Movies.ie

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• Currently 3/5 Stars.

Movies.ie Critic Review

Set during America’s civil rights movement of the 1960s, the plot centres on a group of black maids and the southern belles that they have to cook, clean and child-rear for. On the maid side, Spencer plays the sassy, eye-rolling Minny, best friend to Davis’ steely, determined Aibileen, the film’s narrator. On the wealthy southern employers side, Howard leads the way as the baddie of the piece, Hilly Holbrook – determined, amongst other things, to get her Home Help Sanitation Initiative (i.e. compulsory separate toilets for black domestic staff) onto the books - whilst the omnipresent Chastain is wonderful as the WASP outcast too ditzy to be racist.

Emma Stone, meanwhile, is the single, independent young journalist determined to tell the longsuffering maids’ stories.

THE VERDICT: Based on Kathryn Stockett’s 2009 bestselling debut novel, this $25m film has already made over $165m at the US box-office alone. Far more Oprah Winfrey than Spike Lee, The Help tackles the issue of racial discrimination, and the role of women, in 1960s America without ever showing any of the more obvious horrors of that time. Which is just the way actor-turned-director Tate Taylor wanted it, convinced that it’s just as potent to show the everyday cruelties of the time – such as a grown woman being forced to use a specially-built segregated outhouse - rather than the headline-grabbing atrocities Hollywood usually shines a light on. And he may have a point. Still, a little more righteousness and a little less Rockwell wouldn’t have gone amiss. RATING: ***

Review by Paul Byrne 

• Avg User rating
• Currently 3/5 Stars.

User Reviews

• • Currently 3/5 Stars.

  Beth

  

  Obviously not as good as the book. Slow at times but Emma Stone gives a good performance.

• • Currently 2/5 Stars.

  ssconnolly

  

  Set in Mississippi around the time of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960's, the film follows an aspiring young journalist names Skeeter (Emma Stone) who outrages her town when she decides to interview black women about what it is like to take care of Southern families. Her aim is to write a book which tells the truth a will help the Civil Rights Movement gain some momentum. I'm not going to pretend that I know a lot about this era in American history, but I don't need to be well educated in this period to know that The Help is not an accurate representation of what life was like in Mississippi in the 1960's for black people. This was a society where racism was everywhere and the Ku Klux Klan had returned after the start of the Civil Rights Movement. There were random murders and other acts of violence and the help were treated horribly by their employers. The Help is destined for Oscar nominations because of the subject matter, irregardless of how poorly it has been tackled. The big problem with The Help is that it constantly undermines the seriousness of its story. Life for black people in the 1960's in Southern America was horrific, a lot more horrific than it's made out to be in this film. Sure there are moments where the film finally beings some grit and realism to the story, but these moments are far too scarce. The rest of the film feels far to breezy. The film only has one really significant villain in the form of Bryce Dallas Howard's racist housewife, but her performance is too over the top and cartoony. And that sums up the film, it's a production which should be far more sinister but lightens things up too much. The only thing in the film that actually feels real are the characters and their spirited interactions and everything else lacks realism and this makes the film less hard-hitting and ultimately less engaging. The only thing in the film that actually feels real are the characters and their spirited interactions, so thankfully the stars of the film impress. Emma Stone has shown she can do comedy brilliantly, but now she shows that she can headline heavier material with a great performance here. In the end she is outshone by her co-stars, but she still made her mark on the film. The two big stars of the show and strong Oscar contenders are Viola Davis and Jessica Chastain. Davis plays the first maid who agrees to tell the truth about her employers. Though her willingness to get involved seemed a little implausible Davis still provides a brave and powerful performance. Chastain also really makes an impact despite not being given as much screen time as others. She's only really broken onto the scene this year but already she has shown how remarkably versatile she is. There is also some solid support from Octavia Spencer, Allison Janney and Mary Steenburgen. So all in all The Help is a rather moving drama, but one which always feels too safe and inauthentic and fails to really explore this era of American history in all its horror. The performances are somewhat of a saving grace for the film as they provide it with some emotionality and make it engaging. The rest of the film is not great. It's far too long at around 137 minutes, never really seems to know who the protagonist is as it seems to change throughout and worst of all the very serious subject matter has been brightened up and the film isn't ever a gritty as it should be. There are some genuinely moving moments scattered throughout but they're too few and far between and so ultimately The Help is a film I mildly recommend simply because the performances are outstanding.

• • Currently 3/5 Stars.

  Chad

  

  Well made, good story, a bit lacking in some places, however the characters are all excellent. Enjoyable to watch!

• • Currently 4/5 Stars.

  enigmab17

  

  Actors - Great Probably one of the very few (if not the first infact) film that I've enjoyed Emma Stone in. Story - Great, was pulled in and trapped. Loved the story, the premiss and the execution. While probably not the most exciting film ever, I just love films which can enstill some hope for humanity and show that were not all evil, spiteful, hateful beings. It gets 4 stars, can't really get anything lower.

• • Currently 3/5 Stars.

  carol halpin

  

  This is a really powerful film which I would strongly recommend. The film however was marred for me by having read the book. It was difficult to stop making comparisons with the book which is an excellent read. My advice is go see the film but don't read the book first.

• • Currently 4/5 Stars.

  phoebe

  

  Lots of laughs in this story about a serious issue. The women are warm, funny and sensitive. Definitely worth a look.

• • Currently 4/5 Stars.

  lisabyrnedub@hotmail.com

  

  I wasn't in the least pushed to go and see this film but I'm so glad that I did! It showed a great insight into the life of "The help" and showed the differences in the times. I loved this movie and would urge everyone to go and see it... :)

• • Currently 5/5 Stars.

  lionqueen

  

• • Currently 4/5 Stars.

  bigslick184

  

  After seeing trailer I was looking forward to this film. I really enjoyed it. Great performances by all. A good recommendation for all to see.

• • Currently 3/5 Stars.

  elaineg

  

  Not as good as the book but still well worth seeing.

• • Currently 5/5 Stars.

  mart

  

  Well made, superbly written and emotionally engaging feel-good drama that's destined for Oscar glory in some form or another thanks to across-the-board terrific performances from a wonderful ensemble cast.

• • Currently 4/5 Stars.

  JudiG

  

  I had read the book first and thoroughly enjoyed the movie. Knowing the end didn't spoil the plot. Though the book might be enjoyed more by women, the movie will attract a mixed audience.

• • Currently 3/5 Stars.

  eliza64

  

  A mighty fine film (spoken in a southern drawl) It feels like an Oscar winner to me. I went to see it in Santry on Monday 24th October. With the heavy rain we had to spend the night in a Dublin hotel. I still would say that I enjoyed the night. It looks at racism by woman who were all but raised by 'The help'. Thank you Insomnia for the tickets.

• • Currently 4/5 Stars.

  gmiskelly

  

  Terrific enjoyable heartwarming, the performances are strong throughout Viola Davis shines in particular, excellent to see a strong female led film that isnt sex and the cty!

• • Currently 4/5 Stars.

  filmbuff2011

  

  The trailer for The Help screams Chick Flick! However, given the important subject matter and the fact that it stormed its way to the top of the US box office, I was curious about it. I'm very glad that I went to it, as it turned out to be one of the joys of my cinematic year. It's a heartfelt look at the mostly invisible and unrewarded contribution that African-American women made to raising white children in the Deep South of the turbulent 1960s. This is framed through the perspective of budding young writer Skeeter, played by the consistently interesting Emma Stone. Some of the southern belles surrounding Skeeter border on caricature, but they're all played by an excellent supporting cast. I'd be very surprised if Octavia Spencer doesn't get an Oscar nomination as the indomitable Minny. Believe the hype on this one - it's well worth the journey. Highly recommended.

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