(Lee Daniels The Butler 2013: Black films are back in full stride, with this film (as well as 12 Years a Slave), leading the pack. Academy Awards beware!!!) Oh damn…oh damn. For the first time in a review I do not know where to start off properly. There was so much going on in this film, and so much going for this film. The Butler looks at the civil-rights movement from the point of view of ordinary African-American people. The genius of this film is the choice of a white house servant and his life as a focal point to the historical events portrayed. The drama is both absorbing and emotionally rich. What is surprising is the way that sympathy for Whitakers central character, Cecil Gaines, is so strong that the events, though sprawling, always resonate as intricate pieces of his life; because of this anchor, the film remains intimate and personal, even when the fate of an entire nation is involved. Each actor excels here, the reason for this is that they, while obviously being highly talented individuals, are led by a commanding director who knows exactly what hes saying at all times, while keeping all the complexity of his subject matter. You could say this is an African-American Forrest Gump: the story of an everyman whose fate collides repeatedly with historical figures and events, but The Butler is far more mature and subtle work which, beyond race, questions our roles as men and women in our daily lives. It questions and explores moral responsibility and how from generation to generation we can all search for what is the right moral conduct in the face of opposition, oppression and evil. It also shows how we can make a profound difference in life through dedication, integrity and love. Description: The Butler (full title Lee Daniels The Butler) is a 2013 American historical fiction drama film directed by Lee Daniels and written by Danny Strong Loosely based on the real life of Eugene Allen, the film stars Forest Whitaker as Cecil Gaines, an African-American who eyewitnesses notable events of the 20th century during his 34-year tenure serving as a White House butler. The film was theatrically released by The Weinstein Company on August 16, 2013, to mostly positive reviews and was a surprise box office hit, grossing over $161 million worldwide against a budget of $30 million.
Posted on: Fri, 17 Jan 2014 22:27:17 +0000
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