| The Help |
| Written by Cecily Van Horn | |||
| Monday, 22 August 2011 01:08 | |||
 The Help is based on a book written by Kathryn Stockett and adapted to the big screen by Taylor Tate (formerly known for Planet of the Apes and Winter Bone's). The tagline is extremely accurate to evoke exactly the purpose of the film: 'change begins with a whisper.' The director takes viewers back to Mississippi in the 1960's when tensions were still strong between Black and White societies. Eugenia 'Skeeter' Phelan (Emma Stone) who recently returns from college is determined to become a writer. She isn't like the other southern girls who are getting married and having children; children who are basically cared from day one by these kind, compassionate Black maids. She has a deep inner passion to do something greater with her life...and will let nothing or anyone stand in her way. Throughout social events, Skeeter (Stone) becomes more and more distraught about the social division and how these Black women are being treated by her friends. She decides to take matters into her own hands with the help of the maids from various families in the neighbourhood. She wants to give them the chance to tell their story about caring for these upper-class southern belles' families. This is an extremely gutsy move because their town is small and they run the risk that the prude upper-class friends of Skeeter may find about their collaboration. The hesitation by the maids, Aibileen Clark (Viola Davis) and Minny Jackson (Octavia Spencer) is made clear from the start. They fear may lose their jobs if they divulge too many secrets. Although Skeeter is a persistent, passionate writer who believes the world needs to hear their story and eventually she is successful in gaining their trust. Throughout their secretive meetings, these three women become friends and eventually other housemaids join into the collaboration- and it turns out they have tons of dirt to tell her. When the book is published anonymously it is a success and stirs up a lot of emotional reactions from Skeeter's southern society community once they realize that they are the source of these stories. Particularly hilarious is how Hilly Holbrook (Bryce Dallas Howard) reacts when she becomes aware that she has been targeted by her maid; although, I will not say exactly why because it would be a big spoiler for the movie. The Help is one of those powerfully moving movies that will make you laugh, cry, feel compassion, and everything in between. It may also leave you with a strange desire to eat some good old southern fried chicken. It is definitely one of the better films in theatres this summer and I highly recommend you go to see it. This film is now playing in Times Square at:
AMC Empire 25 Genre: Drama 10:05am, 11:15am, 12:30pm, 1:35pm, 2:45pm, 3:55pm, 5:05pm, 6:15pm, 7:25pm, 8:35pm, 9:45pm, 10:55pm, 11:55pm For more articles like The Help, please visit the Film Reviews Section of TimesSquare.com
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