Movie Monday: The Help Review

Movie: The Help

Starring: Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Bryce Dallas Howard, Octavia Spencer

Run Time: 137 Minutes

Short Synopsis: A look at what happens when a southern town's unspoken code of rules and behavior is shattered by three courageous women who strike up an unlikely friendship.


Before I start with the review of the actual movie, this movie tackles some sensitive issues, but it's a movie produced by DreamWorks under its new deal with Disney, so I was not expecting a complete accurate representation of history and neither should you. If you buy a ticket for The Help, understand that it is a work of fiction, not a documentary. It does somethings right, and somethings wrong, but don't expect it to be considered alongside Roots as an accurate depiction of White-Black relations in America.

The movie opens with the beginning of Skeeter's (Emma Stone) interview of Aibileen Clark (Viola Davis), as these two characters are the crux of the narrative. Davis' performance of the stoic, yet displeased Clark is one of the best I've seen this year. Her quiet intensity, as the maid of Stone's character best friend, should get her strong consideration for the Academy Award for Best Actress. You are glued to her every second she is on screen, and you are emotionally invested in each of her scenes, especially when she has to walk home through the White neighborhood.

Stone, once again brings her charm and top-notch comedic timing to a role that could very easily have been overshadowed by the larger than life performances by Bryce Dallas Howard (Queen Bee racist, Hilly Holbrook), and Clark's best friend and fellow maid, Minny Jackson (Octavia Spencer). But her ability to really ground a character and make her seem real, is one of the reason's this film is balanced. She never overacts, nor does she come off as boring, yet she is noticeable. The one thing that was lacking from Stone was her scene stealing ability. Her two real emotional scenes away from Davis, Spencer, and Howard really fell flat. Now, whether it was the lack of a build up, bad writing, or she had a bad day, can be debated, but despite that, it was another solid effort from the future A-list actress. She has the potential to be the next Julia Roberts.

After plodding along at a good, but not remarkable pace, the film hit its best stretch when Minny went to work for town outcast Celia Foote (the lovely, Jessica Chastain). From the moment Chastain's ditsy, well-meaning Celia began to get screen time, she stole the movie. For me, it's the little things that help steal a scene and/or a movie. From her shaking of the chicken bag to her innocently wanting to eat with Minny (which was a big no-no in 1967 Mississippi), and especially her quiet scene in the garden, Chastain just had that pitch perfect connection to a character that makes you want to follow her instead of the main story arc. She was able to do what Matthew Lillard has made a career out of.

The best compliment I can give a movie is that it made me laugh, think, and tear up, while still being entertaining. It wasn't too light for the subject matter, but it was still enjoyable enough to not feel like I was sitting through a lecture. Some may find it offensive, some may find it disheartening because it wasn't as graphic, or raw as they think all period pieces should be. To those people I say, what did you expect from a movie with Disney's imprint on it? They weren't going to show the sexual abuse some maids went through, or the fear that was instilled by the KKK during its peak around this time, they expected the audience to understand these underlying issues, and see the movie with that in mind.

The Help is a movie about the courage these maids showed in a terrible time in this country, and showed how telling their stories were a part of their own personal freedom during the Civil Rights Era.

Rating: 4 out of 5. Davis should get at least an Oscar nomination for her role as Aibleen.