TRAILERS
Forest Whitaker Leads a Fantastic Cast in First 'The Butler' Trailer
by Alex Billington
May 8, 2013
Source: Yahoo
"Everything you are, and everything you have, is because of that butler." The first trailer has debuted for Lee Daniels' new film The Butler starring Forest Whitaker as Eugene Allen, who served eight presidents as the White House's head butler. As the latest follow-up to Lee Daniels' Oscar-winning Precious and his southern Gothic film The Paperboy, this is expected to be Oscar bait. It has quite a supporting cast to boot, with actors like Robin Williams, John Cusack, James Marsden, Liev Schreiber and Alan Rickman playing various Presidents. Even Oprah has a role, along with Cuba Gooding Jr., David Oyelowo and Lenny Kravitz. I'm not sure what to make of this, it's a very melodramatic trailer but doesn't look terrible.
Here's the first official trailer for Lee Daniels' The Butler, originally from Yahoo:
The Butler, directed by Lee Daniels from a script by Danny Strong, stars Oscar winner Forest Whitaker as the White House's head butler, with an ensemble cast: Oprah Winfrey as Gloria Gaines, David Oyelowo as Louis Gaines, John Cusack as Nixon, Liev Schreiber as Lyndon Johnson, Alan Rickman as Ronald Reagan, James Marsden as JFK, Cuba Gooding Jr. as Carter Wilson, Jane Fonda as Nancy Reagan, Melissa Leo as Mamie Eisenhower and Robin Williams as Dwight Eisenhower. The Weinstein Company picked up the film for release, and currently has The Butler scheduled to open limited theaters starting October 18th this fall.
13 Comments
1
Seems like another lame piece of Oscar bait.
Nielsen700 on May 8, 2013
2
There is an error in the article - Danny Strong wrote the script.
The fixer on May 8, 2013
3
4
This feels so racist to me....
dawko on May 8, 2013
6
Another attempt at promoting reverse discrimination in our country.
Filadog on May 8, 2013
7
reverse discrimination? I take it you think everything is handed to everyone on a silver platter, people died for equal rights in America, and the fight still continues.
cg on May 8, 2013
8
Your thoughts are represented similarly by the Black Panther character in the trailer. Watch it again and think a little harder.
ff on May 8, 2013
9
Interesting.
DAVIDPD on May 8, 2013
10
The simple fact that Oprah has anything to do with this movie means I will never waste my time watching it
Guest on May 8, 2013
11
So Lee Daniels is on pace to be the first black/gay director to win an oscar. Definitely could be the first black/gay multi-nominee. As for the academy? Their track record isn't to stellar when it comes to ensembles featuring a strong or majority black cast. Look at The Help, Color Purple, Precious or Dreamgirls. However, Oprah has a good shot of earning her second nomination or even her first win, as well as Vanessa Redgrave. It might also squeeze a nom for one of the presidents or first ladies.
Duane on May 8, 2013
13
The way Fonda turns her head is so cheesy. Very much like: "Look at me! I am the surprise superstar of this movie!" What happened to her face by the way?
Nash on May 8, 2013
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