Wednesday, August 21, 2013

The Butler


This fictionalized account of a Southern black man who worked as a White House butler under seven presidents from Eisenhower to Reagan is a very middle-of-the-road movie politically and aesthetically with myriad issues to carp about. But the long arc of this man's story, which begins in a Georgia cotton field and ends with an invitation back to his longtime work place to meet the first black president of the United States, describes a personal, racial and national journey in a way that is quite moving and will have a powerful effect on all manner of audiences, with the presumed exception of highbrows and real leftists.

I’m really late getting this review out and it’s entirely my fault and should have been a priority because this is an amazing film.   The cast is nothing short of a who’s who of acting and the story is simply perfect with a great journey that really makes you think.  It’s been awhile since we have seen Oprah on the big screen, 1998 to be exact and, it seems that while she wasn’t on the TV with her show giving away homes to everyone she was keeping her acting skills tuned.  If you don’t know all of the cast members in this movie keep it that way and don’t investigate to see who plays what parts, it will be a great surprise for you while watching the movie and make it that much more enjoyable.  

Enjoy the show.  5 out of 5 tie clips.

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