Following this summer’s lousy popcorn fare comes a treat with meat on it. Director Lee Daniels’ “The Butler.” True story of Eugene Allen (Cecil Gaines in the film), who served eight White House presidents.
Oscar winner who played dictator Idi Amin in “The Last King of Scotland” Forest Whitaker plays the Butler. Newly slim, nearly obscured by Oprah’s hair, which was wider than her behind: “I’ve already seen the film twice but never in an incarnation like this big Ziegfeld screen. I read for the part. I’d never played that age range before. I was nervous. Very nervous. I wanted to dive in. Then Lee said: ‘The chemistry’s right.’ ”
Oprah — pink beads, shiny heels, three diamond bangles, bosom-size jewelled ring — and Stedman: “Listen, why did I get this part? I was abroad when Lee pushed me. He called and said I had to make more movies, and I had to do this one. I auditioned with Forest and all the other guys. Twice. In Hollywood. At the Chateau Marmont.”
Lee, who directed 2009’s multi-Oscar’d “Precious”: “This was not easy to make. It nearly didn’t get made. Laura Ziskin, who produced things like ‘Spider-Man,’ was behind it. On her dying bed, she told me, ‘You must do this. Must get this made.’ I tried. I kept trying. We couldn’t raise the money. Thought we had it, then didn’t have it.
“The story’s segregation, prejudice, hate, race and, eventually, firsthand witness to this history is a job server at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Studios said this couldn’t be done.”
Liev Schreiber’s Lyndon Baines Johnson. “I’d never met LBJ. I certainly didn’t know him then as well as I know him now. Start with the Internet.
“Wikipedia. His library. Tons of audio and video. He was neurotic in recording his phone calls. Studying him, his intimidating character became totally open. But I’m only in the film three minutes.”
Jane Fonda, with also only three minutes: “I’m Nancy Reagan, which makes people smile due to our political differences. Mrs. Reagan was very good about it when she heard.” Nifty in black sequins and specs, Jane nursed a post-surgery arm ahead of — with her own harmed arm — the movie’s slave hand Mariah Carey.
Cuba Gooding: “I play one of the butlers. I’ve been to the White House four times. First time, I was really overwhelmed. Thank God nothing went wrong and I made no mistakes. You’re always on good behavior at these things.”
Who Lenny Kravitz plays, who knows? Inside more jewelry than Oprah, he said: “Greatest host of all? Clinton. We’d screen movies. He himself served the popcorn.”
Alongside Terrence Howard, who plays somebody, another somebody mumbled: “Vanessa Redgrave’s fun on the set. Always joking. But the camera rolls, she’s right and ready.” Terrence, in blue embroidered tux: “With Obama I discussed my South Carolina diamond company Scio’s water purification and got pointed to stuff we could do. You learn fast the fact that you must work with limitations.”
The premiere was Monday. Stars are still arriving on the red carpet. But I left. Enough.
Here’s what they’re telling me
Award-winning Derek McLane designed last year’s Oscars sets. I’m announcing they will soon announce he’s doing next year’s Oscars sets . . . I also announce already checking out West 57th’s fabulous new restaurant Betony were chefs Todd English and Danny Meyer. Plus socialites John and Susan Gutfreund and designer Ralph Rucci. The place is just weeks old.
Bad bad Leroy Brown is now bad bad Alex Rodriguez. People, stop wishing him a bad end, lonely existence or Oshkosh stockade.
PEDs do not create health. Docs say bones could disintegrate. Muscles could tear. Private parts could go real private. Not any happy, pain-free carefree future for a terminal gigolo.
Our town rapper Jay Z’s song with the lyrics “I got 99 problems but a b – – – – ain’t one.” Could that ‘B’ stand for his Yankee ballplayer pal?
Only in New York, kids, only in New York.