Lee Daniels' The Butler: New Title, New Poster, Same Movie
Friday, August 2, 2013 at 8:30PM Have you seen the new poster for Lee Daniels' The Butler? Here it is.
new poster and old poster
I like it and here's why: It looks more like a Lee Daniels movie than that stately original poster. The first poster could have been for any movie that was going the prestige FYC route. It could have been a film made by anyone, and probably someone less crazy than Lee Daniels. That's a safe assumption, statistically! Whether you love or hate his movies -- three to date: Shadowboxer, Precious, The Paperboy -- you have to admit that they're non-generic. They don't feel like they were made by committee. At all.
The silly war over the period drama's title concluded too quickly for me to finish my "Suggested Alternate Title" joke post (since I was doing mock posters. I promise it was funny. sniffle) but PERSONALITY is why I like the new poster and the retitling to Lee Daniels' The Butler.
The more people hear your name, you know? It's why hip hop artists say their name so much in their songs. It's why Tyler Perry puts his name before every title. It might be vanity, sure, but it's also savvy business. Once your famous enough you can do this even if you aren't the director which kinda sucks for the guy who did that job - see Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) which is actually a Henry Selick movie!
Lee Daniels presents... OprrraaaaaAAHHH
I've always wondered why studio marketing doesn't try to push director's names more. In this modern era where even amateurs understand the basics of personal branding, the studios are not capitalizing on or trying to build fanbases for their directors which seems like both a dumb and a dick move. Even a director as constantly successful as James Cameron often gets the "From the Director of..." without his name attached in commercials which is just stupid if you ask me. Everyone who has a unique vision, even if a lot of people hate that vision, should be trying to build a fanbase.
Reader Comments (14)
Oprah is the reason I will NOT be seeing Lee Daniels' The Butler......
The promo I've seen seems to be a little too "Saint Oprah" for my taste. The story, on the other hand, look interesting and Whitaker is always interesting to watch.
Lee Daniels should always include his name on his films so we know which ones to avoid.
Slightly intrigued by Oprah though but not enough to actually pay to see this film.
@Henry O--How funny, I thought the exact opposite. "Ugh Saint Forest...at least there's Oprah!"
As for the movie, Lee Daniels is an automatic ticket sold. But still, that boring trailer made me awfully nervous, so its nice to see them step back from swelling strings Oscar territory back to funky good times with Oprah territory, which is much closer to where I live.
Oprah was on Late Show with David Letterman Thursday night, and she was practically begging people to go see the movie, which usually means that it stinks.
I think I'll pass.
I wholeheartedly LOL-ed at "She acts?" :D
I thought she said that after the shit storm that was "Beloved", she would never act again?
Henry O- from what I've heard, she's anything but "Saint Oprah" in the movie. Fear not.
I'll probably wait until this is streaming on Netflix, like Daniels' other films. He's a fascinating director who manages to get some fun, off-kilter performances, but as a whole I'm lukewarm on his movies.
I don't think there are enough distinct, brand-worthy directors today to pull off having their names above the title. How many Capras or Hitchcocks or Peckinpah's do we have today? Even with Daniels, his ascendance to that positions feels premature. And it's not just about talent--you need the clout and the personality to pull it off.
I love actress Oprah, a part of me wishes her talk show / mogul status never came to fruition and that she would have acted in more films after The Color Purple and The Women of Brewster Place. The less said about Beloved the better ;-)
Beloved's an art film. Dismissed for being a difficult sit and vanity for its star/producer. Because of Oprah's celebrity a proper reevaluation of the film is generations away.
Has anyone besides Roger Friedman (paid shill) see or reviewed this film? I am a no until someone credible tells me that The Butler by Lee Daniels is not a complete disaster.
I believe there's an embargo on reviews of the movie for the time being. I'll see it. I liked Precious and I loved the Paperboy, plus I'm really curious to see the parade of near-cameos as historical figures - especially Jane Fonda and John Cusack as Nancy Reagan and Richard Nixon, respectively.
"I've always wondered why studio marketing doesn't try to push director's names more."
M. Night Shyamalan is somewhere starting an online petition about this.
Also what do you think of Tom Pettyfer's name not on the poster despite being featured in the trailer?