THE BUTLER (Theatrical Release USA 2013)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.9|5.0 Starsìììì

The Butler—a fabulous, top-of-the-line, loosely-based-on-real-life events movie—tells the story of Cecil Gaines, White House butler. The cast is as outstanding as the script. Oprah Winfrey, Lenny Kravitz, Cuba Gooding Jr., David Oyelowo, Terrence Howard, John Cusack, Vanessa Redgrave, and Liev Schreiber take this film from a regular story to masterpiece status. The movie is absolutely a best working effort for Director Lee Daniels and a complete win for Executive Producers.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Cecil Gaines (Forest Whitaker), in a series of life events—some devastating and some fortuitous—moves from a small child working in Southern cotton fields to the White House.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Lee Daniels for directing efforts. Kudos to Music Composer Rodridgo Leão and Script Writer Danny Strong. Thank you to Executive Producers Len Blavatnik, James T. Bruce IV, Elizabeth Destro, Michael Finley, Aviv Giladi, Adonis Hadjiantonas, Vince Holden, Brett Johnson, Sheila Johnson, Jordan Kessler, Adam Merims, David Ranes, Matthew Salloway, Hilary Shor, Earl Stafford, Danny Strong, Harvey and Bob Weinstein, and R. Bryan Wright for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Cecil Gaines (Forest Whitaker), Earl Gaines (David Banner), 8-year old Cecil Gaines (Michael Rainey, Jr.), Abraham (LaJessie Smith), Hattie Pearl (Mariah Carey), Thomas Westfall (Alex Pettyfer), Annabeth Westfall (Vanessa Redgrave), 15-year old Cecil Gaines (Aml Ameen), and Maynard (Clarence Williams III).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. It’s a classic that should be in the home library and is more than worth a re-watch.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers