THE BUTLER (2013)

Genre: Drama
Running Length: 2:07
Cast: Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, David Oyelowo, Terrence Howard, Cuba Gooding Jr., Lenny Kravitz
Director: Lee Daniels

LEE DANIELS' THE BUTLER is too ambitious for its own good. It tries too hard to tell a tale of the Civil Rights movement in America (60s - 80s) from the perspective of Cecil Gaines, a White House butler who served under eight presidents. The movie is based on the real-life events within the White House during the tenure of Eugene Allen, THE actual butler. The irony is that the White House scenes are among the least effective as viewers will be distracted by famous big name actors playing the different presidents. It just doesn't work. The movie shines when it focuses on the relationship (or the lack of) between Cecil and his eldest son Louis where both have a divergent perspective on the "rights" of a black man in America. One believes the way to advance in life is to be hard-working, non-confrontational and quietly blends in while the other prefers to take a stand, be heard and be seen. Forest Whitaker as Cecil is effective and his portrayal of the butler's later years is the most convincing. For non-Americans (and the uninitiated like myself), this movie will provide a good introduction to the struggles of a black American living in the 60s to 80s where viewers will be given a fast track history lesson on who's who and what's what such as Martin Luther King Jr, Freedom Ride, KKK, Malcolm X, Black Panther party etc.

Rating 6/10