Arts & Entertainment
MOVIE REVIEWS: 'The Butler' Melodramatic but Moving
Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey star in this story of a White House butler who served eight presidents.
By Ann Marie Quill
"The Butler" is rated PG-13 and runs 2 hours and 12 minutes. Click here for movie showtimes in Cobb County.
Here's what the critics are saying:
The reality-based film is both deeply affecting and blatant Oscar bait. It's inspiring and filled with fine performances, but the insistently swelling musical score and melodramatic moments seem calculated and undercut a powerful story. — Claudia Puig, USA Today
There's no denying the stumbles that mar this alternately riveting and risible historical epic (big stars in bad makeup doing cameos as American presidents – yikes!). Yet "Lee Daniels' The Butler" holds you, provokes you and ultimately moves you. — Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
As is de rigueur for any solid film, "The Butler" delivers an emotion-packed, satisfying ending. Performances are stunning and notably enhanced by remarkable makeup wizardry that ages key players. — Doris Toumarkine, Film Journal International
"The Butler" is rated PG-13 and runs 2 hours and 12 minutes. Click here for movie showtimes in Cobb County.
Here's what the critics are saying:
The reality-based film is both deeply affecting and blatant Oscar bait. It's inspiring and filled with fine performances, but the insistently swelling musical score and melodramatic moments seem calculated and undercut a powerful story. — Claudia Puig, USA Today
There's no denying the stumbles that mar this alternately riveting and risible historical epic (big stars in bad makeup doing cameos as American presidents – yikes!). Yet "Lee Daniels' The Butler" holds you, provokes you and ultimately moves you. — Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
As is de rigueur for any solid film, "The Butler" delivers an emotion-packed, satisfying ending. Performances are stunning and notably enhanced by remarkable makeup wizardry that ages key players. — Doris Toumarkine, Film Journal International
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