The Butler... - Page 3

pinkskates4 · ‎03-10-2010

On 1/21/2014 WestieLove said:
I was really sad to learn this was a fictional account....I really wanted to see a true story on the subject.

Comments about the film - WARNING SPOILERS

I was particularly surprised to find out that the beginning - about his mother and father - was not true. While he did serve in the house on a plantation growing up - apparently those making the movie felt that was not sufficient to explain his background so they had to make up a much more horrific personal history. Somehow that seems almost disrespectful to the man himself - as if his story somehow wasn't movie worthy without such significant embellishment. That would also explain the need to create an older son with his civil rights involvement - and not just sympathy for the movement, but the need to make him a Freedom rider who suffered beatings etc. And the need to kill off the son serving in Vietnam.

I also wondered if this movie was snubbed by the Oscars because the Academy like the portrayal of the butler's older son in the beginning had some issues with someone embracing "domestic servitude" even in the White House- altho the movie does have him "evolve" and gives Oprah the line to the son that "everything we have was provided by that butler" - and demanding the son respect his father.

Even so, while I haven't seen 12 Years a Slave, I can see where the Academy might be more "comfortable" with its storyline - that even with all that was added to The Butler to bolster its bona fides as depicting the race struggle, it just didn't measure up.

All of which to say I just think it's sad that Hollywood seems to believe that a true story of a very decent man and his relationships with Presidents (of which we get only snippets) - and which may have had more personal influence on their relations with blacks than all the horror in the daily news, was not worth telling on its own.

And depicting his wife as having problems with alcohol and having an affair - when in real life she did neither. Wow that is really disrespectful - altho I guess it was intended to bolster Oprah's chances at an Oscar.

LilacTree · ‎03-25-2012

I chose to watch Blue Jasmine over The Butler last night on ON DEMAND. After reading this thread, I'm glad I chose Blue Jasmine, but have to say BJ was no winner either. What a depressing movie! There was nothing good about it. I can't even say anything positive about Cate Blanchett's acting. I was sorry I spent the money.

Formerly Ford1224
We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Elie Wiesel 1986

TaxyLady · ‎05-26-2011

I watched it because I was told it was a great movie. I didn't think the acting was that good and I am sick and tired of watching movies about racism. There is racism on both sides. Every time American tries to heal, someone has to bring up all the rotten things of the past to incite anger in people. I would not recommend this movie. There was really nothing positive about it.

RINGER · ‎03-10-2010

One of the best movies ever as stated in my thread under TV or movies.

pinkskates4 · ‎03-10-2010

I was sorry they felt the need to say in the movie that he was uncomfortable at the WH dinner Nancy Reagan invited him and his wife (by name) to. They were actually invited after he had retired and he recounts that he enjoyed it.

He also says Nancy Reagan sent him a note of condolence after his wife died.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/10451522/The-Butler-the-real-White-House-butler-interviewed-...

JaneMarple · ‎05-23-2011

On 1/22/2014 TaxyLady said:
I watched it because I was told it was a great movie. I didn't think the acting was that good and I am sick and tired of watching movies about racism. There is racism on both sides. Every time American tries to heal, someone has to bring up all the rotten things of the past to incite anger in people. I would not recommend this movie. There was really nothing positive about it.

Sadly its part of America's history.

You Don't Own Me- Leslie Gore
(You don't Know) How Glad I Am- Nancy Wilson

Topaz Gem · ‎03-10-2010

On 1/22/2014 Dagna said:
I was sorry they felt the need to say in the movie that he was uncomfortable at the WH dinner Nancy Reagan invited him and his wife (by name) to. They were actually invited after he had retired and he recounts that he enjoyed it.

He also says Nancy Reagan sent him a note of condolence after his wife died.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/10451522/The-Butler-the-real-White-House-butler-interviewed-...

They just had to throw Reagan under the bus because they couldn't figure out a way to blame Bush.

"Summer afternoon-summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language." ~Henry James

Teacups · ‎04-13-2010

You have to read the book to get real story. I would have been offended if I was his wife if I did not have an affair. Gee whiz why would they do that? the true story would have been much better!

kittykatkay · ‎02-25-2011

I want to see this movie. I see it's on, "ON DEMAND" and can rent it. I bet it's good. They say it covers this Butler working for eight Presidents. Boy, the stories he could have told.