The Butler (2013)

The Butler - 2013

Coming up next is 2013's "The Butler", the story of a man whose origins begin on a cotton plantation.  He eventually comes to work at The White House in Washington D.C. and is a front row witness to some of the most significant events in modern history.

The film's cast includes Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, Cuba Gooding Jr., Lenny Kravitz, Terrence Howard, Robin Williams, John Cusack, James Marsden, Liev Schreiber, Alan Rickman, Jane Fonda, Vanessa Redgrave, David Oyelowo, Jesse Williams, Minka Kelly, Elijah Kelley, Mariah Carey, and Adriane Lenox.

Born and raised on a cotton plantation in Macon, Georgia, Cecil Gaines starts out life with a series of horrific circumstances which include the murder of his father and the rape and subsequent mental decline of his mother.  The owner of the plantation brings him into the house and teaches him how to serve as a butler.

When his life is threatened, Cecil leaves the plantation.  He eventually comes to work for a hotel in Washington D.C.

His stellar service gets him the recognition of The White House, and they offer him a position, which he accepts.

Cecil's wife Gloria is overjoyed that her husband is working at The White House.  She can't hide her pride as she gushes about him to her friends.

Cecil quickly becomes friends with two other butlers at The White House.  Now that he's so close to the President, Cecil has the opportunity to observe history being made.  Of course, his own personal life has to evolve with the times as well, and Cecil struggles with his place in the world as his sons try to make theirs just a little bit better.

He begins his tenure in The White House during the administration of Dwight D. Eisenhower, and he witnesses the integration of a school in Arkansas.

Next up are the Kennedys, and we see JFK and Cecil interact on subjects that concern civil rights.  After JFK's assassination, Cecil tries to comfort Mrs. Kennedy as best as he can.

LBJ's presidency sees the continuance of the Civil Rights movement, and also the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

During the presidency of Richard Nixon, we see the rise of the group Black Panthers, and the internal struggle of Cecil, as his son is a part of the group.

We fast forward to the Reagans.  Ronald advises Cecil to press for wage equality.  Nancy delights Cecil and his wife by inviting them to a State Dinner.

Cecil is finally able to bring his wife to the place where he has worked for so long.  She excitedly takes in the entire evening.  He begins to see racial division in The White House, and he makes the decision to resign.

In 2008, Gloria passes away, and Cecil looks back over the life they shared together.

He's invited to visit The White House during the presidency of Barack Obama.  When the White House Chief Usher tells him he will escort him to see the President, Cecil tells him he knows the way and makes his way there alone.

Cast rundown:

   Forest Whitaker................................Cecil Gaines

   Oprah Winfrey..................................Gloria Gaines

   Cuba Gooding Jr...............................Carter Wilson

   Lenny Kravitz...................................James Holloway

   Terrence Howard...............................Howard

   Robin Williams..................................Dwight Eisenhower

   John Cusack.....................................Richard Nixon

   James Marsden.................................John F. Kennedy

   Liev Schreiber...................................Lyndon Johnson

   Alan Rickman....................................Ronald Reagan

   Jane Fonda.......................................Nancy Reagan

   Vanessa Redgrave.............................Annabeth Westfall

   David Oyelowo..................................Louis Gaines

   Jesse Williams...................................James Lawson

   Minka Kelly.......................................Jacqueline Kennedy

   Elijah Kelley......................................Charlie Gaines

   Mariah Carey....................................Hattie Pearl

   Adriane Lenox...................................Gina

And that's all for The Butler.  Attention must be drawn to the performance given by Oprah Winfrey.  She's a powerhouse in the role of Cecil's wife, Gloria.  I love when she tells her son (who has made discouraging remarks to Cecil about being a butler), "Everything you are, and everything you have is...'cause of that butler."  In these dark time we're living in today, the quote by Martin Luther King at the beginning of the film is very apropos for today, "Darkness cannot drive out darkness.  Only light can do that."

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