Review of The Butler (2013) by Grant S — 16 Nov 2014
Well-intentioned, but badly made.
Novel idea, the story of an African-American butler in the White House, and the story of the struggle for civil rights for African-Americans. The story had heaps of potential.
Unfortunately it is very badly implemented.
From the start the movie is very heavy-handed, superficial and trite. The problem with making a movie that spans 80 or so years is that,while you get breadth, there is no time for depth. Things just happen. Characters and plots are not developed, motives are not explained. It's like a series of flashbacks, or home movies strung together.
Dialogue is cliched. Plot is quite lame from time to time.
Ending brings everything together, but even that seemed contrived and lame. It is as if the whole movie, and the life of the butler, just served as prelude to that. Ending also comes with a large dose of political propaganda (and no, I am not being politically partisan here. I am not a US citizen and I agree with the social and political messsage of the movie).
Performances vary, but are mostly quite disappointing considering the all-star cast. Forrest Whitaker is so-so in the lead role. Oprah Winfrey is unconvincing and irritating (so par for the course for her).
Best performance probably comes from David Oyelowo as Louis Gaines. Solid, powerful and convincing.
This review of The Butler (2013) was written by Grant S on 16 Nov 2014.
The Butler has generally received positive reviews.
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