Lee Daniels’ The Butler is a perfect example of a good historical drama that can be informative and emotional without being too emotionally draining or manipulative. A lot of viewers might pass this off as easy “Oscar bait,” and they couldn’t be more wrong. They’d also be missing out on one of the best films of the year, telling the story of a great man and his family and career.

The Butler tells the mostly true story of Cecil Gaines, a butler who started from the bottom and served under the tenure of eight U.S. presidents. More than just a biopic, The Butler highlights the ups and downs of the Gaines family, and this is all under the backdrop of many historical events in the 20th century. The film starts with Cecil working as a boy on a plantation with his parents. After a turn of events, he comes under the wing of a man who teaches him to be a butler. He gets noticed, and quickly he is starting work at the White House, under Eisenhower’s term.

Cecil’s life takes him through his life at the plantation as a young boy, all the way up to the 2008 election of Barack Obama. Under the service of eight presidents, Cecil is able to witness and is affected by many influential historical events. You’ll see through his eyes many important events in the Civil Rights Movement, such as the Nashville sit-ins and the integration of public schools. You’ll witness how his family is affected by these events. You’ll see how presidents handle and react to these events. More than just a history lesson, The Butler is a glimpse through the eyes of a man on the inside.

On the emotional front, The Butler is loaded. Because it’s a period piece, many viewers might connect the emotional impact of the film with its genre and dismiss it as “Oscar” bait. Whether or not that’s the intention is irrelevant. That’s not to say The Butler is never contrived, because that’s not true. There are signs of planning for big emotional impacts, but these are natural and necessary for you to connect and sympathize with the Gaines family. “Inspired” by true events, I’m fairly certain that some events among Cecil and his family are fictionalized, but it’s all for the sake of story. The film feels authentic, and that’s a good thing for a movie like this.

The film doesn’t shy away from showing you the harsh life back then, especially during the Civil Rights Movement. There are some uncomfortable and violent scenes, that can make anyone cringe. These scenes are important in depicting what the struggle was like for blacks in the 1950s and 60s. They help make the film feel more real.

The Butler has an enormous cast of very interesting characters. Cecil’s wife, Gloria, battles addictions herself as she experiences these events first and secondhand. Cecil and his wife have two children, both who are also affected by society in many ways, be it the Civil Rights Movement or the Vietnam War. Their oldest son, Louis, gets involved with the Freedom Riders, and later the Black Panthers. As his relationship with his family gets strained, Louis’s storyline is one of the most engrossing and relatable. At the White House, Cecil works with many other servers, who help him in his times of struggle and go with him through the presidents’ terms. Cecil starts working under President Eisenhower, and later Kennedy, Nixon, all the way up to Reagan. The presidents themselves all have varying amounts of screentime, but they are well-done and historically accurate. Even at times they add a little much-needed humor to the mix.

One great scene shows Cecil’s son Louis associating with the Freedom Riders. They meet in the basement of the university he attends, and they attend sit-ins and fight for their rights. Played in parallel with this scene is Cecil and his fellow butlers preparing for a meal. The contrast between the two scenes, one violent, the other calm and careful, help keep the pace of the film, and keeps the viewer intrigued.

The Butler has some of the best performances of the year. Cecil is portrayed with audacity by Forest Whitaker, who gives some of the best work of his career. His courage and ambition is seen through his eyes alone. Not nominating Whitaker would be a huge mistake on the Academy’s part. Equally matching his raw performance is Oprah Winfrey as his wife Gloria. Returning to the big screen, Winfrey plays a grieving wife, who is sure to be the crowd favorite, as she is the most sympathetic. A nomination for her wouldn’t be out of the picture either. Cuba Gooding Jr. and Lenny Kravitz shine as fellow White House butlers. The presidents themselves seem equally as miscast as they do well cast. Robin Williams, James Marsden, Alan Rickman, and more play the various commanders-in-chief. It’s kind of distracting seeing Severus Snape play Ronald Reagan, as viewers will associate the actor with their most well-known work, not who they are portraying now. Daniels should have casted lesser-known actors to portray the presidents, because 1) Playing the president can potentially be a star-making role, and 2) It will keep viewers from getting distracted by seeing A-list celebrities portray these figures. One wonders if their casting was simply for the star power alone, as it feels very gimmicky sometimes.

Lee Daniels’ The Butler is a fantastic view at a fantastic man. Contrived for the sake of story, with raw emotion and performances that keep it grounded, the film seems poised to make a splash this Oscar season. In spite of some miscasted presidents, The Butler has some of the best performances of the year, and is a perfect reason to go to the movies.

Overall: 3.5 stars out of 4