Oprah Winfrey and Forest Whitaker. |
There are hundreds or more films released on and off that focus on plot lines that are sometimes serious while at others just for enjoyment. These plot lines are guided by themes/genres; to name some these can be Action, Adventure, Romance, Comedy, Horror, Historical, Philosophical, Fantasy, Thriller or political etc. Now most of these genres don't have seriousness at their core.
For me the only genres that turn out to be serious and substance of intellect are Romance, Historical, Philosophical or Political. I find these films to be interesting and in my opinion these genres provide viewers with story lines that are exceptionally great and worth a watch. The Butler is one such film directed by Lee Daniels, an Historical Drama Film with an amazing story that canters around White house Butler named Cecil Gaines. Other then Direction the film( that has ensemble cast) carries an amazing script written by Danny Strong.
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The film has outperformed at the weekend box office garnering some 20m $ just in North America. The main cast is comprised some very talented Celebs. The role of Butler/Cecil is played by non other then Forest Whitaker who gave an excellent Performance that certainly deserves an Oscar. The moments portrayed by Whitaker are small but at the same time subtle, layered and all powerful. Character gets its strength from the silent moments that Whitaker performed so well!
Other Cast members include Cecil's Wife Gloria, a character portrayed by well known popular TV host Oprah Winfrey is amazing too. A performance that is both beauty and complex at the same time; a women who is struggling with very difficult realities that include those of his son, Loneliness followed by Drug Addiction. It will be unfair to not mention the outstanding performances by Liev Schrieber and Alan Rickman as President Johnson and Regan respectively.
The plot depicts civil rights movement and other historical events spread over different Presidencies plus all the lynchings, violence, beating and injustice all in all are shown in a comprehended way. All these events which bore no interest whatsoever to Cecil do alter his life in ways not known to him, and finally at the end of film he overcomes his fears and demonstrated through voting for the first Black America President in 2008 Elections.