The Vegas Voice 3-21

By: Renee Riendeau / Movie Revelations
In 2013 Wil Haygood wrote a historical
drama called “A Butler Well Served By This
Election.” It was a true story about an African-
American butler named Eugene Allen who
served under eight Presidents as an employee
of the White House staff.
The movie “The Butler” (on Netflix) is set
against historical events but the title character
and his family are fictionalized. Only the
skeleton story of Allen’s novel is there. Director
Lee Daniels and script writer Danny Strong
transformed Allen into Cecil Gaines for the
film, played by Forest Whitaker.
As a young man, Cecil Gaines, living in the south among cotton
fields, witnessed both of his sharecropper parents brutalized by their
white boss. He left the south and found employment at an elite hotel in
Washington D.C.
His reputation gets him an opportunity of a lifetime and is hired to
be a butler at the White House. For three decades and eight Presidents
he had a front row seat to history and the inner working of the Oval
Office.
His commitment to the first family turns to tension at home
By: Pat Alexander / Art of Entertaining
You probably know I have favorite holidays,
favorite seasons, and even favorite months.
But did you know I have favorite days? In March,
it’s the 17 th , St. Patrick’s’ Day, celebrated with parades, green beer, Irish
soda bread, and corned beef and cabbage.
It’s special to me because it’s my birthday, hence the name Pat. I was
named Patricia because my grandmother said you did not disrespect
the saints and name a child born on St. Patty’s Day anything but
Patricia. My mother, being a dutiful daughter, complied.
Her first choice was Jacqueline; nice name, but I’m really glad she
didn’t choose it. Having been born on a holiday, everyone celebrates
with me. I get to wear one of my favorite colors, eat my favorite foods,
and old friends contact me from all over.
It’s been my habit to celebrate almost the whole month long, since I
don’t think one day is long enough to celebrate any birthday. My family
cooks dinners for me, usually over the course of weeks.
Friends take me out to my favorite restaurants. I receive some really
great gifts, enjoy corned beef and cabbage made by my sister and eat
pasta and peas, a childhood favorite that somehow tastes even better
on my birthday.
One birthday I had an invitation to the Lord Mayor’s Ball in Dublin. I
was so excited, but let business interfere and cancelled the trip.
Would I do that again? No! But I’m older and wiser. And if you know
the Lord Mayor, please tell him I’m still interested.
18
The Butler
It’s The Wearing of the Green
March 2021
alienating his drunken wife Gloria, played by Oprah Winfrey and a son
Lewis, played by David Oyelowo. They side with the anti-establishment
and becomes strong activists for the Civil Rights Movement.
During his 34 year tenure at the White House, Cecil experienced five
important historical events; the assassination
of JFK, the Voting Rights Act of 1965,
assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., the
Vietnam War, and the resignation of Richard
Nixon.
By the end of this movie it was hard not
to feel moved. There were highs and lows in
the script that were genuinely rousing, yet
sentimental.
The cast is over the top: Forest, Oprah,
David plus other stars - Cuba Gooding Jr.,
Robin Williams, Jane Fonda, Terrence Howard, Lenny Kravitz, James
Marsden, Vanessa Redgrave, and many more.
The Butler is both informative and entertaining. I highly recommend
it and give it a Renee movie review rating of 5 out of 5.
Renee Riendeau is the movie critic for “Renee’s Revelations”
on Anthem Alive SCA-TV. As a dog sitter she operates “ Renee’s
Roommates” out of her home and can be reached at
rriendeau@aol.com.
I asked my sister for her recipe and she shared it with me (and that
means with all of you, of course). Try it. It’s easy and delicious.
JO ANN’S CORNED BEEF AND CABBAGE
Place 3 lbs. flat cut corned beef in crock pot, add pickling spices from
package, 2 bottles of beer and water to cover. Cook on high for 3-1/2
hours, turn to low and cook for a total of 5 hours. Remove meat, slice
and keep warm in foil.
In the meantime, in separate pot, in water and flavored broth from
the corned beef pot, boil small red potatoes, baby carrots and green
cabbage, quartered. Test vegetables for doneness. Serve with butter and
mustard.
Pat Alexander writes about all things home. She is well known for
her cooking, parties and interior design, and consults on kitchen
and bath remodels.