Lee Daniels' The Butler (2013)

 

 

Lee Daniels' The Butler is an upcoming 2013 American historical drama film directed by Lee Daniels. The script was written by Danny Strong, and featuring an ensemble cast. It is based on the real life accounts of Eugene Allen. The film stars Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker as Cecil Gaines, an African-American who eyewitnesses notable events of the 20th century during his 34-year tenure serving as a White House butler during eight presidential terms from 1952 to 1986. He witnesses — and becomes involved in — the political and social turmoil of the period.

 

 

The film will be theatrically released on August 16, 2013.

 

 

Book

Based on the “The Butler: A Witness to History” by Will Haygood

 

 

Cast

Forest Whitaker as Cecil Gaines

Oprah Winfrey as Gloria Gaines

Cuba Gooding, Jr. as Carter Wilson

Terrence Howard as Howard

David Oyelowo as Louis Gaines

Vanessa Redgrave as Annabeth Westfall

Mariah Carey as Hattie Pearl

Alex Pettyfer as Thomas Westfall

Yaya DaCosta as Carol Hammie

Colman Domingo as Freddie Fallows

Aml Ameen as Young Cecil

Robin Williams as President Dwight D. Eisenhower

Melissa Leo as First Lady Mamie Eisenhower

James Marsden as President John F. Kennedy

Minka Kelly as First Lady Jackie Kennedy

Liev Schreiber as President Lyndon B. Johnson

John Cusack as President Richard Nixon

Alan Rickman as President Ronald Reagan

Jane Fonda as First Lady Nancy Reagan

Orlando Eric Street as President Barack Obama

Nelsan Ellis as Martin Luther King, Jr.

Alex Manette as White House Chief of Staff H. R. Haldeman

Lenny Kravitz as James Holloway

Jesse Williams as civil rights activist James Lawson

Beyoncé: Life Is But A Dream

Beyoncé: Life Is But A Dream

 

Beyoncé: Life Is But A Dream (2013) Released on February 16, 2013 Life Is But a Dream is a 2013 autobiographical television film, directed and executively produced by American singer Beyoncé Knowles. The film was released on February 16, 2013 on the HBO network, in conjunction with Parkwood Entertainment, Knowles' management company. The film uses a combination of professional camera footage, private video from Knowles' laptop and from her May 2012 4-night revue at Revel Atlantic City. Upon its release, the documentary opened to mixed reviews from critics.

 

 

Oprah Winfrey, said "Fiercely empowering. She shocked me. I was in tears. She did an amazing job. And called it “This documentary is a game changer."

 

New York Times television critic Alessandra Stanley gave the documentary negative reviews. "Life is But a Dream is as contrived as Madonna: Truth or Dare, but probably for good reason it is neither daring nor entirely truthful. It's an infomercial, not just about Beyoncé's talent onstage but her authenticity behind the scenes. She is a people-pleasing diva and she wants to keep it that way."

 

 

CAST

• Beyoncé Knowles

• Blue Ivy Carter

 

Via Archive Footage

• Tina Knowles

• Mathew Knowles

• Solange Knowles

• Kelly Rowland

• Jay-Z

• Michelle Williams

• Daniel Julez Smith, Jr.