The Help

My Grade:  A+

I “hear good things” about movies a lot, but sometimes they don’t live up to the hype.  The Help does.  It is a powerful, touching film that appears to be aimed at the female demographic, but it is applicable to people of any gender or race.  And if you aren’t one for a movie with a message, The Help is just a good story... but it does have a message.

    

First, let’s talk about acting.  I, like Jim Carrey, love Emma Stone and am glad she is finally getting the recognition she deserves because she is quite talented.  She is what drew me to this movie, but she isn’t what kept me watching.  Viola Davis (Eat Pray Love, Knight And Day) gives an emotionally gripping performance that will blow you away.  She can make you laugh, make you cry... she does it all in this movie.  Little known Octavia Spencer also owns the screen as hot-head maid, Minny Jackson.  These two and Emma Stone come together to lead a cast that is very good from top to bottom.    

    

The story takes a little while to get going, but it is an emotional one.  Once we get to know the main players, we are thrown into the depressing world of The Help.  Despite the sad lives these maids lead, though, they do their best to keep their heads up and keep a lighthearted spirit alive.  This makes them so endearing that we start to despise the white ladies that mistreat and take advantage of them.  What really pulls at your heart strings is that these black women are such great, nice people and are doing everything that their white employers are either unable, or unwilling to do... yet they are mistreated.  It is a bleak look at America during the civil rights movement and it will break your heart.

    

Emma Stone’s character, Skeeter, is masterfully crafted by writer/director Tate Taylor (based on Kathryn Stocket’s novel).  She is not afraid to go against her socialite friends in order to do the right thing.  Her backstory is also beautifully revealed throughout the movie without being long-winded or dull (like a lot of exposition is).  Most importantly, her motivations to write the book she feels she has to write are so deep-seeded and real that we can’t help but root for her.  And Stone is perfect for this role because she is so likable and real.  If Stone is, in real life, at all like the characters she plays, I can see why everyone loves her.

    

The film is not just a tear-jerker, though.  There is genuinely funny comedy here.  Most of it stems from unexpected relationships.  One such relationship garners tons of laughs:  Minny and Mrs. Celia (Jessica Chastain).  Mrs. Celia turns out to be the only good natured white woman in town, other than Skeeter (Stone).  When she and the hard-nosed Minny get together, hilarity ensues.  Under these laughs, though, there is constant tension which makes for some great scenes.

    

My biggest qualm with The Help is runtime (which if that is the only complaint... they’re doing something right).  The 146 minutes feels like 146 minutes.  Part of it is because some parts are so dark and sad that you feel bogged down in it all.  Also, though, the beginning is a bit too drawn out.  Jumping in a little later in the story would be better.  It may hinder some of the character development, though, which would be awful since these characters are so beautifully complex.

    

Overall, The Help is emotionally manipulative (in a good way) and will make you think.  It is also well crafted, making it a force to be reckoned with among this year’s films.  It is one of the best I have seen this year and hopefully will get the recognition it deserves across more demographics than just middle aged women.  It is out of most theaters (except second-run theaters... I love a good three dollar theater), so rent it when it comes out on DVD.  It’s well worth it.