One Line Review: The Butler is a historically correct and emotionally intact biography.
Youtube Trailer The Butler
Starring: Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey
Director: Lee Daniels
Release Date: 16 August 2013
Introduction
On this day The Butler made its entry to Hollywood. This is a biography of Cecil Gaines who survived through the civil rights movement and black Vietnam War and became a cook in the White House.
Trivia
Mary and Gregory came close during the shooting of this film. They remained in contact with each other after the movie for the rest of their life. Mary and Gregory consider the role of each other as their idol role and source of inspiration. The role of Scout and Atticus are the sources of inspiration for other actors also.
Iconic dialogues from this movie
Cecil Gaines: Americans always turn a blind eye to our own. We look out to the world and judge. We hear about the concentration camps, but these camps went on for 200 years in America.
John F. Kennedy: I’ll be looking forward to working with you for the next four years.
Jacqueline Kennedy: Eight years
Jacqueline Kennedy: Eight years.
Cecil Gaines: You need to go.
Louis Gaines: What?
Cecil Gaines: Get the hell out!
Louis Gaines: Oh, I’m sorry, Mr. Butler. I didn’t mean to make fun of your hero! (Gets slapped by his mother)
Critic Reviews
“Behind a truly mesmerizing performance from Forest Whitaker, this is a film that is a thought-provoking and beautifully acted film.” Richard Propes
Plot Summary
Cecil Gaines (Forest Whitaker) leaves the south and moves to Washington D.C. where he gets a job in a luxury hotel. But that’s not it for him. After working there for a few years he gets the opportunity of his lifetime to cook for the greatest president of the United States, JFK, as a butler in the white house. This opportunity flips his life upside down. He served eight presidents in his lifetime. The Butler is a biography of the legendary white house cook.
Its facts and events but in rich emotional way
This drama is both fascinating and emotional. Surprisingly, peopleβs sympathy for Whitakerβs central figure Cecil Gaines is so strong that, although the events are widespread, they always resonate like intricate fragments of his life. Thanks to this anchor, even if it involves the fate of the entire country, the film remains private and personal. Every actor stands out here because although they are obviously talented people, they are led by a directing director who always knows what he is talking about while maintaining all the complexity of the theme. You can say that this is an African-American Forrest: the story of an ordinary person whose fate repeatedly conflicts with historical figures and events, but “The Butler” is a more mature and subtle work that transcends race, Questioning us as men and women in our daily lives.
Historical accuracy of the movie
This film is historically accurate in all important respects. I am not saying that every detail is true, nor is it that the description of these historical events is 100% identical to the description. But it is much more accurate (and important) than the ordinary popcorn point of sale that now enters the theater. I mean, I rarely (if ever) have been so emotionally affected by movies. It is bright, provocative, artistic, and has a social purpose. Whether you like it or not, Afro-descendants have been injured, oppressed, barbarous, persecuted, tortured, lynched, raped, and murdered because of their skin color. Thanks to Lee Daniels for making this movie! Long live the forest, because he is a sensitive, intelligent, and talented actor. Long live Oprah, her performance is beyond the stars. Long live anyone who is connected to this movie. Not that all movies have to take you to the location of this movie. I think there is a place between the Pacific Rim and Wolverine.
So, if you think that movies donβt have to delve into our history of cruelty and racism, then check out one of them. But to say that this movie is irrelevant or inaccurate, as I said. It is not. What it is, this is an extraordinary and mature movie for those who want more than just monsters (fiction genre). My wife and I went through an entire package of tissues and wept like fools. amazing! ! ! ! ! ! 9 stars (instead of 10 stars) simply because 10-star reviews are often discounted as over-worshiping heroes. But if Iron Man, Avengers, etc. They have 10 stars (I like them), this movie will get 100 stars because it is 10 times better, more important, more relevant and more stimulating.
Conclusion
This film joins the league of films like Malcolm X and Forrest Gump. Although we don’t have many films in this genre but judging on what we have, we can say pretty confidently that The Butler is a badass biography.
