Silver-celluloid

Starring: Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, David Oyelowo Director: Lee Daniels Genre: Drama Running time: 132 minutes The portrayal of oppression is always a complex and difficult subject to approach with sensitivity and accuracy on film, and this has been achieved many times. However, The Butler may be trying a little too hard and is not without its problems. As entertaining as the film is, it can feel a little like a whistle-stop tour of American history as it tells the story of Cecil Gaines (Forest Whitaker), an African-American born into near slavery on a plantation who makes his way to work as a butler at The White House for several administrations. Gaines' working life spans several decades including the turbulent years of the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War. Despite some things that have been written about it, this film is genuinely moving at times. Although it is long at a running time of 132 minutes, it did not feel overlong and held the attentio...