The Butler

As with all biographical films, they are usually written, directed, and acted with such painstaking realism, hence the fact they are based on a true story, that it makes it compelling for most. So everyone involved are extremely careful in conveying this person and the events surrounding this person as accurately as they can. I believe this is why I enjoy watching biopics, and "The Butler" certainly is no exception.

This tells the story of a White House butler who served eight American presidents over three decades. The film chronicles the dramatic changes that swept American society during this time, from the civil rights movement, to Vietnam, to the Watergate scandal and beyond, and how those changes affected this man's life with those he worked with. His co-worker butlers including Carter Wilson (Cuba Gooding Jr.) and James Holloway (Lenny Kravitz) became intertwined with his personal life with his long-suffering wife, Gloria (Oprah Winfrey), troubles with the relationship with his sons, Louis (David Oyelowo) and Charlie (Elijah Kelley, 15-18).,and his and his wife's friendship with their next door neighbor, Howard (Terrence Howard).
Forest Whitaker stars as the butler, Cecil Gaines, with Robin Williams as Dwight D. Eisenhower, John Cusack as Richard Nixon, Alan Rickman as Ronald Reagan, James Marsden as John F. Kennedy, Liev Schreiber as Lyndon B. Johnson, even Jane Fonda as Nancy Reagan and others.

Others to round out the cast are Mariah Carey as Hattie Pearl, Clarence Williams III as Maynard, Isaac White as Charlie Gaines-10yrs, Yaya Alafia as Carol Hammie, Minka Kelly as Jacqueline Kennedy, Nelsan Ellis as Martin Luther King Jr., and James DuMont as Sherman Adams.

This was brilliantly directed with such grit, pathos, and poignancy by Lee Daniels ("Shadowboxer" '05, "Precious" '09, "The Paperboy" '12). This is one director that not only is he looking at a nomination come Oscar time, but is a man who is going to direct some great films in our future. This was equally well written by Danny Strong ("Recount" (TV movie) '08, "Game Change" (TV movie) '12) based on an article, "A Butler Well Served by This Election" by Wil Haygood. Lee Daniels definitely had influence with the script, but Strong still created an incredibly cohesive, well delineated script that could also receive notice come Oscar time. As far as Whitaker and Winfrey, they simply shined--they out did themselves.

If you generally like biopics, this is the film for you, but even if you don't, everyone really needs to see this, because where else can one go, receive a great message and be able to revel in the midst of fine directing, writing,and acting all at the same time?

Out of 4 Stars: 4                          Rated: PG-13                      132mins.