Lee Daniels’ The Butler 2013

     This film begins with Cecil Gaines working as a sharecropper’s son in the 1920’s.  The plantation owner’s son Thomas Westfall kills his father and Cecil becomes a domestic servant for Mrs. Westfall.  Cecil knows he needs to leave this place or eventually he will be killed like his father.  He becomes a hotel valet and in the 1950’s he becomes a butler in the White House.  In this position, Cecil served numerous US Presidents over decades.  He also became a passive witness to the American Civil Rights Movement.  Cecil’s wife Gloria struggles with her addictions.  His oldest son Louis strives for a just world.  Cecil must decide what actions he needs to take in his own life.   

     Four decades of time are covered in this film.  From a young age, Cecil learned the value of silence.  But, can he continue to be silent and always live in fear from his past experiences?  Amazingly, US Presidents are turning to Cecil for advice as from a man the on the street.  In can be comforting to a person with real power to consult someone who is powerless, invisible and virtually non-speaking!!  3 ½* (I liked this movie)

132 min, Bio directed by Lee Daniels with Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, Robin Williams, John Cusack, David Banner, Michael Rainey Jr., La Jessie Smith, Mariah Carey, Alex Pettyfer, Vanessa Redgrave, Aml Ameen, Clarence Williams III, John P. Fertitta, Jim Gleason, Isaac White, David Oyelowo.

Note:  Imdb 7.2 out of 10, 71% critic 78% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Amazon 4.3* out of 5* with 2525 reviews, Roger Ebert 3*, The Guardian 2* out of 5* Peter Bradshaw, Metacritic 66 out of 100 with 47 critics 6.8 out of 10 with 198 reviews, The Washington Post 2* John Anderson.

Special Note:  Filmed in Houma, Lafourche Parish, New Orleans; Raceland and Thibodaux, Louisiana.  The character of Cecil Gaines is based on Eugene Allen.  This film is also inspired by a feature article published in the Washington Post on November 7, 2008 titled A Butler Well Served by This Election.  Gaines was the White House butler for over 30 years and served 8 presidents.  Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter and Reagan.  Archival footage is shown of President Obama meeting Cecil Gaines.  A picture on Gloria’s vanity mirror shows two children, one is Oprah Winfrey as a child.