Arts & Entertainment

MOVIE REVIEWS: 'The Butler' Melodramatic but Moving

Forest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey star in this story of a White House butler who served eight presidents.

"The Butler" is rated PG-13 and runs 2 hours and 12 minutes.Β Click here for movie times in and around Holly Springs.

Here's what the critics are saying:

The reality-based film is both deeply affecting and blatant Oscar bait. It's inspiring and filled with fine performances, but the insistently swelling musical score and melodramatic moments seem calculated and undercut a powerful story. β€”Β Claudia Puig, USA Today
There's no denying the stumbles that mar this alternately riveting and risible historical epic (big stars in bad makeup doing cameos as American presidents – yikes!). Yet "Lee Daniels' The Butler"Β holds you, provokes you and ultimately moves you. β€”Β Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
As isΒ de rigueurΒ for any solid film,Β "The Butler"Β delivers an emotion-packed, satisfying ending. Performances are stunning and notably enhanced by remarkable makeup wizardry that ages key players. β€”Β Doris Toumarkine, Film Journal International


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