Director: Lee Daniels.
Starring: Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, David Oyelowo, Cuba Gooding Jr., Lenny Kravitz, James Marsden, Alex Pettyfer, Mariah Carey, John Cusack, Jane Fonda, Liev Schrieber, Minka Kelly, Robin Williams, Terrence Howard, Alan Rickman, Isaac White.
Running Time: 132 minutes.
Certificate: 12A.
Synopsis: As Cecil Gaines (Forest Whitaker) serves eight presidents during his tenure as a butler at the White House, the civil rights movement, Vietnam and other major events affect this man’s life, family and American society.
THE BUTLER is the smooth storytelling of a generation who allow politicians to make the changes that will affect them and a younger, more immediate generation who are looking to take action. None demonstrate this more so than the titular butler Cecil Gaines, his wife Gloria (Oprah Winfrey), and two sons Louis (David Oyelowo) and Charlie (Isaac White).
Growing up on a cotton farm, Cecil witnesses the owner rape his mother and shoot his father dead at point-blank range. He leaves for a better life and works his way up as a butler when a chance encounter leads to the White House calling. In contrast to his humble beginnings, this is more than Cecil ever imagined for himself and he allows any political views he may have possessed to be buried. His son Louis, however, is not able to do the same, and, unable to stand the segregation he has to endure, leaves home to join the Freedom Riders to fight for equality.
A remarkable tale based on the true life story of Eugene Allen who worked in the White House for over thirty years, THE BUTLER has all the promise of a powerful and moving film. With a cast of A-listers and the director of Oscar-winning PRECIOUS, this movie had the potential to bring Allen’s story to life with dazzling effect. However, Daniels’ inability to decide which storyline should take precedent – that of Cecil or his son Louis and his journey as a Freedom Rider – allows any real depth the movie could have offered to fall by the wayside.
Oprah Winfrey’s name has been thrown about ahead of January’s Oscar nominations and she puts in an admirable performance playing Gloria through her varying emotional states. Whitaker as Butler Gaines is stoic, proud and dignified; everything we have come to expect from the Oscar winner. At well over two hours, THE BUTLER is a solid piece of storytelling but one that, ultimately, does not live up to the potential the history and cast could have provided.
THE BUTLER is in UK cinemas now.
