While we anxiously await the release of Lee Daniels’ The Butler (yes, we actually have to call it that now), The Weinstein Company has graciously released five new clips from the film that give us a good idea what to expect when it hits theaters in a couple of weeks.
For those who may have missed the last update, the reason behind the title change is that The Weinstein Company lost their appeal to keep the title simply as The Butler, which as you recall was disputed by Warner Bros. due to a short film of theirs that already held that title. The simple solution? The studio stuck director Lee Daniels’ name in front of it, presumably to avoid total confusion with a complete title change.
As for these clips, they only heighten my anticipation for the film as they display the marvellous ensemble that’s on display here. As I’ve mentioned before, one of the main reasons this looks so good is that not only does it have an emotionally-charged story, but it has a powerhouse of acting talent including Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, Liev Schreiber, Robin Williams, James Marsden, Alan Rickman, Terrence Howard, Jane Fonda, Cuba Gooding Jr., Vanessa Redgrave, and John Cusack. This list will more than likely be tantalizing enough for any cinephile.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the film, it tells the story of an African-American who eyewitnesses notable events of the 20th century during his tenure as a White House butler through eight different presidencies.
The release of such a prestige picture in the middle of August may seem like a rather odd choice, but I suppose the studio is so happy with it that they want to get the word out about it early. Given the positive early buzz surrounding the film, it seems like they may indeed have a reason to be happy with it. Luckily, we don’t have very long at all to wait to see for ourselves.
Lee Daniels’ The Butler arrives in theaters on August 16th.
Check out the clips below and let us know what you think in the comments!
(Source: The Playlist)
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