That little piece of cinematographic tripe that Oprah has thrown her rather impressive weight behind, otherwise known as the movie "Lee Daniels' The Butler" saw its box office receipts take a pretty significant hit over the past weekend, plummeting by nearly a third, down from $24.6 million in its opening week to $17 million last week. Many seem to credit that decrease in ticket sales to the storm of protests from Republican and veterans groups.
Having not seen this movie myself and I'm relying on those who have, I'm told that the film depicts a White House butler who served eight presidents. It has come under fire for what some say is it's rather questionable portrayal of former President Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy as being racially insensitive and for casting "Hanoi Jane" Fonda as the first lady. Supporters of President Reagan and veterans groups especially have criticized the film, with some actually calling for boycotts.
Though the film remained at No. 1 in sales this weekend, film critic Christian Toto says "The Butler," as most people are calling the movie, is benefiting from slight competition at the box office and advantageous timing this summer. "This time of year is generally considered a dumping ground for projects without major commercial appeal. It is also that rare movie that plays to more sophisticated moviegoers, unlike most of the material at the theater right now," said Toto.
The casting of "Hanoi Jane" to play Nancy Reagan in the movie has sparked a backlash among military veterans who cannot forgive her for her actions during the Vietnam War. Toto said, "I do think the team behind the movie made a mistake by casting people like Jane Fonda in the film. It stirred up a few news headlines, but it likely angered those who might otherwise check the movie out." Adding, "Fonda is in the film for less than a few minutes, so her talents weren't needed."
And in Elizabethtown, Ky., it would appear that one movie theater owner, Ike Boutwell, is none too fond of Fonda, telling The News-Enterprise that he would not show the movie, or any Jane Fonda film, in his cinema. Add to that the fact that Joe Davis, of the Veterans of Foreign Wars said, "We're telling people that if you don't like Jane Fonda, don't go see the movie." Personally, I wouldn't see one of her movies even if the darn thing was free! And they gave me free munchies!
And former Reagan associates – including former Attorney General Edwin Meese III, former White House chief of staff Ken Duberstein and former Sens. Paul Laxalt and Richard Schweiker have all come out and said that the depiction of the president as racially insensitive in the movie was inaccurate. Meese has said the true Ronald Reagan "treated everyone extremely well, including people who were in a position of assisting him in one way or another."
But look, when the best that the Democrats have to offer up as being examples of what a president should be, are such boobs as Carter, Clinton and Barry, you can't blame for trying to tear down Reagan. Even Kennedy was nowhere near the man they portray him as being. He was nothing more than a womanizer who was seriously hooked on some sort of pain medication. All the Democrats have are a bunch of pathetic losers. So they have to work to bring our guys down to their level.
No comments:
Post a Comment