Lee Daniels' The Butler

Lee Daniels' The Butler is a historical drama film directed by Lee Daniels and written by Danny Strong. The film is based on the life of Eugene Allen, a White House butler who served under eight Presidents, including Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, and Ronald Reagan. The film features an ensemble cast, including Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, John Cusack, Jane Fonda, and Cuba Gooding Jr., and explores themes of civil rights, racial inequality, and the African American experience. The film was produced by Laura Ziskin Productions, Windy Hill Pictures, and Follow Through Productions, and was released by The Weinstein Company.

Plot

The film tells the story of Cecil Gaines, a fictionalized version of Eugene Allen, who grows up on a Georgia plantation and becomes a butler at the White House. The film follows Cecil's life as he serves under eight Presidents, including Harry S. Truman, who desegregated the armed forces with Executive Order 9981, and John F. Kennedy, who supported the civil rights movement and was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. The film also explores Cecil's personal life, including his marriage to Gloria Gaines, played by Oprah Winfrey, and his relationship with his son Louis Gaines, played by David Oyelowo, who becomes involved in the civil rights movement and participates in the Woolworth's sit-in and the Selma to Montgomery marches. The film features a number of historical figures, including Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and Nelson Mandela, and explores the impact of the civil rights movement on African American life.

Production

The film was directed by Lee Daniels and written by Danny Strong, who was inspired by the life of Eugene Allen and the civil rights movement. The film was produced by Laura Ziskin Productions, Windy Hill Pictures, and Follow Through Productions, and was released by The Weinstein Company. The film features a number of notable actors, including Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, and John Cusack, who play Cecil Gaines, Gloria Gaines, and Richard Nixon, respectively. The film was shot on location in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Washington, D.C., and features a number of historical landmarks, including the White House and the Lincoln Memorial. The film's score was composed by Rodrigo Leão, who has also worked on films such as The Dilemma and The Beaver.

Cast

The film features an ensemble cast, including Forest Whitaker as Cecil Gaines, Oprah Winfrey as Gloria Gaines, and John Cusack as Richard Nixon. The film also features Jane Fonda as Nancy Reagan, Cuba Gooding Jr. as Carter Wilson, and Terrence Howard as Howard. The film includes a number of notable actors in supporting roles, including Lenny Kravitz as James Holloway, James Marsden as John F. Kennedy, and Alan Rickman as Ronald Reagan. The film also features a number of actors who play historical figures, including David Oyelowo as Martin Luther King Jr. and Colman Domingo as Frederick Douglass.

Release

The film was released on August 16, 2013, by The Weinstein Company and was distributed by Lionsgate Films. The film premiered at the Telluride Film Festival and was also screened at the Toronto International Film Festival and the New York Film Festival. The film was released on DVD and Blu-ray on December 17, 2013, and was also made available for streaming on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. The film was a commercial success, grossing over $176 million at the box office and becoming one of the highest-grossing films of 2013.

Reception

The film received generally positive reviews from critics, with many praising the performances of the cast, particularly Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey. The film holds a 72% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 204 reviews, with an average rating of 6.8/10. The film also received a number of awards and nominations, including several NAACP Image Awards and a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Forest Whitaker. The film was also recognized by the American Film Institute, which named it one of the top 10 films of 2013.

Historical_accuracy

The film has been praised for its historical accuracy, with many noting that it accurately depicts the civil rights movement and the experiences of African Americans during the 1950s and 1960s. The film features a number of historical figures, including Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and Nelson Mandela, and accurately depicts many of the key events of the civil rights movement, including the Woolworth's sit-in and the Selma to Montgomery marches. However, some have noted that the film takes some creative liberties with the life of Eugene Allen, including his relationship with his son and his experiences as a butler at the White House. Despite these inaccuracies, the film has been widely praised for its portrayal of the civil rights movement and its impact on African American life. The film has also been recognized by a number of historical organizations, including the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the Library of Congress.