Lee Daniels' The Butler

Caution: This Might Contain Spoilers!

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Film Code Link!

This film is loosely based on the life of Eugene Allen. Cecil Gaines becomes a butler after leaving the cotton field where he was born. Gaines quickly learns the skills to become an impressive butler in white only establishments. Eventually, Gaines becomes a butler for the White House, and works for 34 years serving the presidents of the United States. In that time several major events transpire; civil rights movement, Vietnam War, and assassinations.

This film was directed by Lee Daniels. This film was also definitely made to be a civil rights film. Even with all of its other history mentioned, it keeps attention on one issue. It does a great job in reminding its audience how far African Americans have progressed through the years. This film has a complicated story in that it follows the story of both the man and of United States historical moments. Naturally, this film had to choose which to represent and it chose to be mainly historical. Because of that the families melodrama troubles do not feel important.This also makes the narrative feel uneven at times.There are several obvious moments made to enforce its message of equal rights, but it does work to give the film its power. One issue was that more could have been done to make the actors look more like their iconic counterparts. I will add this in, because it is my personal opinion. Having Jane Fonda appear as the president's wife was a terrible choice. She is the most unpatriotic woman I know of still living in the United States.Forest Whitaker played the role of Cecil Gaines. He was amazing in this role. He managed to create a fully believable image of a butler and a concerned father. Oprah Winfrey played the role of Gloria Gaines. She did good in creating  hopeless character. Unfortunately, the film's script made her character highly unlikable. David Oyelowo played the role of Louis Gaines. He was great in creating a very driven character. The script did make his character too obvious a point about the development of civil rights. Isaac White played the role of Charlie Gaines.He was good in his very limited role. A little more focus could have presented the troubles with the war during that time.

I give this film 5 out of 5 stars! The acting is so powerfully performed that it makes audiences over look any of its flaws.

Answer to last blog: Writer Cormac McCarthy, The Road, wrote the stage play for The Sunset Limited. (Which later became a film.)

Que: What other film did Lee Daniels' direct?

The White Ribbon
The Blind Side
Precious
The Hurt Locker