The Butler

“One quiet voice can ignite a revolution”.

From the Producer/Director Lee Daniels who brought us ‘Precious’ and ‘The Paperboy’, in 2013 he brought another dramatic true story to life entitled ‘The Butler’. Rated PG 13 for some violence and disturbing images this film was nominated for 2 BAFTA awards, another 32 nominations and 5 wins. Danny Strong and Will Haygood adapted this biography into screenplay and actors Forest Whitaker,  Mariah Carey (songstress turned actress), Oprah Winfrey, English David Oyelowo, Robin Williams, John Cusack, Yaya Alafia, Cuba Gooding Jr., Terrence Howard and Lenny Kravitz (also singer turned actor) to name a few brought their story to life.

Quite a hard movie to watch as it dealt with the Civil Rights Movement in America and struggles of a particular family that weathered the storm of 3 generations. With an estimated budget of $30 million USD it made back more than triple at the box office with a whopping $116 million USD. Gripping from beginning till end, chock-full of inspiration with mention of Gandhi and as well as the quote by Martin Luther King “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that”; this film speaks to the human heart.

We see numerous amount of films on the Holocaust but there are no death tolls for the Africans during slavery. Makes one think and reminisce on times not too very long ago. Keep the tissues nearby for this one.

The Paperboy

Another John Cusack film back-to-back for me and joining in on the film-fun was English David Oyelowo whom you may recall from 'Jack Reacher', porcelain and extra-fun character Charlotte Bless played by Aussie' Nicole Kidman, ever-southern yet outstanding performance by Mathew McConaughey and the handsome "High-school dancer" now "swimmer" and 'The Paper Boy' Zac Efron. And how can we forget our narrator and voice of reason - a natural in front of the camera, 'singer-turned actress' Macy Gray.

This 2012 American-thriller written by Pete Dexter who won an award for his 1991 novel turned movie 'Paris Trout' and known for other beloved works like 'Michael' starring John Travolta, had his story adapted into screenplay by Lee Daniels who also directed this film. Lee Daniels who is known for producing gritty and disturbing films like 'Monster's Ball' starring Halle Berry and 'Precious' starring Gabourney Sidibe pivoting both actress' into Academy Award nominations and hall of fame, intended to do just that for this steamy and equally alarming story.

My favourite part of this film were the camera-angles which were fluid and propped in the most natural and un-natural of positions, it made for it's viewers feeling even closer to the characters and what was going on in the story. I felt the acting was strong aside from the occasional smirks shown by Efron (but who could blame him because of the very many not-intended yet comical parts in this film). The story was far-fetched and utterly abominable but believable characters, and behaviour of people living in Florida during that time, and probably a little still today.

Rated R for some of the most nauseating sexual content, violence and language, it's not a film for family-fun. With a budget of $12 million USD and not making much back at the box-office and notwithstanding it's dismal and simple ambitions, it still has all the makings of Academy Award nominations.