Lee Daniels' The Butler

Weinstein Company, The | Release Date: August 16, 2013

5.4	USER SCORE Mixed or average reviews based on 282 Ratings

USER RATING DISTRIBUTION

Watch Now

Stream On

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Review this movie

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Please sign in or create an account before writing a review.

Check box if your review contains spoilers

0 characters (5000 max)

User Reviews

User score By date Most helpful

foxgroveNov 17, 2013

Interminable plod through America's civil war movement seen through the experiences of a Butler serving several presidents over many years in the White House. The film cannot escape the feeling of being fake, trivialised and manufactured inInterminable plod through America's civil war movement seen through the experiences of a Butler serving several presidents over many years in the White House. The film cannot escape the feeling of being fake, trivialised and manufactured in its self important telling of an awful chapter in American History. It also feels very second hand with key events mostly being depicted via archive footage, mainly on a TV screen. Also, as soon as anything bad or dramatic happens the obligatory music kicks in for added impact often with that reliable crutch, the gospel choir at hand. This has the effect of producing schmaltz rather than gravitas.
A starry cast, generally playing presidents or first ladies to mixed success, give a cough and a spit and are gone. However, anyone expecting (as I did) for this to be a more serious expose of White house politics will be sorely disappointed. This is first and foremost about the Butler and his family. The film has a lot to say potentially, but ultimately, due to the story's priorities very little is actually said. Forrest Whittaker and Oprah Winfrey are undeniably good, but this is Oscar bait work to be sure. For a really natural and un self conscious performance just watch the far superior Lupita Nyong'O in the artistically much better 12 years a slave. No grand standing here, just great work! On the technical side the film is nothing special. The cinematography at times has a grainy look to it and it's definitely far too long. By the film's close I felt that I had aged with the two leads and lived the history.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

All this user's reviews

TacAug 18, 2013

Predictable message movie. Save your money and watch it at home so you can fast forward through the boring parts. Oprah is better as a talk show host.
Wierd casting choices aside from Forrest Whitaker who was good.

6 of 10 users found this helpful64

All this user's reviews

jGreenAug 22, 2013

Aside from casting Jane Fonda as Mrs. Reagan, this movie failed to show the greater struggle over adversity. Perhaps, this is because it was a quick-moving period piece. Oftentimes, the misplaced humor downplayed the next scene which mayAside from casting Jane Fonda as Mrs. Reagan, this movie failed to show the greater struggle over adversity. Perhaps, this is because it was a quick-moving period piece. Oftentimes, the misplaced humor downplayed the next scene which may have been tragic and/or historic. Scenes where occasionally confusing due to a jump in time and reference point.. The storyline contributed to the movie's disappointment; that is-it wasn't a story about an employee in the White House, but the story of that employee's personal life. This movie reminded me of a Hallmark special.… Expand

5 of 9 users found this helpful54

All this user's reviews

BroyaxOct 7, 2018

C'est inspiré d'une histoire vraie mais très vaguement et rarement inspiré : tout ce que ce fameux majordome noir aurait pu nous dire sur la politique américaine étalée sur pas moins de 7 présidents (!) est passé à la trappe au profit de laC'est inspiré d'une histoire vraie mais très vaguement et rarement inspiré : tout ce que ce fameux majordome noir aurait pu nous dire sur la politique américaine étalée sur pas moins de 7 présidents (!) est passé à la trappe au profit de la propagande de défense des "droits civiques" des pauvres gens de couleur... à croire qu'il ne s'est rien passé d'autre durant ces dizaines d'années !

Le réalisateur enfonce donc des portes ouvertes pendant plus de deux heures sur la condition des "nègres" aux Etats-Unis d'Eisenhower à Obama. Outre son côté scolaire et démonstratif à l'extrême, le film se révèle d'une lourdeur stupéfiante et se noie dans une guimauve à deux balles qui déborde de partout, du début à la fin...

Il s'agit donc d'une putain de caricature qui distille par ailleurs un ennui à faire bailler aux corneilles comme on en a rarement vu. Et le pire dans tout cela, c'est que ça sonne faux et que ça fait toc comme dans une sorte de grotesque telenovela à l'agenda SJW obnubilé et surchargé : un gâchis épouvantable.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

All this user's reviews