The Valley Catholic
ARTS & LIFE
September 10, 2013
15
MOV I E
R E V I E W S
‘Lee Daniels’ The Butler’
(Weinstein) By John Mulderig Catholic News Service The personal collides with the political in this affecting fact-based drama adapted by director Lee Daniels from a 2008 Washington Post article by reporter Wil Haygood. Escaping the vicious racism of early 20th-century Deep South, a plantation worker (Forest Whitaker) makes his way to Washington, where he eventually ?nds coveted employment on the domestic staff of the White House. His patient hope that white Americans — led by the series of presidents he works with at close hand, from Dwight D. Eisenhower (Robin Williams) to Ronald Reagan (Alan Rickman) — will see the light on racial issues increasingly con?icts with the civil rights activism of his older son (David Oyelowo). The long hours he puts in at the executive mansion leave his strongwilled but fragile wife (Oprah Winfrey) feeling neglected. Appealing performances, especially Winfrey’s complex portrayal, and a surprisingly nuanced view of the various chief executives. An irretrievably self-absorbed Richard Nixon (John Cusack) alone excepted — keep the unfolding events from feeling like a chronological checklist of postwar history. While vulgar language and other red-?ag content would normally prevent recommendation for any but grown-ups, the moral signi?cance of this uplifting journey — undertaken within a context of implicit religious faith and strong marital commitment — is such that at least some parents may consider it acceptable for older teens. Occasional action violence, an adultery theme, numerous m ] \?H ?Y?\?[??\?H[?Y?[? \?\?? ??[?] KH??\H? ??Y? \?\? ??YH?YH[??\??[??XY?K??]?X??]???\??X?H?\??Y?X?][?\?KRRRH8?%Y [ ?H[?[?X? \?H\????X][??[Y\?X?H ?][??\??LL?8?% \?[? ? ? ??? H?]][?Y ???YHX]\?X[X^H?H[?\ ?? ?X]H???[ ?[? [?\? L????&????&H8?%\? ??]?\?[?????Y ?\?[?H ??[?H???H H[?YH8?'????'H?]?X??]???\??X?H?\??{? X?][?\?KRRRH8?%Y [ ?
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