Rating of
3.5/4
Surpasses Expectations
Unknown - wrote on 08/19/13
'The Butler' is a civil rights tale dressed up in a hollywood-ized 'biography' (I use the term loosely) of one man's profession. This film succeeds at surpassing that quota by focusing solely on our main character and his family. Their drama is intertwined with actual history involving civil rights, giving us a middle class African American view of the situation through the decades. At the very core of the story is the struggling father/son relationship that mirrors the clashing of opinions on the issue. This provides many emotional moments that are earned through their weight in truth and from the terrific performances from each family member and supporters. Speaking of supporters, those playing the various presidents have very little screen time and are wearing little to no make-up to emulate their 'character'. This was a good choice, as having a number of recognizable actors stealing scenes would've served less purpose and have made the movie drag. This may be a 'hollywood' drama, but it is done so with conviction and much entertainment.
