Lee Daniels' The Butler 2013 * * * Stars

Director: Lee Daniels

Year: 2013

Rated PG-13

Rating: * * * Stars     Jesse's Rating: * * * 1/2 Stars

Cast: Oprah Winfrey, Forest Whitaker, Mariah Carey

Written by Cole Pollyea

Considering that it’s a historically significant movie event with an all-star cast, Lee Daniels’ The Butler has a lot to live up to. It’s my duty as a film critic to formulate a knowledgeable summary of the quality of the film and pass it on, but “The Butler” is one I’m having a hard time with because of how wide-ranging this movie is. I can almost guarantee that no single person will formulate the very same judgement, but I’ll share mine anyhow. “The Butler” is a movie that, while it sometimes contains scatter shot narrating that may offset the viewer, ultimately tells an applaud worthy story that captures quite a bit of cinematic and historical importance all the while exercising its cast effectively.

“The Butler” chronicles the lives of a White House black servant’s family and his struggles throughout his long life. It begins with the tragic death of his father and continues to chronicle his endeavors in a mostly heavy handed manner. While it isn’t a bone-deep character study, the movie tries hard to the point where one might say that it’s good enough. The above mentioned wavering narrative had me pointing out flaws, but what really saves it is how passionately Forest Whittaker commands the screen. As the viewer, I could occasionally sense the passion he emitted while attempting to (and succeeding at) emoting in crucial scenes that, without his acting prowess, would have otherwise suffered.

I went to the theater with my grandmother, a woman who lived through the time of this story, and she didn’t love it; neither did I. Ultimately, it’s a movie that is never fully engaging, though it really should be. Out of all of the movies  seen this year, The Great Gatsby was our favorite, if for no other reason, then because of how involving it was. While Lee Daniels’ The Butler is neither of those things, it still contains enough good qualities to get my recommendation, despite the fact that it’s not as potent as it probably should be.

Written by Cole Pollyea