‘The Butler’, based on the memoirs of Cecil Gaines, had all the promise of an outstanding movie and all the warning signs of a potentially colossal bore. Unfortunately, despite an all – star cast headed by Forest Whitaker (the Butler, Cecil Gaines), Oprah Winfrey (his wife, Gloria Gaines) and cameo appearances from some of the greatest stars in the industry from Mariah Carey to Jane Fonda, Vanessa Regrave, John Cusak, Liev Schreiber, Robin Williams, Cuba Gooding Jr…., “The Butler” is a flop.

Having decades of unparalleled access to the back entry and corridors of the Whitehouse through 8 Presidencies, one would be lead to expect salacious gossip, riveting political intrigue and some insightful glimpses into the lives of the men who wielded some of the greatest power in the world. This is not what ‘The Butler’ offers up. In a year that has seen Steven Spielberg’s “Lincoln” and foreign Oscar nominee “A Royal Affair”, both epic historical dramas, the stage was set for a spectacular drama. Instead director Lee Daniels (Precious, The Paperboy) offers tired glimpses of what were massive turning points in American history: slavery in the South, the Civil Rights movement, the Freedom Bus, desegregation, the Black Panther movement, the Vietnam War, Martin Luther King, John Kennedy’s assassination and Watergate. The story is propelled forward using a string of maudlin reminiscences from the perspective of an old man who has seemingly lost his zest for everything. The pace is horribly slow and repetitive camera angles tiresome.

Historical sequences are tepid at best, having all been seen before and introducing nothing new or particularly enlightening. Telling the tale from the point of view of the Butler was probably the greatest mistake; not only do we know that anything he might reveal about the Whitehouse and its secrets would have been completely vetted and access to anything too interesting would be limited. Employment at the Whitehouse as the Butler required one to be ‘invisible’ when in a room, to have no political opinions and to be the loyal, devoted servant to the administration in power at the time. Despite proximity to the powerful Whitehouse occupants the writers Danny Strong (Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Pleasantville, Sea Biscuit) and Wil Haygood have missed the mark. Presidential back pain and bowel movements are just not interesting.

This movie is unlikely to appeal to a wide audience.

Moira Romano