The Help

Welcome to another episode Lights....Camera....Popcorn!

Today's review is The Help.

Directed by Tate Taylor.

Written by Tate Taylor & Kathryn Stockett.

Based on the book "The Help" written by Kathryn Stockett.

Review #134

MPAA Rating: PG-13 for thematic material.

Runtime: 146 min

Cast

Emma Stone ...Eugenia 'Skeeter' Phelan

Viola Davis ...Aibileen Clark

Bryce Dallas Howard ...Hilly Holbrook

Octavia Spencer ...Minny Jackson

Jessica Chastain ...Celia Foote

Ahna O'Reilly ...Elizabeth Leefolt

Allison Janney ...Charlotte Phelan

Anna Camp ...Jolene French

Chris Lowell ...Stuart Whitworth

Cicely Tyson ...Constantine Jefferson

Mike Vogel ...Johnny Foote

Sissy Spacek ...Missus Walters

If you looked at the description for the rating of this film. It says "Thematic Material." I had no idea what that meant. I've never seen a film rating described that way.

I certainly know now. 

Plot 


An aspiring author during the civil rights movement of the 1960's decides to write a book detailing the African American Maid's point of view on the White families they work for, and they hardships they go through on a day to day basis.

The Help can be reviewed in 1 word. That word is EMOTIONAL!

It should come as no surprise to anyone how the world operated during the 60's in the Jim Crow south. Racism and inequality was magnified 1,000% down there and this film has no problem taking us back to that time. And reminding us (not that we needed it) how ass backward, ignorant and savage the mindset those privileged bigots displayed and displayed with pride.

It was the presentation of the lack of respect for the maid's basic humanity that constantly fueled a rage in me while watching. Every time I saw Hilly Holbrook's holier than thou facial expressions or her thumbing her nose toward the help it just infuriated me. How a person could treat another with such disrespect due to some misguided sense of entitlement was tough to watch. This was obviously the intent of the film and at least for me mission accomplished.

Now of course on the other side of the coin, The Help does a great job relieving you of the anger towards the mistreatment of the maids when the book finally comes out and these prissy bitches finally get their comeuppance. The one thing that all of those women had in common was their reputation's as "upstanding" citizen's. Especially Hilly. Seeing her embarrassed and disgraced brought a smile to my face 5 miles wide. I have never felt such satisfaction towards a character getting what's coming to them in a long long time. My only regret was that Hilly didn't suffer more. That might sound mean of me but if you see this movie you will feel the same as I do.

OK. Enough of the story. Let's talk about the performances which were OUTSTANDING! All the way down the line. There were 4 that in my mind stood out.

I'll begin with Emma Stone. From jump street, Skeeter wasn't the typical spoiled, misguided southern belle. Like everyone else she was raised by a black maid (played by the wonderful Cicely Tyson) but she wasn't a second class citizen. At least not to Skeeter. Constantine like so many of the maids back then and even now are the child's REAL mother and that bond was evident. That bond is what gave Skeeter the respect she has for all of the maids and servants working on her property and around the town. Skeeter sees them as PEOPLE. No label's are placed on them by her. Skeeter is a tough girl who speaks her mind and doesn't turn a blind eye to progress. In fact she supports and roots for it. That was the inspiration for the book and Stone does a great job capturing the passion and determination that Skeeter had for telling the story and telling it the right way.

Next up we have Octavia Spencer as Minny. Her performance is getting some serious Oscar chatter and it's well deserved. I don't think I am talking out of school here by saying that this is her breakout role and biggest for that matter. For most of her career she has played minor characters in small roles. She's actually more known on the small screen. Well after this performance her status as a character actress in films will disappear and it's about time. Her talent shines through here playing the gruff yet loving Minny. She was Hilly's maid in the film so needless to say the bigotry towards her and her profession ran rampant. I'm not going to give this away but what Minny does to Hilly toward the end was just MAGNIFICENT! 

You go girl!

Moving on to the film's villain Hilly. Bryce Dallas Howard was so EVIL that if you don't hate her you either share her beliefs or are a soul less being. Her lack of respect for Minny and the maids was just repulsive. This of course was the intent which is also what made the performance so memorable and terrific. She played the villain so well that all I cared about was waiting to see what happens to her at the end. It's a shame that someone so pretty had to be so ugly for this role but she nailed it. Well done.

Last but certainly not least we have the heavy hitter Viola Davis as Aibileen. Viola is no stranger to standout performances. Thanks to her Oscar nomination for her small role in Doubt. She was in just 1 scene but it was strong enough to earn a Best Supporting Actress nod. Her performance in The Help is greater in both screen time and depth. The maids were forced to suppress their true feelings toward their employers out of fear of unemployment or worse being black listed from future job opportunities. That suppression was clear as day on Viola's face throughout. The disdain she has for the work, the people, the struggle and lack of options run through her faster than our blood flows through our veins. These women spend a long time enduring both physical and emotional pain working for people that couldn't care if they were alive or dead. Viola does a masterful job keeping a smile on her face when she would rather put a baseball bat to the back of her boss's head. The only love that Aibileen shows is for the child she cares for. Which was a very touching and important aspect to her performance. I promise you will leave the movie remembering the following 3 sentences.

You is kind. You is smart. You is important.

In fact that's exactly what this movie is. It's kind for reminding us that people who serve us everyday DEMAND our respect and gratitude. It's smart for showing us that no matter how bad a situation gets change is always possible. Finally it's important because we as a society sometimes lose sight of our history because we are all too busy living in the now. The Help shows you that it's vital to maintain connections to the past via friends or loved ones that have lived in that time. I had a great conversation with my grandmother after seeing this movie and she made me appreciate even further what she had to go through as a Latina back during the civil rights movement.

If there's any gripe to make about this wonderful film it's probably the run time. It's a little long and at times feels like it's ended before it ends. Again this is a very minor complaint towards a film that has made the list of not only best of the summer but possibly best of 2011.

On the 5 star scale. The Help gets the full house 5 stars with a "Worth Every Penny!" recommendation. This film is REQUIRED viewing by ALL of you. It's worth your time and money.

That's a wrap for today. Up next is The Debt.

Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"

"D"