In the first 15 minutes spanning 30 years, the title character learns the hard way how to cope in white man's world by having two faces and being quietly competent and otherwise invisible. He does this so well he lands in the White House. He is successful at building functional but not fully honest relationships. This goes for his work relationships and for his home relationships. Unsaid is that he never has had an honest relationship with himself and his own feelings. That leaves his wife needing more and not knowing what or why, so she turns to alcohol. That is the underlying story that Lee Daniels tells by not telling it explicitly just as The Butler never could communicate explicitly even to himself what really has meaning to him or who he is - he just copes and dutifully does his jobs and raises his own family the best ways he knows how. His son Louis is the opposite and expresses loudly and at great personal consequence, his thoughts, feelings, pains, and emotions. The Butler's internal defense network and coping mechanisms preclude his ability to accept Louis in this way. Charles, on the other hand, is the dutiful son who loves his country and dies serving it in Vietnam. At the same tine the Butler is a dutiful and responsible but aloof observer in his own life, he is doing the same at the White House. He observes remarkable things but is always cognizant that he must not show it - he is invisible and competent. Period.
I thought all the Presidential portrayals were compelling. It is an interesting juxtaposition as these men also must have distinct private and public faces. The backdrop for all of this was the Civil Rights Movement in the South where two faces was not a choice but were forced on African-Americans explicitly until they were no longer tolerated.
Throughout, all the acting is uniformly excellent. I found some jarring contrasts between where the movie is making its points subtly and where it chooses to make its points with sledgehammers. Whitaker's character's narration also at times seemed in the period he was showing and in others seemed totally retrospective.
Altogether, this is terrific way to spend 2 hours and 15 minutes. If you are open to these studies in duality, you will be rewarded with top- flight entertainment and some things to think about.
I thought all the Presidential portrayals were compelling. It is an interesting juxtaposition as these men also must have distinct private and public faces. The backdrop for all of this was the Civil Rights Movement in the South where two faces was not a choice but were forced on African-Americans explicitly until they were no longer tolerated.
Throughout, all the acting is uniformly excellent. I found some jarring contrasts between where the movie is making its points subtly and where it chooses to make its points with sledgehammers. Whitaker's character's narration also at times seemed in the period he was showing and in others seemed totally retrospective.
Altogether, this is terrific way to spend 2 hours and 15 minutes. If you are open to these studies in duality, you will be rewarded with top- flight entertainment and some things to think about.