THE BUTLER (or Oprah Wants An Oscar)- Page 2

[Huss417]

Posted: 6/5/13 at 2:40pm

"Moving it from awards season to the dumping grounds of late summer is worrisome."

I thought this as well but they are saying counter programming for adults in the summer. The Weinsteins usually like to roll out slowly some of their Best Picture prospects so I am intrigued by the change. It is also less crowded time so possibly more exposure out of the gate.

[Tom1071]

Posted: 6/5/13 at 3:05pm

Was Backstairs at the White House a true story like this one or a fictional account based on actual events? I hadn't heard about this movie until now but I am very excited for it. Love the casting. I'd say the only thing missing is Viola Davis.

Updated On: 6/5/13 at 03:05 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/5/13 at 3:23pm

No mention of Mariah Carey on the trailer??

Posted: 6/5/13 at 4:29pm

Backstairs was indeed a true story. Maggie Rogers was the first black maid to work at the White House (hired under President Taft) and she worked there 30 years (leaving under FDR) serving as maid to the First Lady.

Her daughter Lillian Rogers Parks started mending napkins for the White House before coming to work there full-time as a maid and seamstress. She left just as JFK was sworn in. She used her mother's copious notes and souvenirs to write "My Thirty Years Backstairs at the White House" which was then filmed as a mini-series.

One of the most amazing things about BSATWH was both ladies close contact with the first families and their inside view on how procedures changed as each new president took residence. Hoover insisted on silence from his staff- his wife used sign language to avoid making any noise at all. FDR's household sometimes expanded to the point that Lillian wrote of cots being set up in her sewing room so guests could sleep there. Needless to say, that was a much noisier crew.

Updated On: 6/5/13 at 04:29 PM

[strummergirl]

Posted: 6/5/13 at 10:06pm

To me this will be this year's Hitchcock and also about as much of a movie about the presidency and race as Hitchcock served as a movie about moviemaking and a specific movie.

In the end this will get early awards prognostications and then when it is actually seen that it will fade from memory but not without a brief bit of outrage for the amount of artistic license it takes (and also the general criticisms that are par for course with Lee Daniels movies) and maybe just end up with a makeup nomination by the Oscars like Hitchcock only amounted to (laughably so as nobody seemed to really believe Hopkins' makeup worked at all). The only interesting thing is this could be a disaster but I almost want it to be a memorable disaster in a go big or go home fashion and I think the camp aspects of Daniels' repertoire is the most interesting thing about this aside from Oprah's comeback into acting.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/5/13 at 10:52pm

I so disagree with you. I think it's going to end up being an extremely well made film that's going to be remembered as such throughout awards season.

[Kad]

Posted: 6/5/13 at 11:46pm

"Parade of stars" films like this never seem to meet the expectations of moviegoers.

We'll see. I could easily see this being a cliched heartwarmer. Lets hope the character isn't some magical negro, imparting dignified, folksy wisdom to the presidents.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/6/13 at 12:03am

LOL. God, that made me laugh. You're on a roll today, Kad.

[Renart]

Posted: 6/6/13 at 8:31am

BSATWH was also (sans commercials) a 7 hour miniseries that ran over 4 nights. The Butler wants to cover this in one movie? I'm rewatching BSATWH now (it's on youtube). I saw it when it first ran and liked it alot but now I'm surprised at how superficial it is. There's no way you can hit everything so they try to put as many issues into one conversation as they can because there isn't time to have one scene for each conversation, which in reality probably took place over a span of several years. It comes across as forced. I'm guessing there will be alot of televisions and radios coincidentally tuned in at the exact moment of monumental events so that the audience can be apprised of history as the movie moves along. I'm also guessing the presidents and first ladies will be nothing more than cameos. There just won't be time to develop any characters.

Posted: 6/6/13 at 8:57am

The Butler covers a different time frame and characters than Backstairs, FYI. It still has a lot of ground to cover, but I get the impression it focuses on the civil rights issue and doesn't really cover the developments.

[Renart]

Posted: 6/6/13 at 9:35am

A different timeframe but still a lenghthy one - From Eisenhower to Reagan.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/6/13 at 9:51am

Well we don't know the running time of this film yet, do we? It could be 3 1/2 hours long.

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 6/6/13 at 10:20am

It's a great cast although I don't know if I buy Cusack as Nixon.
My worry comes with Lee Daniels as director.

[AC126748]

Posted: 6/6/13 at 10:26am

Watching the trailer, you can almost picture Oprah in front of a full-length mirror at her Montecito estate, holding an imaginary statue and thanking Gayle, Steadman, and Tyler Perry. It's so hilariously unsubtle, as the whole film will be--and I can't wait.

Lee Daniels level of "talent" makes Uwe Boll look like Bergman. This will be a mess--but hopefully a campy, entertaining one.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 6/6/13 at 11:24am

I'm with you, AC. It just smells like a campfest and I'm of the opinion that Lee Daniels is just not capable of making a subtle film or even having a moment of subtlety in his films. He's an atrocious director, THE PAPERBOY was nuts (I do love that film but not for the reasons Mr. Daniels would want me to) and PRECIOUS was just...well, let's just say it wasn't a subtle film. I still haven't seen SHADOWBOXER though I'll probably watch it before this, if anything, Daniels does make for a fun night out at the movies but I'm not expecting it to be LINCOLN.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/6/13 at 11:34am

I honest to God don't see where anyone is getting anything "Campy" from this trailer. I LIVE for bad camp movies and this one looks as far from that as you can possibly get.

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 6/6/13 at 11:42am

I see potential for camp. I'm just judging from Lee's past work.

[tazber]

Posted: 6/6/13 at 11:55am

I know they are claiming counter-programming, but mid August to mid September is historically a low awareness and low attendance period.

It's opening up against a horror movie and a sequel to a mid-grossing movie (Paranoia, Kick-Ass 2 respectively). It's not countering anything. If it opened up opposite Iron Man, Pacific Rim, etc. that would be counter-programming. Their audience is busy (and broke) from back to school activities.

Add Lee Daniels who has a heavy hand and a proclivity for OTT dramatics and who knows what you're going to get.

I'm hoping it's a great movie, but it feels like a misfire.

[dreaming]

Posted: 6/6/13 at 12:01pm

I think Oprah was robbed for her brilliant performance in "The Color Purple". The galvanizing line: "I loves Harpo, she say. God knows I do. But I'll kill him dead before I let him beat me." The character is so strong and Oprah was so empowering in it. (The scene with the woman she ends up indentured to is pretty powerful as well.)

Maybe this will be her chance to win on her own merits. I hope so.

Posted: 6/6/13 at 1:22pm

I can't stand Oprah. Hated her show and have personal animosity toward her ever since she fell on me and injured my back.

That said, WHERE ARE YOU GETTING THIS IDEA OPRAH IS OBSESSED WITH AWARDS? She never campaigned for an award in her life- and believe me, she sure could have if she wanted.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 6/6/13 at 1:44pm

Just a trailer, and all that, but it just looks like a batch of cliches

Highly indicative of winning Best Picture.