Poignant, Visceral, and Surprisingly Funny. Movie Review: Lee Daniels' THE BUTLER

Movie Review: Lee Daniels’ The Butler

Studio: The Weinstein Company

Director: Lee Daniels

Release Date: Friday, August 16, 2013 (Check local listings)

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 132 minutes

Reviewer Rating: ★★★★★

SYNOPSIS

LEE DANIELS’ THE BUTLER is set against the tumultuous political backdrop of 20th century America. Academy Award® nominated director Lee Daniels’ (PRECIOUS) epic drama tells the story of fictional White House butler Cecil Gaines (Forest Whitaker), who serves during seven presidential administrations between 1957 and 1986. The film is inspired by Wil Haygood’s 2008 Washington Post article “A Butler Well Served by This Election” which chronicled the real life of former White House butler Eugene Allen. The film begins in 1926 and follows a young Cecil as he escapes the tyranny of the fiercely segregated South in search of a better life. Along his arduous journey to manhood Cecil learns invaluable skills that ultimately lead to an opportunity of a lifetime: a job as a butler at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. There, Cecil becomes a firsthand witness to history and the inner workings of the Oval Office as the civil rights movement unfolds. At home, his loving wife Gloria (Oprah Winfrey) raises their two sons, and the family benefits from a comfortable middle-class existence enabled by Cecil’s White House position. But Cecil’s commitment to his “First Family” fosters tensions at home, alienating Gloria and creating conflict with his anti-establishment son (David Oyelowo). Through the eyes and emotions of the Gaines family, Daniels’ film follows the changing tides of American politics and race relations; from the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, to the Freedom Riders and Black Panther movements, to the war in Vietnam and the Watergate scandal, Cecil experiences the effects of these events as both an insider and a family man. With an incredible supporting cast that includes Yaya Alafia, Mariah Carey, John Cusack, Jane Fonda, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Terrence Howard, Elijah Kelley, Minka Kelly, Lenny Kravitz, James Marsden, Alex Pettyfer, Vanessa Redgrave, Alan Rickman, Liev Schreiber and Robin Williams, LEE DANIELS’ THE BUTLER is a story about the resilience of one man, the growth of a nation, and the power of family.

Accolades will not be enough to express my ardency for Lee Daniels’ The Butler. This is an amazing, Oscar® caliber film sure to garner much higher praise than I could ever write in this review. I absolutely love this film and highly recommend you see it. It’s poignant, visceral, moving, inspiring, and at times, very funny. From the cinematography, acting, set designs, locations, writing, and directing, this film is outstanding. I could feel the heat of the sun as young Cecil Gaines (Michael Rainey, Jr.) picks cotton in the fields with his father Earl (David Banner). I could feel the hatred as patrons of Woolworth spit on and shove activists lobbying to get equal service at the counter. I could feel the passion as Louis (David Oyelowo), Cecil’s (Forest Whitaker) eldest son, goes against his father to fight for what he believes as he joins the Black Panther Party. And I could feel the pain of Cecil mourning the death of one our nation’s most iconic presidents.

Cecil’s journey begins on a rural southern plantation owned by the Westfall family. The tragedy that befalls Cecil at the hands of the ruthless Thomas Westfall (Alex Pettyfer) sets in motion actions that lead Cecil on an intrepid journey from the plantation fields to the White House. Annabeth Westfall (Vanessa Redgrave) takes pity on young Cecil after the incident telling him, “I’m gonna teach you how to be a house ni**er.” As awful as that sounds, it is a better place for Cecil.

Photo: Mr. Maynard (Clarence Williams) sits with young Cecil (age 15) (Aml Ameen) to tell him he’s going to Washington, DC to work.

As the times pass, Cecil leaves the plantation, making his own way and finding a job in North Carolina at a small hotel. After a fortuitous circumstance, Cecil finds himself working in Washington, D.C. at the Hotel Excelsior. There he meets his wife Gloria, played with panache and exuberance by the enigmatic Oprah Winfrey. The way the Gaineses are portrayed—showing their familial trials and tribulations—helps the audience invest more emotion into the characters. Whitaker’s performance is superb. From the tone of his voice and accent, to his calm demeanor and his quiet friendliness, Whitaker gives life to Cecil Gaines as no one else could.

What leaves a lasting impression are the historical references during the Civil Rights movement from the Freedom Riders bus incident, Martin Luther King’s (Nelsan Ellis) assassination, and the Black Panther Party movement during the Vietnam war. The atrocities that happened to the black community cannot be justified. There were also whites who sacrificed their lives to help the black community and I think many were surprised by that.

Richard Nixon (John Cusack) sitting in the White House with some of his staff

As you can tell by the impressive cast, there are top-notch performances but only a few stands out for me. Richard Nixon (John Cusack) leaves an indelible impression as he chucks his campaign buttons to Cecil and his fellow White House butlers Carter (Cuba Gooding, Jr.) and James (Lenny Kravitz). I guffawed at Nixon’s audacity but you cannot become president of the most powerful nation in the world without being a little presumptuous. Asking Cecil, Carter, and James to have their ‘people’ vote for Nixon is priceless. The egg-shells were crackling under his feet as he left the kitchen.

Alan Rickman portrays former President Ronald Reagan. The make-up department must be commended on their stellar work. Not only does Rickman resemble Reagan, he is simply brilliant in the role. Reagan’s admiration for Cecil Gaines goes further than any other president has at this point in Cecil’s career. And while the sometimes confrontational Lyndon B. Johnson (Liev Schreiber) seems to be very empathetic, his administration isn’t able to accomplish much.

Gloria and Cecil Gaines - riots after MLK assassination

Photo: Gloria (Oprah Winfrey) meets her weary husband Cecil (Forest Whitaker) outside after walking through a riotous crowd in the aftermath of Martin Luther King’s assassination.

Lee Daniels’ The Butler isn’t just a simple story about a man’s career as a White House butler. It’s a complex and engrossing look at a black man struggling to do right by his family while keeping his dignity. As much as Cecil and his son Louis fight and are estranged, it is what happens in the end that makes all the difference in the world. Though Cecil doesn’t understand why Louis has to rock the boat, so to speak, regarding equality, the message becomes clearer as Cecil faces his own battles with earning a better wage for doing the same work as white butlers.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that throughout the film’s more dominant dramatic message, there’s an ample amount of comic relief presenting itself in various scenes. From Gloria rocking an afro and black and white jumpsuit grooving to some funky music, to Cecil’s son Charlie (Elijah Kelley) talking smack to his big brother Louis about the Black Panthers, there are other humorous moments sprinkled in. One line that particularly stands out is when Mr. Fallows (Colman Domingo) tells Cecil, “We have no tolerance for politics at the White House,” during his interview for the butler position.

On February 1, 1960, four African American college students sat down at a lunch counter at Woolworth’s in Greensboro, North Carolina, and politely asked for service. Their request was refused.
Photo: Louis Gaines (David Oyelowo) after being arrested outside the Woolworth.

The film provides many great moments—happy, sad, somber, and life-altering. All of these events combined throughout our nation’s history forged a path to lead us into a country now led by an African-American president. It wasn’t so long ago that racial tensions ruled most of the nation but none more prevalent than in the southern United States. The question isn’t how could this have happened in the 20^th century; the question is how can this still be happening in the 21^st century? Despite the trials, tribulations, and sacrifices many have made for civil rights, racism, hatred, and bigotry still exist. The only difference now being most indiscretions are kept quiet or out of mainstream media.

After watching this amazing film, it made me realize that I, like Cecil, cannot focus on the past. All of us need to move forward and put the color of our skin aside. In the end, the same is true for all of humankind – we bleed red.

For more on the movie go the http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1327773

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Judy Manning

Dream chaser extraordinaire! Judy tends to be a tad sarcastic and kind of goofy! She is an avid admirer of all things supernatural, paranormal, celestial and mystical. She loves to read, write, and watches way too much TV. She enjoys many genres of film and music (and let's be honest, most music from the 80s). She also has a wicked sweet tooth. Cupcakes beware.