The Butler (2013)

Ever since Spike Lee came into the scene, a recent slew of "slave" films have came out, giving black empowerment.  Now, I'm not saying this is anything particularly bad.  It just hurts that this formula is already feeling tired.  The saying "Don't fix what's not broken" doesn't apply here.  I've seen this done multiple times Also, much of the film is pretty preachy at moments.  It really drives it's point across to us and then bludgeons us to death with it.  Lee Daniel's the Butler is a classic case of what I like to call "Spike Lee-ism".  Spike Lee has directed some pretty good films, like Do the Right Thing.  However, some of his films like "Miracle at St. Anna" is pretty preachy.  Lee Daniels follows this route and it just doesn't work.  Also, on a side-note, I watched 10 minutes of Precious and quitted cause I hate watching fat people eat.  (No offense)

The Butler is excellently shot and I will give it props for that.  It captures the warm, fuzzy feel of the 1950s....for a while.  Also, Cuba Gooding Jr. was the best part of this film, adding some charm to a rather boring role.  Forrest Whitaker comes in as our main character, Cecil.  He's pretty good for the most part, even though the make-up to make him look younger is atrocious.  Oprah, who is not a person I'm really interested, played Cecil's wife.  I didn't mind her, but I didn't find her "amazing" or "perfect" as some of the reviews stated.  Also, the film presents some huge historical inaccuracies, namely Richard Nixon.  Now, I don't mind inaccuracies if they make the plot more interesting, but this was pointless.  In the film, it portrayed Nixon as a man who cared for black equality.  In real life, he didn't.  He was indifferent to it and only cared to get the blacks' vote.  This didn't help the film's plot advance in any way, so this was a bit confusing.

Overall, it's a disappointing film that probably won't last in your mind for T-minus a day.  I could understand the appeal to this film because it is actually a nicely shot film, and Forrest Whitaker and Cuba Gooding Jr. give great performances.  However, I wasn't fond due to the lack of interest in the story and the historical inaccuracies.  It left me wanting more, and it doesn't provide.  Also, I have a weird thing to complain about.  In the beginning of the film, Cecil, as a kid, is working in a plantation farm.  He's about 9 or 10 at this time.  However, it cuts to 1950 and he is supposed to look 20-something (even though he looks 50).  Wasn't slavery abolished in around the 1860s?  That means he should have been dead (around 100 years old).  However, he lives all the way to the turn of the century.  Huh?  Yeah, that makes a lot of sense.

5/10