Studio: The Weinstein Company
Director: Lee Daniels (PRECIOUS)
Writer: Danny Strong (GAME CHANGE), Wil Haygood (The Washington Post article)
Cast: Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, David Oyelowo
Logline: Based on the true story of "Cecil Gaines", an African-American butler, who served eight Presidents in The White House.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/posttv/video/onbackground/the-butler-aut/2013/08/15/9d933d58-0121-11e3-9a3e-916de805f65d_video.html
THE BUTLER is a father-son story based on true events in the life of "Cecil Gaines" (WHITAKER), who worked as a butler in The White House during the Civil Rights Movement, while his son, "Louis" (OYELOWO) dropped out of college to become a Freedom Rider. American history provides the back-drop for Cecil and Louis' ideology conflict throughout the story. DANIELS creates the most poignant illustration of the father-son conflict by juxtaposing The White House service staff preparing for dinner, while the Freedom Riders prepare for sit-ins. By the time Obama is elected in 2008, father and son are on the same page. Solid performances all around from an all-star cast including Winfrey (as "Gloria Gaines"), Cuba Gooding Jr, whose character injected some much-needed comic relief in the story and Lenny Kravitz, who held his own with Oscar winners Whitaker and Gooding Jr. Although Daniels takes creative license with the article, as well as the screenplay, the result is a broader view of the African-American perspective regarding historical American events.
If you're one of those people who would rather see the movie than read the book(s), see this movie. (Also see the documentary: EYES ON THE PRIZE). If you ever wondered what the movie, FORREST GUMP, would be like if it was written from an African-American perspective - see this movie. Otherwise - read the books.
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