It seems that everywhere I looked in the past year, some lady in my immediate vicinity, whether sitting in a coffee shop, standing next to me on the subway or across from me in a library, was holding a copy of The Help, a tale of civil differences in the American South of the 1960s.
It only made sense to expect that such a ubiquitous novel (Stockett's first) would eventually make its way to the big screen, attracting several known actresses, many of whom had probably read the bok themselves in recent times.
I therefore wish to come clean and state that I have never read the novel, neither had my wife, therefore I admit that I had no real expectations of the movie versus its source material, save from a few well placed questions with some female colleagues who had plenty to say about the two.
What is The Help All About?
Succinctly put, the film centers around young Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan (Emma Stone, having an awesome year), a young Mississippi graduate and aspiring writer whose perspective of her family and friends' treatment of their African-American maids causes her to decide to write a book about the flip side of the coin, namely the opinions of said maids and how they perceive their white employers.
As she approaches some of the maids she knows, namely the sorrowful Aibileen (Viola Davis) and the energetic but abrasive Minny (Octavia Spencer), Skeeter is met with some resistance, mostly due to the fact that none of them wish to lose their jobs, despite having had to live through the remaining racism which still persisted in the Southern homes at the time.
The maids soon change their minds when they hear that one of Skeeter's friends, an ambitious but extremely discriminating socialite named Hilly Holbrook (Bryce Dallas Howard) is working towards an initiative which would promote segregated bathroom in each house, since she believes that the coloured "help" is responsible for so many alleged diseases to her people.
Skeeter takes a firm stand against Hilly's views and encourages Aibileen and Minny to help her gather information for "Help", a book about their hardships against racial discrimination in the workplace.
As the trio strives to work their way around and against Hilly's initiatives, each finds mutual respect and newfound admiration in the other, helping each other survive the difficult mentality which they've fought so hard to overcome.
The Help a Real Treasure Trove of Excellent Acting
I have absolutely no doubt that we'll be seeing some of this film's presence at the upcoming awards shows. Both Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer shine in this film, each representing an opposite end of the emotional spectrum. Davis gives a heartbreaking performance as a working mother whose recent loss of her son only adds to the pressures of her daily problems.
Spencer plays Minny as a rambunctious maid with a history of employers, each of them having gotten fed up with her confrontational attitude, but taken aback by her incredible talent at the kitchen stove.
It's hard not to feel bad for Emma Stone who, given any other project, would probably have had a better chance to shine, but here she really offers more of a supportive role to the much more interesting maid characters.
I'm hopeful the Academy will also recognize the efforts of Bryce Dallas Howard, whose Hilly is so deliciously evil and despicable that you can't help but root for her potential demise. Every good story needs a villain, and hers is one for the books.
While I would have given this film higher marks, I found it to be a bit unfocused when it came to the issue of prevalent racism in the South, even by the 1960s. While I recognize that a lot of progress had been made in the previous decade, I still found that the film didn't quite address that social question as thoroughly as it should, while relying on it for dramatic fodder.
After having viewed the movie for this review, I sought out a second opinion from several female colleagues (for the record, I couldn't find any guys who had managed to read the book) if only to get an idea as to the book versus movie comparison. The general consensus is that the film did cover the bases it needed, but that it didn't cover as much ground character-wise as the book did.
I realize this is usually the case with most film adaptations, so those of you reading this review after having read the book can rest easy in knowing that the film stands on its own as a great, poignant piece of drama, with captivating performance by its African-American leads.
The Help Blu-Ray Special Features
The film's combo pack ensures that you can watch the film either in high-def or in regular DVD format if on the road or during a vacation, while the blu-ray disc does contain an insightful piece called "In Their Own Words", which features interviews with real-life maids who lived through the racial tensions of the time. Also, for those who dig the occasional film-related music video, you can catch Mary J. Blige as she sings "The Living Proof", which also may find its way to the Awards.
The Final Word on The Help
This film is one I'd highly recommend to fans of the book, as well as to anyone who truly enjoy drama which doesn't necessarily always address comfortable issues. The film shows how change is possible, and how going against the grain and against your peers' expectations doesn't always mean being ostracized for wanting to do your own thing, regardless of race or social background.
The Help Two-Disc Combo Blu-Ray: 3.5 out of 5
Dominic Messier - Dominic Messier is a Toronto-based Film & TV writer, Sci-Fi TV and Film Dramas Topic Editor, and creator of PopCultureLandscape.com
