The Help

This movie is set in 1960s Jackson, Mississippi and tells the story of an aspiring young Southern journalist who wants to tell what it is like to work as a housemaid/domestic helper from the black woman's perspective. Skeeter, whose friends are busy spending their days in a privileged world of playing bridge, serving in the Junior League, and entertaining, wants nothing more than to gain experience as a writer so she can go to New York and work for a large publishing company. Skeeter's friends are married and living in their perfect world of owning the right house, in the right neighborhood, having babies, and depending on their black maids to do the work of raising their children, cleaning their homes, doing their shopping and cooking their meals. Skeeter doesn't date or have a boyfriend; her goal is to become a writer, which is an embarrassment to her mother, and scandalous to her friends. Despite the times, Skeeter has a deep sense of how wrong the blacks are treated and she is both liked and respected by those who work for her own family as well as those who work for her friends. This is not the case with the snobby Miss Hilly and Miss Elizabeth, who both view their maids as less than human because they are black. Miss Hilly draws up an initiative to require all households who employ black help to build a special toilet for them because "they carry different diseases from us". This was a time when blacks were prohibited from using the same public toilets as whites, and were also forbidden from drinking from the same water fountain, as well as many other discriminatory practices that made Mississippi such a shameful bastion of racial segregation and discrimination. Aibileen and Minnie are the two maids that work for Miss Elizabeth and Miss Hilly, and are best friends who share their personal sorrows with each other. After Miss Hilly catches Minnie in her bathroom during a violent thunderstorm that prevents her from going outside to use the toilet, she fires Minnie and spreads lies that will insure Minnie is unable to find employment anywhere else in town. Aibileen tells Minnie that Celia Foote, an outcast from Hilly's social circle, and the woman who is married to Hilly's past boyfriend, is looking for help. Minnie, desperate for a job to support her children, swallows her pride and goes to work for Celia. It turns out Celia lives in a huge old mansion that her husband's family have owned for generations. She is a simple and sweet girl raised on the wrong side of the tracks who wants nothing more than to find a place in the world her husband was born into. She accepts Minnie as an equal, something that immediately raises Minnie's suspicions because of the prevailing racial prejudices in the Deep South against blacks. Both of them being outcasts from the circle of the Miss Hilly's world, and with reputations that are tarnished by Miss Hilly, they forge a bond slowly that will benefit them both in unique ways. Aibileen is approached by Skeeter to tell what it is like to work as a maid and, although at first resistant to the idea, she reluctantly begins to open up about the things she has experienced over many years working in the homes of white women and raising their children. It is a dangerous thing for both Skeeter and Aibileen in the climate of racial prejudice that exists, and they must keep their project secret. Skeeter has promised that she will never use Aibileen's real name, nor her own as the writer, and encourages Aibileen to see if Minnie might be willing to also tell of her perspective as to what it has been like to work as a maid for white families. Minnie is bitter over what she has suffered at the hands of the cruel Hilly, and grudgingly agrees to share as long as her name isn't used. Before long their trust in Skeeter and the years of resentment they have felt over their treatment leads Aibileen and Minnie to give up the secrets of the white women of Jackson as Skeeter sympathetically listens and pens their stories for a book titled "The Help". Minnie's desire to get revenge on Hilly leads her to carry out an act she calls "the terrible awful", something that is so outrageous that she is ashamed to ever tell anyone what she has done. It also is hilarious, and Hilly's slightly senile and forgetful mother witnesses it and laughs uproariously at Minnie's revenge, but this leads Hilly to put her mother in a nursing home because she is afraid she will tell everyone in town what happened and make her the laughing stock of Jackson. Eventually when racial tensions and injustices, including the murder of Medgar Evers, lead to the brutal treatment of one of the maids in Jackson, it serves as the catalyst that encourages the other maids of Jackson to open up to Skeeter about the way they have been treated over the years while working for white families, and they agree to spill their secrets, some of which are terribly sad, some of which are bittersweet, some of which are hilarious, and some of which are damning for the white families. Minnie tells Aibileen about "the terrible awful" she did to Miss Hilly and each maid knows that they have "insurance" to protect them since Miss Hilly would never let anyone believe the stories are set in Jackson once they are published, because Minnie's story of "the terrible awful", which is included in the many stories that will come to be told in "The Help", would make Hilly the joke of Jackson if anyone ever knew what Minnie did to her. As their stories are written, Skeeter prepares to include her own story of Constantine, the black maid who raised her from infancy, and how Skeeter's mother betrayed the loyalty and love Constantine had for the Phelan family, especially for Skeeter. Once finished and sent off to the publishing house in New York, the manuscript is hastily published to coincide with Dr. Martin Luther King's march on Washington, something that will bring the civil rights movement to the forefront of America as the struggle for racial equality tears at the fabric of the Old South, revealing the humiliating treatment of blacks which has been kept largely untold in other parts of the country. Skeeter's book comes at a time ripe for the telling. Once it hits stores in Jackson, everyone is buying it and wondering where the stories were originated because they seem to divulge things that fit with events among Jackson's white families although no mention is made of the author (simply "anonymous") or the town where the stories took place. As more and more interest in the book develops, Hilly buys it and when she reads about "the terrible awful" she knows Skeeter has written the book, but she tells everyone the book can't possibly be about Jackson. She confronts Skeeter about the book but Skeeter stands her ground and tells Hilly she can't prove anything, and Hilly can't - unless she wants to make herself and every other white family in her social circle look bad and expose the secrets which they had assumed would always be safe in the climate of white superiority, where the lives of their black maids could be ruined for the slightest reason. Now everything has changed and the tables have turned! Finally, Celia Foote decides to make an appearance at the annual Christmas Junior League gala so she can tell Miss Hilly that she never stole away her old boyfriend, because she believes this is why Miss Hilly hates her and has deliberately excluded her from being in the Junior League and the circle of wealthy white women that form Hilly and Elizabeth's coterie of friends. Little does she realize that she is about to make herself look like a fool among the snobby women of Jackson, even though she is married to the influential son of an old monied family. She is also about to discover that she will never be accepted, even if she tries to tell Hilly of her innocence in Hilly's breakup with Johnny. Although it makes for a sad and yet funny scene, the wheels are set in motion for everything to change as the The Help's stories circulate among Jackson's citizens and expose the terrible secrets and the injustices toward blacks that have been buried in secrecy for so long Throughout the movie are moments of extreme hilarity and moments of great sadness as the story unfolds, but the ending is one that provides redemption for Skeeter, Aibileen, Minnie, and even Celia Foote. The strength and empowerment that comes to those who have never known anything but powerlessness is the redemption, and the beginning of hope for a better life in the changing times of the civil rights movement. Having grown up as a white child in the South during the time this story takes place, I remember so vividly how racial segregation was - the signs that separated the use of public facilities for blacks and whites, as well as a time when blacks were not allowed to ride anywhere except the back of buses. It is a time that is burned into my mind and makes me deeply ashamed of the degrading treatment blacks suffered at the hands of whites. Even as a child, I remember the downcast eyes and the role of subservience that defined how blacks were expected to behave in the presence of whites. There is no exaggeration in this book as to the black experience in the Deep South. The ending of the movie was so uplifting as I'm The Living Proof is sung by Mary J. Blige! It is simply a marvelous movie. I highly recommend it!

After hearing about the incredible reviews that The Help was getting in theaters, I decided I should probably read the book then see the movie (which is what I usually do). First off, I LOVED the book! It has become one of my favorite books of all time. I loved how it is written in the POV of the three main characters, Aibileen, Minny and Skeeter. Such detail and so much history goes into the book of what really went on in Mississippi in the 1960s. Now on to the movie. Of course there were pieces left out of the book (which always happens...and I really don't like that), but in this case, it worked in a way because some of the scenes from the book were in different places in the movie which I thought worked rather well (i.e. Minny telling Skeeter & Aibileen about the "special pie" for Hilly before telling Celia). Other than that, I personally adored the movie. The actors are amazing and everyone fit their roles perfectly. Although I adore Meryl Streep, I really think that Viola Davis deserved the Oscar for her performance as Aibileen. She was just...I can't even put into words how incredible she was! She really brought the character to life and I just loved the way in which she narrated the movie. Until Doubt in 2008 I didn't really know who Viola Davis was; now she is up there as one of my favorite actresses! Octavia Spencer who plays Minny was GREAT! She truly deserved her Oscar for her role. When I was reading the book, I kept picturing her as Minny. I already knew that she played her in the movie, but it was just so easy to picture her in the book as well. She told the truth and didn't care who heard her! My favorite scene was definitely when she brought Hilly the pie...that special pie just for Hilly. I won't say any more just in case people have not seen the movie or read the book; but if/when you do, you will just burst out laughing! Emma Stone was brilliant as Skeeter (Eugenia). I had never really seen her in anything serious like this before. She has mainly been in comedies so at first when I heard she was in this movie, I will admit I was a little skeptical. I am so glad I was proven wrong. Emma portrays Skeeter to a "T" in my opinion. From her insanely curly hair to her charm to the way she would mouth off at Hilly or her mother at times was great. I do wish that we got to see a few more scenes of Skeeter and Stuart though. And I wish we got to see her telling him about the book instead of his reaction. But all in all, Emma gets an 'Easy A' (haha). Allison Janney...oh my goodness. I think that the role of Charlotte was made for her. She was really lovable at times and then you just wanted to yell at her (especially when you find out about Constantine). I do wish that there was more of a build up to Skeeter finding out about her mother's condition rather than it being known to her already, but I guess that's what you have to do in movies. Still, it was quite effective. Especially their talk towards the end. And then of course there is Bryce Dallas Howard. Oh Hilly. Bryce was simply brilliant in portraying the villainess here. She was just as sarcastic, rude, and stuck up as she was in the book. I do wish that there was a scene (I think there may have been but it was deleted) where she convinces Elizabeth (the woman Aibileen works for) to get an outdoor bathroom for Aibileen. However it was mentioned in another scene after the bathroom was put in. Bryce really sold the character here and really made you hate her. At times I forgot I was watching a movie! I cannot recall their names, but the two little girls who played Mae Mobley (or Baby Girl as Aibileen calls her) were terrific. They could not have been more than 3 years old when this movie was made and they were simply adorable. Like the title of my review, that is my favorite line she says with 'Aibee'. If you loved the book, chances are you will love the movie too. Of course the book has a lot more detail, but this is just a magical movie that is both dramatic and comedic at times and really tells the stories of what it was probably like for maids in the 1960s in the south.

One of the best films ever made. If you want to understand what level of ignorance and cruelty kept black people oppressed for so long, you need to see this film. Bryce Dallas Howard is a nasty, beautiful villainess you will love to hate. Skeeter is brave and strong. Aibileen, Constantine, Minny, and every lady who made up the cast of The Help--phenomenal, believable, heart and gut-wrenching, flawless performances. It doesn't get better than this. If you want to begin to understand what sparked the development of the Civil Rights Movement and how it was shaped by bloodshed as well as triumph, you must see this film. Recommended to everyone. Well done!

This movie is SO GOOD! It gives you a very good idea of how hard it was for housekeepers many years ago. I highly recommend it!

"The Help" is one of those films I can watch over and over. After seeing it at the theater and about five times (so far) on TV, I cannot imagine any other actresses playing any of the roles. All were exceptional and worthy of the many accolades and rewards they received for the film. Emma Stone was overshadowed by some of the showier roles of her co-stars, but she gave a great performance as Skeeter. The scene with her mother (played by Allison Janney) where the two discuss the fate of their former maid, Constantine, brings tears to my eyes every time. An actress other than Bryce Dallas Howard, as the contemptible Hilly, may have played the role as a one-note cliche. But Howard's portrayal of Hilly's racism was fantastic. At times, she seethes with outright rage; at other times, we merely see it simmering beneath the surface. But she is always frighteningly believable. Howard makes Hilly both detestable and pitiable; her final scene made me hurt, albeit just a little, for Hilly. Jessica Chastain broke out in 2011, due in large part to her role as the innocent and unaffected Celia. Her scenes with her maid, Minny (Octavia Spencer), were some of my favorites in the film. One can only hope that the trusting, respectful, and affectionate relationship depicted by the pair truly existed in 1960's Mississippi. Saving the best for last: Octavia Spencer and Viola Davis. These two shine both individually and in their depictions of their close friendship. Spencer earned her Supporting Actress Oscar with her feisty, fierce performance and with the best lines in the film: "Minny don't burn fried chicken." Davis, in the starring role as Aibileen, won a slew of awards but lost out on the Oscar to Meryl Streep. She perfectly portrayed Aibileen's unwavering strength and dignity, even in the face of outrageously racist abuse. For a film threaded with racism throughout, I was surprised at how much I laughed. In fact, "The Help" portrays humor better than many conventional comedies. We also see the damage caused by all degrees of racism. Obviously, there is Hilly's overt variety at one end of the spectrum which seems rooted in ignorance, fear, and insecurity. At the other end of the spectrum is Allison Janney as Charlotte. We never see Charlotte interact one-on-one with a black character, but I would guess Charlotte would behave with respect and kindness in this situation. We do, however, see Charlotte succumb to a kind of racist peer pressure, and it's awful to watch. One could argue (and I would) that Charlotte's behavior is worse than Hilly's, as her actions cannot be explained away by stupidity. "The Help" is one of the best films I've seen in years. So much warmth and laughter with this exceptional cast, and I recommend it highly.

Great movie

Nice movie

Few films have the power to make me cry. There are the rare ones out there that have made me misty, sometimes even managing to encourage a tear or two to roll down my cheek. There are also few films adapted from books I've read of which I've not been disappointed by the result, however small or great. A film's impact, however, becomes abundantly clear when the audience remains in their seats in poignant silence nearly ten minutes after the end credits have started rolling, so moved by what they've seen that they take that much time to reflect and/or regain their composure. This is the point at which film transcends it medium and becomes art. Laughter, tears, and catharsis - this was my experience seeing "The Help". Adapted from author Kathryn Stockett's mega best seller of the same name, "The Help" tells the story of the impenetrable and time-tested bonds between women and the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, setting it against the backdrop of the Civil Rights movement in the sweltering summer temperatures and racially-charged atmosphere of Jackson, Mississippi. Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan (Stone) is the film's central character, an Ole Miss graduate who instead of aspiring to marriage and children like all her friends before her dreams of making a name for herself as a journalist and author. Brought up in an era where African-American housemaids and field workers were commonplace (she was raised by a black housekeeper herself), Skeeter sets herself apart from the rest of Jackson's residents with her staunchly liberal views. Confounded and opposed to the treatment that friends and family bear upon the help, she is even more horrified when her best friend Hilly Holbrook (Howard) issues a "Household Sanitation Initiative", a proposal which strongly recommends that a separate bathroom for blacks be a requirement in every white home. Fed up with the unrelenting bias of nearly everyone around her, Skeeter embarks on a radical and risky project - to document the stories of black housemaids and share their viewpoints in the effort to open people's minds. Starting first with veteran housemaid Aibileen (Davis) and growing to more than 30 different women over time, Skeeter's book attempts to rip the blindfold of ignorance from everyone's eyes and spur a collapse in Jackson's longstanding racial divide. Written and directed for the screen by Tate Taylor, "The Help" serves as his directorial debut and considering the actors with whom he worked he had an easy time about it. The cast is superior - Emma Stone is golden as Skeeter, a less than stellar beauty who shines nonetheless with ambition and integrity, a woman who stubbornly pursues the truth while battling quietly with uncertainty. Octavia Spencer is uproarious as the feisty Minnie; Bryce Dallas Howard manages to incur all the intended hatred for the character of Hilly, her high nose and icy stare masterful; Jessica Chastain is delightful as the ditzy and buxom Celia Foote, her squeaky giggles, flirtatious prancing, and high, timid speech seeming to spring directly from Stockett's pages. It should serve as no surprise that Academy Award nominee Viola Davis gives the film's most arresting performance, able to detain a viewer's heart with one raw and penetrating look, one succinctly delivered line. The film's final scene is the most heartrending, Aibileen bidding both fond and hard-edged farewells alike as she walks down a long suburban road, one that serves as a symbol to the long road that many African-Americans have walked in their pursuit for equality. Bottom line: Though a few things have been changed for dramatic effect (a commonality for adaptations), "The Help" is a movie of which readers of Stockett's novel should be proud. Despite its obvious invitation to controversy, the film packs an emotional punch with its historical backdrop, stirring story and bravado performances. To all the women in the audience: be it a tissue or a shirt sleeve, you will find yourself at a loss for words and wiping away tears when all is said and done.