The Butler

The Butler.

The Butler is a film chronicling Cecil Gaines' 34 year tenure as a butler in the White House. Forest Whitaker plays Gaines who is inspired by real life White House butler Eugene Allen. We're treated to an eyewitness account to major American events dating from the Eisenhower administration all the way to the Reagan administration as Gaines serves from 1957 to 1986. The movie has an ensemble cast who all do do great jobs.

Being a historical movie, I was really hoping I'd like it, being a history buff and all. Thankfully, it delivered. Many people my find it slow and boring but just like Lincoln(yes, I just compared this to Lincoln) it's incredibly interesting and the dialogue not only drives the movie but is the focal point of it. Most of the plot and historical events are racially charged, ranging from slavery, civil rights, equal pay to the election of the first African-American president. That being said some of the oppression shown is hard to imagine let alone watch and the fact that this occurred not even 50-60 years ago is repulsing.

This is a short review because all in all, there's not a ton to say. Oprah, I believe, deserves at least an Oscar nomination for her part, she was that good. This Oscar season is shaping up to be a really good one so I don't think she'll get it but if she ever reads this she'll know I think she deserves it. One of the other surprising things about this film was the comedy, while it's not running rampant, it's there. Mostly between Gaines and two of the White House butlers, the banter the three of them share adds a lightness and comedic tone to an otherwise completely serious movie.

Overall: I can't give this much more praise than I already have, from this review and recommending it to many people, all that's left that I can do is buy it on Blu-Ray/DVD when it comes out. I'm glad to see this movie isn't being slept on and has won the box office two weeks in a row and without a ton of competition this weekend, it could win again. Flat out, see this movie, it won't change your life but being as young as I(19), it's good to see the racial tension of the 50s/60s in a cinematic way. Also the actors who played the presidents were surprisingly good, James Marsden got JFK's way with words down pat and Alan Rickman(Severus Snape for you Harry Potter fans) does a great job with Reagan. Go see this film.

Rating: 4.5/5, A Surprisingly Good Film, Will Buy on DVD.