Listonixio Fresh and Exciting

Spoonatects Am i the only one who thinks........Average?

Plustown A lot of perfectly good film show their cards early, establish a unique premise and let the audience explore a topic at a leisurely pace, without much in terms of surprise. this film is not one of those films.

Humaira Grant It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

shaun-888-197870 A historic reminder that no 1 person is more important than another and there's many ways to win a battle.

Screen_Blitz One of the best things viewers can take away from this historical biopic is a valuable history lesson of how African-Americans sustained in America during a period when racial intolerance was an issue dominating society for a long time. Lee Daniels, director of the powerful drama 'Precious' and the enormously flawed mystery drama 'The Paperboy', takes his turn on shining light to one of America's least tolerant eras. The primary core of the story is an African-American named Cecil Gaines who rose from a victim of racial injustice, to a man seeking to make a difference in a fractured society. That is where actor Forest Whitaker comes into play, suiting up into the role of a man who, as the title indicates, served as a butler in the White House from the Cold War era before retiring in the late eighties during the Ronald Reagan administration. Although some may argue that Daniels's rendition of Cecil Gaines's story feels overly conventional than riveting, which is justifiable, it is the performance Forest Whitaker who succeeds on keeping things running. This film follows the story of Gaines (played by Forest Whitaker), a father and husband who took a job serving as the butler for eight consecutive presidents while coming to terms with the racial prejudice that ran amok during since his childhood. Living at home is his wife Gloria (played by Oprah Winfrey) and his two sons Earl (played by David Banner) and Louis (played by David Oyelowo), the latter of whom is eager to make a difference in the social politics and sets out to Tennessee to fight against the racial injustice as a freedom rider, much to his father's dismay. Supporting Whitaker is a cast of Terrence Howard, Lenny Kravitz, and Cuba Gooding Jr., each of whom who play his co- servants during his years serving for the office. As moving as The Butler sets out to be, it more often succeeds as a long history lesson of the racial politics during the Cold War era than a powerful picture to tug at your heart strings. That is not to say I wasn't moved during numerous moments throughout the film. With Lee Daniels working behind the wheel and exploring the ground roots of the racial discrimination that defined the dark corners of society including separation of restaurant attendees; demonstrated in one emotionally jarring scene, lynchings by the Ku Klux Klan; displayed in an even darker scene, and the White House's refusal to gift African-Americans with equal pay, there is plenty of unpleasant, yet intellectual feed to given from its subject matter. The segments following Cecil Gaines's son in the south during the Freedom Riders movements are irresistibly powerful and handled with sheer maturity that defines his character. As for tapping at the heart with an emotionally resonance, the film does have it moments that can leave viewers choked up. For a story set in during the Civil Rights era, it is not hard to see why. It is during the final thirty minutes when the story jumps the shark and grows less interesting than it experienced prior. On the upside, you can always count on Forest Whitaker to tap at the heart strings with his tour- de-force performance, as is Oprah Winfrey, sparkling with overwhelming humanity as a wife struggling to connect with her emotionally tortured husband. In addition, Daniels does succeed at granting his story with a heart and soul, even when it reaches its moments of emptiness. While Lenny Kravitz, Terrence Howard, and Cuba Gooding Jr, are admirable in their small roles, chances are viewers are gonna be hit with shock by the unforeseeable appearances by Robin Williams, James Marsden, Liev Schreiber, John Cusack, and Alan Rickman -- each of whom take the role of a president from the years 1957 to 1989. Considers this an Easter basket of surprises. The Butler is a riveting historical biopic gifted with genuine performances by some of the most charismatic Hollywood actors of the African-American community, and a powerful, if flawed exploration of the history surrounding the racial politics. It is a smart piece of history worth sitting through for those hungry for a balance of engaging storytelling and lessons on history. Is it Oscar-worthy? That is debatable.

blumdeluxe I love when movies have a story to tell and "The Butler" surely is one of those based on a biography worth being spread. The story of a honorable man, serving a discriminating nation with such loyalty that he almost loses his son over it is definitely touching and relatable.The film touches a lot of important questions, now more than ever, of how a nation defines itself and of who is to be part of political and public decision-making and civil rights.Unfortunately, while I liked how the movie tries to tell the simultaneity of historic events, I found it a bit stiff, especially when it came to the more personal parts concerning the family itself or the relationship between husband and wife. As prominent as the cast is, I am not always sure if the film really benefits from it.All in all it is a story worth telling and it raises important issues, therefore it's surely worth a watch. But there would have been even better potential in my eyes.

santiagocosme In a time of segregation, we see America through the eyes of a black man who served as a butler in the white house for many decades. While working alongside the world's most powerful men, this butler suffers the injustice of being black and being underpaid. Not even in the white house, being black means equality. Meanwhile, his family breaks down as their son grows up to fight and join the black panthers and spends most of his life in and out of prison fighting for the rights of black citizens. This is key in the movie, as we see inside the same family, a completely different way of approaching the social injustices of America. More than wondering if the Butler is going to have a decent life as a servant in the white house, we are made to wonder if Father and son will one day see America with the same eyes. I was not expecting a lot from this movie, but I actually liked it a lot. Recommended!