Forest Whitaker
Oprah Winfrey
Mariah Carey
John Cusack
Jane Fonda
Cuba Gooding, Jr.
Terrence Howard
Lenny Kravitz
James Marsden
David Oyelowo
Alex Pettyfer
Vanessa Redgrave
Alan Rickman
Liev Schrieber
Robin Williams
Clarence Williams III

Danny Strong

132 mins.
Biography, Drama
August 16, 2013

Rated PG-13 for some violence and disturbing images, language, sexual material, thematic elements and smoking. (MPAA)

“Everything you are and everything you have is ‘cause of that butler!”

“Lee Daniels’ The Butler” is a film without a spark. Where’s the urgency? The pulse? In Daniels’ best directorial effort, “Precious,” there was a pulse and a commitment to telling the story in an unapologetic way. Now, while this story is completely different, just because it’s a positive story doesn’t mean that it shouldn’t have teeth.

There’s no craft here. The script is horrendous: It’s too on-the-nose, and it covers way too much history with way too little depth. The actors really don’t have a leg to stand on – every character seems to be there just to fulfill a “role” – and the stunt casting borders on the ridiculous: David Banner and Mariah Carey, who did a surprisingly good job in “Precious,” as Cecil Gaines’ (the titular character’s) parents, anyone? I never connected to anyone in this film. I felt like I was on the outside looking in. And what’s the deal with the makeup and prosthetics? This film should be shown in secondary schools, right after “Roots” and “Eyes on the Prize.”

For comparison’s sake: “12 Years a Slave” is art; this is a made-for-tv movie. “Parkland” (a film that some critics didn’t like because it was just another movie about the Kennedy assassination, in their opinion) had narrative urgency, this just glides along with obvious juxtapositions between Cecil being a servant and his son being a militant. “Boycott” (an actual made-for-cable film) had narrative focus and a nuanced, lovely performance by Jeffrey Wright as Dr. King; while in this film, Whitaker’s pigeon-holed into playing the same thing over and over. “Malcolm X” showed us how to tell a story that spans many decades with precision and guts; this film goes the traditional route without even showing a mastery of the traditional techniques. While “Mandela” was a failed attempt, this is no attempt.

“Lee Daniels’ The Butler” is a collection of scenes without the correct rhythm. Well, at least there’s a lot of music, which provides the illusion of momentum. It may have been better to make a film that centered around Cuba Gooding, Jr.’s (of all actors) character. At least that character has a discernible point-of-view that isn’t obvious and banal. Either knock us out with the force of a decades-spanning story or drawn us in by developing fewer, special moments. At the very least, find something interesting about these characters and events, and highlight it. Put your stamp on it.

Verdict: Bad

About: (Source: thebutler)

LEE DANIELS’ THE BUTLER tells the story of a White House butler who served seven American presidents over three decades. The film traces the dramatic changes that swept American society during this time, from the civil rights movement to Vietnam and beyond, and how those changes affected this man’s life and family. Forest Whitaker stars as the butler with Robin Williams as Dwight Eisenhower, James Marsden as John F. Kennedy, Liev Schreiber as Lyndon B. Johnson, John Cusack as Richard Nixon, Alan Rickman as Ronald Reagan, and many more. Academy Award® nominated Lee Daniels (PRECIOUS) directs and Emmy®-award winning Danny Strong (GAME CHANGE) wrote the script.