Who has seen The Butler? Just returned from a matinee

[HeiressofBickworth]

29. I saw it yesterday

so I've had time to let it sink in before writing an opinion of it. First, I loved it. I thought using the life of this man as a vehicle for telling the story of the civil rights struggle in this country was very well done. This movie represented what was going on when I was a teenager that formed the basis of my political beliefs today. I think young people should see it -- to see what the struggle was and to ponder how much, if anything, has changed today, particularly relating to voting rights.

The casting of the presidents was interesting. Some hit the mark, an some didn't. While Cusak didn't get the swagger and ego of Nixon, he definitely nailed the smarmyness and the personal disintegration prior to resigning. The actor playing Kennedy didn't hit any marks at all -- didn't look like him, didn't sound like him, didn't invoke any recognition of Kennedy. There is no one who dislikes Oprah more than I do but that is based on her talk show. But I'll give the woman this much: she was very good in the role of Gloria, the Butler's wife. I can't picture anyone else playing the roll.