ceilidhm Not a fan of oprah or Mariah Carey but - phenomenal movie!!!! It got snubbed by oscars. As a history buff, I love this. But as a movie goer I LOVED this! Great casting. Great acting. Fantastic all around.

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.

oshikawa1140 From the onset my wife turns to me, I stare into her deep blue eyes filled with tears of sadness. "Yes, this happened in a not so distant past" I exclaim. The tears almost never stopped through to the end credit. I hold her hand for I feel it makes her sad. I hold her hand for I know it makes me angry! Mad that the "cotton field" are not just history portrayed in a fictional movie. Yes, I say it loud and clear. The whips, the chains, the smell of burning crosses in the distance, the silhouettes of hanging dark bodies are still contemporary metaphors. Let not whitewash this reality for it is not yet history. If you have never witnessed it in any shape or form, let me say it loud and clear as it is not imaginary. Laws have changed to give a semblance of equality. However, we will all only truly be equal when the mentalities will follow suit, when we come together as one. Peace and love.

Roland L. Slade III The movie was about a man who grew up in the south on a cotton field with his mother and father David Banner (Earl Gaines) and Mariah Carey (Hattie Pearl) both played the roles. Forest Whittaker was the Butler, Cecil Gaines. He got out of the south by his skills he learned from being a house slave, diner servant, and then became hotel bell boy/bus boy. He was scouted out by a man who seen his skills was fit for the White House. Being a butler in the white house he took with so much pride. Butler went through over 3 decades of president's administrations he seen firsthand what was happening with America and how it was changing forever. He had a wife and two sons; wife was Oprah Winfrey (Gloria Gaines) and sons were David Oyelowo (Louis Gaines) and Isaac White (Charlie Gaines). The theme of the movie was cultural, political, historic, and slow due to the story telling element. With the theme being political there was displaying of decisions and executive orders each president did for the country. Like how President Kennedy made it legal for all colors and races to eat and drink at the same locations and fountains. With Cecil's son being one of the "freedom riders" (group which was similar to the black lives matter movement currently) they tried to make a difference culturally for America. Anytime Cecil was at a high time or point in his life the camera angles were high and the lighting was bright. Anytime he was at a low point the camera angles and lighting were low and dim. For instance when Cecil helped get the black help's pay raised he was talking to the head engineer. The Head engineer looked at him lowly so the angle and light was low but after he told him the president said to take it up with him and he ran into the First lady the camera angle was high as he was praised for his accomplishment by her.