Lee Daniels’ The Butler
Ignoring the ridiculous title controversy, The Butler is a movie I’ve been very excited for since last summer when images and casting began to release. Any film that can bring in as many great actors as this one must have an excellent story and a director who knows what he’s doing, such as Lee Daniels. Robin Williams, James Marsden, Liev Schreiber, and Cuba Gooding Jr. aren’t all going to end up in the same movie by chance, they must think it’s going to be good, and I’d like to agree.
The Butler tells the story of Eugene Allen, played by Forest Whitaker, who worked as a butler in the White House under eight administrations. This film will tell stories of American history through his eyes, especially focusing on the civil rights movement that was such an important aspect of every presidential term he served under.
The first trailer for the film is absolutely awesome. It has all the elements of a memorable biopic. As great as Lincoln is, sometimes these stories about American history work best when told through the eyes of someone who wasn’t necessarily a main player (see Forrest Gump). Combining the stories of Allen’s family life and his personal struggles with the struggles the country was facing as a whole should lead to a compelling film, with plenty of potential for recognition come award season.
Those are our picks for movies to see in August. Which ones will you be checking out? Let us know in the comments section below.Â
