Article by Ellen Townley
Roughly based on the true story of a black White House butler, the unidealized reality portrayed in Lee Daniels’ The Butler provides rare insight into the life of African-Americans in 20th century America.
The film opens in 1926 on a cotton plantation in Georgia. Cecil Gaines, played by Forest Whitaker, begins his life picking cotton, working his way into serving as the personal butler for eight presidents and eventually votes for president Barack Obama.
Juxtaposed to his son’s radical means of activism, the butler shows a different side of the struggle for equal rights as a dignified African-American serving a country reluctant to provide him human rights. Whitaker expertly portrays the “two faces” of an African-American butler working for a white employer as American racial relations evolved through conflict and unprecedented legislation.
In The New Yorker, David Denby accurately describes The Butler as, “. . . an ambitious and crowded historical bio-pic.” It is the life story of one man; however, his story is deeply woven with many of the horrors, trials and triumphs of the nation from 1926 to 2008. It reminds viewers that many of America’s most odious moments are not far in the past.
The extent of historical events and eras covered during the two hour movie is overwhelming. However, main actors bring each era to life. Oprah Winfrey plays a strong supporting role as the butler’s wife. Although, disappointingly, James Marsden did not seem to fit the role of President Kennedy. However, do not let that prevent you from watching the movie. Look for it on DVD later this fall.
It is an interesting look at America’s struggle with racial equality, and a strong story of a family rising to the fight.
The Network '14 