davidh777

Synopsis: Based on one of the most talked about books in years and a #1 New York Times best-selling phenomenon, "The Help" stars Emma Stone ("Easy A") as Skeeter, Academy Award®–nominated Viola Davis ("Doubt") as Aibileen and Octavia Spencer as Minny—three very different, extraordinary women in Mississippi during the 1960s, who build an unlikely friendship around a secret writing project that breaks societal rules and puts them all at risk. From their improbable alliance a remarkable sisterhood emerges, instilling all of them with the courage to transcend the lines that define them, and the realization that sometimes those lines are made to be crossed —even if it means bringing everyone in town face-to-face with the changing times. Deeply moving, filled with poignancy, humor and hope, "The Help" is a timeless and universal story about the ability to create change.

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Didn't see a thread for this? We can close if it's a dupe. I'm sure I'll end up seeing it because my wife loved the book and is very excited about it.

MrSmearkase

I'm kind of looking forward to this movie. The cast is great, and I dig the trailer.

Mabuse

Just another middle brow, ultra-safe, feel good movie. A filmmaker with some balls would make a film about contemporary upper middle class women and their relationship with their hispanic domestic help. That might be something worth taking the time to watch. Nobody has a black maid anymore. This seems like the "bravest" film since Driving Miss Daisy.

Groucho

Based on the trailer, this film has the groundbreaking message that "racism is bad". Luckily, there's a spunky progressive white person who comes in to save the day!

davidh777

They'd need a different book, or a serious revision, for that

RichC2

John fucking mayer!

Solid Snake

That's what I thought. It just seemed like a big feel good kind of film. Not really making people realize and face the issues at hand. I wanted something that mattered in terms of the subject at hand.

Has anyone read the book? Does it tackle the issues in serious and pressing manner? or what? Just a feel good book?

davidh777

You might have to ask on a forum that has more girls on it.

My wife read the book and loved it, and she's read a fair amount of American fiction, but didn't mention the seriousness or pressingess.

I just searched the Books Forum (I know, ), and other than a couple neutral mentions (just saying this book was a bestseller, etc.) in a thread called "Why Don't People Read More Female Authors?", this was the only post:

Solid Snake

wow...

ask your wife btw...cuz the way I'm reading from what I can see is that. White lady makes black maids voices be heard in her book..that shakes up the community or whatever..but...it's not real. Seems like cop out of a topic.

Groucho

My wife loves this book. She also loved Lord of the Rings, so there you go.

Obi-Wanma

So I should go into this movie expecting something similar to Lord of the Rings? Sweet! I'm there

clckworang

One maid to rule them all!

davidh777

Yep, except the orcs and elves who help Saruman and Elrond will be African American

RichC2

Oh and they talk in place of walking.

davidh777

I had my wife read this thread. She read, shook her head, and declined to comment.

Solid Snake

Sooooo are we right?

MrSmearkase

Saw this today. Great movie, and the performances are great all around, especially Octavia Spencer and Bryce Dallas Howard.

Patman

Amongst the female-laden cast, "The Help" features some sparkling performances, and a good script that keeps the film going, even with its long running time (around 135 minutes). Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer are really good in the film as the 2 leading maids dealing with racism in Mississippi in the mid-1960s, as were Emma Stone, Jessica Chastain, and Bryce Dallas Howard. Emma's character, Skeeter, freshly graduated from college and looking for literary work, lands a job answering an advice column at the local newspaper. Then as the undercurrents of racial inequality inspire change in black-white relations, Skeeter comes up with an idea to write a book from the point of view of the black maids who not only did the household chores, but also rear white children in the households in an unspoken fashion. Skeeter was also raised by her maid, and understood the culture, but also acknowledged the social injustice of the race relations. Skeeter has a tough time finding other maids willing to come forward and speak of their experiences. EVentually the book does happen, and things would never be the same again.

I give it 3 stars, or a grade of B.

davidh777

I liked the movie. It was definitely along the lines of "plucky white progressive opposes icky racism at the risk of ostracizing herself from white community," the story was interesting and the cast was good. Also, while I've seen many depictions of slavery, I don't know if I've seen the relationship between homeowner and staff that appears to be the next step down. And this was the '60s, so not all that long ago.

I'd give it 3.5 stars out of 5.

Throwing Copper

It's nice to see Emma Stone in something that's not a goofball comedy.

Most people I've talked to enjoyed this film, even the men.

Giles

personally I thought she was overacting. Acting like a mega-bitch really aint that hard.

Boba Fett

A pandering, overly-long (by a good 45-minutes) TV-movie that made it onto the big screen. The only thing separating this from THE KING'S SPEECH which I also felt was a glorified TV-movie, is that no one in THE HELP gives a quality, credible performance.

A C (2.0/5.0) and that's probably a little too generous.

FuQ

So racism is bad? Thanks The Help!

Charlie Goose

Decent movie, with excellent performances all around. Unfortunately, it's got no teeth. It's the lightest film about the equal rights movement I've ever seen. Super Terrific Caucasian Girl writing about the troubles of de po' colored folk. How mighty white of her.

Even after her book comes out, the characters barely mention the poor treatment of the maids, and would rather laugh at the story of
Which is the dominant focus of the latter part of the film.
Not only does that bit of broad comedy take you out of the movie, but if that really happened in 1964 Mississippi, you can imagine the result.
This is just a well acted feel good piece of fluff.
It completely whitewashes the truth.

Dragon Tattoo

You could tell this movie was written by white people.