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The Help

Reviews

Too glossy, chipper and Disneyfied for such a serious theme.

Posted 25th October 2011, 3:35pm in Film, by Becky Reed


Released in cinemas 26th October 2011.

Actor/writer/director Tate Taylor (Pretty Ugly People) has certainly made an impact with this polished adaptation of Kathryn Stockett’s bestselling novel, as it screams Oscar-bait all over. However, despite some glorious performances, the film ends up a safe, Disneyfied representation of a shameful part of US history to the point where it's almost insulting.

Emma Stone plays Skeeter, a sparky '60s college graduate desperate to make a break in journalism. The wonderful Allison Janney is on top form as her exasperated traditional mother, terrified her daughter will never get married. Skeeter returns to her Mississipi home to find her childhood maid (Cicely Tyson) gone under dubious circumstances. Skeeter, obviously older and wiser, notices the casual racism of her socialite neighbours towards their African-American maids. Bryce Dallas Howard is particularly scathing as Hilly, perfectly capturing the hypocrisy on display - the maids raise these privileged women's children, but aren't allowed to use the household toilets.

Skeeter starts to write about this world from the perspective of the maids. Initially reluctant to share their feelings, she soon enlists her two allies in the form of Aibileen (Viola Davis) and Minny (Octavia Spencer). Davis lends the film some much-needed weight and is especially moving as the maid who dearly loves her young charges, despite the abhorrent actions of their parents. Spencer provides comic relief as the feisty worker with the gumption to leave when the injustice becomes too much. Minny's repeated sackings lead her to the wonderful Jessica Chastain's Celia; the actress has played a number of wistful, ethereal wives this year (Tree of Life, Take Shelter, Coriolanus), but is finally on fire as the spirited but ostracised housewife unable to cook for her husband (better than it sounds, honest).

The options open to the maids in such a bigoted world are never fully explored, neither is the psychology of the time. The ramifications of the deeply insulting manner in which the black women are treated are skimmed over, leaving it hard for the viewer to engage. Men are notably absent, which leads to an imbalance in the story. They're either nameless, faceless, abusive or useless husbands at time when women were traditionally dependent on them. However, Skeeter does have a relationship with a local boy, as a plot contrivance to prove how spunky and outspoken she is.

While Stone is one of the most exciting young actresses in Hollywood, her Skeeter is a curiously unsympathetic character, that doesn't appear to really connect with the women whose lives she's changing. Skeeter is defined as courageous, but is oddly passive with her wretched friends, and frequently asks the maids to risk more than their jobs.

The Help is a fine-looking film, but is too glossy and chipper for such a serious theme. Also unforgivable is the uncalled-for two hours and 26 minutes run time, especially when Davis and Spencer never really get the chance to get their teeth into their characters.

Rating: 5/10

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