is packed with colorful performances. Based on a true story, we are taken through a timeline of eight presidency in the White House and follow a Butler through his 34 years tenure. .
MOVIE FANS, I want you step away from the gun blazing action films, the rom coms, the wild adventure movies and go and watch The Butler, and see what it was like to be a coloured back when the white man ruled. We've all heard and read stories about the past of how Africans were lynched, raped and murdered because of their skin color. This film portrays that on screen. There aren't any dull moments, its entertaining & powerful. Also, the heart tugging scenes gets to each point with some depth and meaning.
I had a good feeling about this movie prior to seeing it, when i watched the trailer i saw an overload of stars of which i knew was capable of pulling off notable performances. Because with a strong cast comes an even better movie. Even though this story-line has been glammed up Hollywood style and the profile of the Butler has been edited such as his name, life, and family involvement in the moments etc. His real name was Eugene Allen, he did not have 2 son, his mother was not raped by a white cotton owner and his father was not killed by the same man. But from what i saw, there is still the important historic events on screen to be absorbed, its acted out brilliantly. Each scenes either brought joy or sorrow, the insight to the events happening in the White House and a Butler's sons passion for equality is the driving force of this movie. To make a movie like this, little edits into the story has to be made to push it further. Director Lee Daniels deserves a "good job" at least for this because he is still able to depict life in the 20th century for a Butler and a colored.
I am happy with the headliners of this movie, they are what pushed this film overall mark from good to great. I have been sitting here racking my brain, thinking of someone else who could have played a better Cecil Gaines.... I couldn't think of nobody who could be such a sensitive, genuine, obedient and likeable character such as like Forest Whitaker was. In my opinion he gave one of the performances of his acting career. I haven't been this impressed since watching him in The Last King Of Scotland, 2006. .
This was also my first time ever seeing Oprah Winfrey act, she played Mr Gaines' wife Gloria. Her character held its own very well and thankfully she wasn't stale. David Oyelowo played the son, Louis. His character was played impressively as he was always at the front line trying to change the white mans perception of colored people. He is ready to fight for fairness. The rest of the cast formed together with ease, its packed with cameos by famous actors as presidents of The United States of America. To point out a negative on my way out of this review i would say the script was already strong enough, so putting so many stars in this movie diluted the taste. The editing of the front man's profile can also be seen as wrong as this is no the real persons story. We could have had a totally different movie.
Still, A bookmark movie for 2013.
STAR RATINGS OUT OF 10: 7.5
FAVOURITE MOMENTS IN THE FILM:
The scenes of Cecil Gaines asking for a raise in wages. He wanted all the workers in the White House on equal pay, not just the white ones.
(if you loved another moment in the film, please feel free to share it with ME in the comments section.)
TRAILER:
TRAILER:
