THE BUTLER... DID IT!!!

YOUR HISTORY IS YOUR BIOGRAPHY!!! 

- witnessing history -

Lee Daniels' THE BUTLER opened Friday, August 16 AND once you see it, you might just want to finally get started on writing your memoirs. In other words, the historical drama is so full of memorable moments that our own personal involvement in them may well be a triggering point for writing and telling our own stories about change. The real White House butler who witnessed history up close for 32 years didn't think of himself as special. He raised a family, went to church, served as an usher, stayed married for 32 years and performed well at being in a room full of whites, as the ultimate "invisible man." The movie's fictional butler likewise saw history in the making and the gross inequities, including his own underpaid position at the White House. THE BUTLER  trumps at reminding us all that, we are indeed the change that we seek!  

Personal Insight:  watching THE BUTLER on opening day near Annapolis, Maryland left me nearly exhausted as I recalled the many "firsts" in my own life: the first female in one place, the first Negro in another, the first Black teacher in Monroe, Michigan; the first African-American and female Voice of Democracy high school winner for the District of Columbia and the 50 states; the only female of color of this or that over the years.  So be warned:  Get ready for an emotional roller-coaster ride as you tip your toes in various parts of  the stream of history.

Lee Daniels who previously directed Monster's Ball and Precious wrote the screenplay. Danny Strong, a white author, crafted the original story based on the real life of White House butler Eugene Allen. Together the pair have produced a convincingly powerful narrative about the human condition AND the personal experience of an "African-American" butler who served all of the Presidents from Harry Truman to Ronald Reagan. Equally important: THE BUTLER  is a  hit at the box office and is generating Oscar talk. Finally, Hollywood gets it right: a Black perspective about the dramatic events of the 20th century that rocked the country and shaped the character of a nation.  The American struggle for civil rights is a long-overdue tale:  the good, the bad, and the ugly.

In one of the most poignant and revealing scenes in the movie, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is seen explaining to the butler's son the importance of our butlers and domestic workers. He points out that these often-marginalized workers have played a pivotal and "subversive" role in changing history. These are the ones who put a human face on those judged inferior when working in white homes and other settings.  How ironic that the very people who were thought to be of so little value were actually the important ones because their intimate subservient connections to whites helped to change the hearts and minds of whites.  Now that's a real "aha" moment! These "brothers and sisters"were thus instrumental for change by demonstrating to non-Blacks that people of color could be reliable, trusted, hard working, underpaid, yet, "invisible." But until now, few have seen change through the eyes of the so-called "servants."

So don't wait... go today to see and hear the "butler's narratives" featuring Oscar winner Forest Whitaker. 

Indeed, it is because of Daniels' THE BUTLER that America might finally get that long-delayed discussion on race. In the meantime, be warned, again: you'll probably be initially distracted by whom is playing who in  this historical drama - established celebrities.  AND, YES OPRAH CAN REALLY, REALLY ACT. Don't be surprised if she gets a supporting actress nomination! She's that good.  Like Oprah, the amazing cast of 16 well-known stars is so good that you'll soon forget their past lives and watch in amazement as they become their characters.  In the end, you're left with many stirring moments that make you feel.  And these are useful starting points for conversations across and within generations.  A national discussion is bound to occur because America is, afterall, defined by the search for political, economic, and civil rights.

Finally, THE BUTLER is good entertainment; it has romance, conflict, dysfunctional families, a good story, great directing, texture and rhythm.  The stunningly superb cast of A-list actors (Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, David Oyelowo, Mariah Carey, Vanessa Redgrave, Jane Fonda, Lenny Kravitz, Cuba Gooding Jr and more...) makes two hours go by fast. 

Enough said... the proof is in the box office results. 

THE BUTLER DID IT on August 16, 2013 when audiences turned out  to propel it to 

the number one spot on opening day. THE BUTLER beat out three other films that day
(Kick-Ass 2, Jobs, Paranoia). Box Office Magazine summed the results up this way:  

Weekend Estimates: 'Lee Daniels' The Butler' Claims Strong $24.5M Weekend; 'Kick-Ass 2' Disappoints With $15.3M Third Place Debut; Soft $7M For 'Jobs'; $4M Bomb For 'Paranoia'

According The Weinstein Company, the distributor - Lee Daniels' THE BUTLER racked up
an "impressive $8.3 million" on opening day. BoxOffice, called its projected $24.5 showing for
the weekend - "an impressive debut for the drama."

In Glen Burnie, MD the largest number of movie goers at Marley Station Mall was there to see THE BUTLER at the first showing (12:30 pm).  Although those attending tended to be older and predominantly people of color, that may vary in other locations:  THE BUTLER is likely to appeal to different people for different reasons, regardless of race, age, gender or class. 

AND... Be Prepared for some lingering.  When the movie ended in Glen Burnie after two emotionally intense hours... the unexpected happened: a standing ovation.

I was there. I was a witness! 

So whether watching Lee Daniels' THE BUTLER or reading the recently released book by a Washington Post reporter that sparked the movie - Wil Haygood's THE BUTLER... one thing is certain - we are all witnesses to history!

First Day, First Show reactions to Lee Daniels' THE BUTLER.  

Time to get your own stories going. 

Let's get the writing pads and journals ready.

THOUGHTS about the movie?  

There's space below to share your comments and memories about Lee Daniels' THE BUTLER.

Eugene Allen... the real butler.