The Help

[DSTRen13]

Another review: http://www.artscriticatl.com/2011/08...-white-people/

[honeychile]

Loved the book, am becoming a big friend of Emma Stone's, and can't wait to see it! Until then, I'm outta this thread!

[HannahXO]

Originally Posted by DSTRen13

Another review: http://www.artscriticatl.com/2011/08...-white-people/

IMHO, a lot of these reviews are missing the point. It's a movie, not a treatise on the race issues of the 60s. It is meant for entertainment and shouldn't be taken as academic.

I also think the book was far less "feel good" than the reviews are making the movie out to be (seeing it tomorrow, I'll post my thoughts then). One of the criticisms this article made (mild SPOILER ALERT) was that the movie divorced Hilly's nastiness from the outright racial violence- I thought the book made it very clear that those behaviors were on the same spectrum, and I thought the book did a good job showing Skeeter's growth as a character as she begins to realize this. If the movie didn't do the same, that's unfortunate. But I'll let you know what I think tomorrow

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by HannahXO

IMHO, a lot of these reviews are missing the point. It's a movie, not a treatise on the race issues of the 60s. It is meant for entertainment and shouldn't be taken as academic.

I don't consider this movie to be just entertainment. There is too much meaning behind it to be merely entertaining.

Originally Posted by HannahXO

I also think the book was far less "feel good" than the reviews are making the movie out to be (seeing it tomorrow, I'll post my thoughts then). One of the criticisms this article made (mild SPOILER ALERT) was that the movie divorced Hilly's nastiness from the outright racial violence- I thought the book made it very clear that those behaviors were on the same spectrum, and I thought the book did a good job showing Skeeter's growth as a character as she begins to realize this. If the movie didn't do the same, that's unfortunate. But I'll let you know what I think tomorrow

The commercials are making the movie seem more feel good (smartass Black helpers are funny enough for a commercial or two).. That's how they are able to get people to be excited about this movie. They take bits and pieces of the movie even if they misrepresent the movie. Meaning, white people (who will be the main supporters of this film) would not see this movie if they didn't make it seem funny and lighthearted.

[rhoyaltempest]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

I don't consider this movie to be just entertainment. There is too much meaning behind it to be merely entertaining.



The commercials are making the movie seem more feel good (smartass Black helpers are funny enough for a commercial or two).. That's how they are able to get people to be excited about this movie. They take bits and pieces of the movie even if they misrepresent the movie. Meaning, white people (who will be the main supporters of this film) would not see this movie if they didn't make it seem funny and lighthearted.

Yeah, that's crazy to me that anyone could consider such stories as pure entertainment (especially when it's a reflection of a true story - Stockett's family).

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by rhoyaltempest

Yeah, that's crazy to me that anyone could consider such stories as pure entertainment (especially when it's a reflection of a true story - Stockett's family).

It really goes back to what you said about it being sad.

A movie can be a good movie without it being only entertainment. "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner," "Carmen Jones," "Imitation of Life," "The Color Purple" are among the movies that I absolutely love and have watched over and over again all of my life. But, they aren't just entertaining. They reinforced some of what I was always taught (even when the schools didn't teach it) and what I always saw.

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by HannahXO

IMHO, a lot of these reviews are missing the point. It's a movie, not a treatise on the race issues of the 60s. It is meant for entertainment and shouldn't be taken as academic.

I believe this is the "Al Jolson Corollary"

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

I believe this is the "Al Jolson Corollary"

Who's the man with the master plan?!

[Educatingblue]

My friends and I read the book this summer and it was great! Although, I did not really care for the ending, I will be going to see the movie next week.

On another note, there was a nice plug from Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. in regards to the movie on CNN...

http://www.cnn.com/2011/SHOWBIZ/Movi...tml?hpt=hp_bn5

[LXA SE285]

A heapin' helpin' of The Help:

http://acriticalreviewofthehelp.wordpress.com

[rhoyaltempest]

Originally Posted by HannahXO

IMHO, a lot of these reviews are missing the point. It's a movie, not a treatise on the race issues of the 60s. It is meant for entertainment and shouldn't be taken as academic.

I also think the book was far less "feel good" than the reviews are making the movie out to be (seeing it tomorrow, I'll post my thoughts then). One of the criticisms this article made (mild SPOILER ALERT) was that the movie divorced Hilly's nastiness from the outright racial violence- I thought the book made it very clear that those behaviors were on the same spectrum, and I thought the book did a good job showing Skeeter's growth as a character as she begins to realize this. If the movie didn't do the same, that's unfortunate. But I'll let you know what I think tomorrow

Fiction or not, stories create opportunities to discuss issues, past and present. Our not wanting to talk about the racial issues that did and do continue to exist in America, is what the author of the article is talking about when she speaks of "cowards." The book, although not completely nonfiction, is a reflection on Kathryn Stockett's family. I read an article in Essence or Ebony (not sure which one) about the real Abilene. She is not happy about the book or the movie and is trying to sue Kathryn Stockett for how she was portrayed (not sure if she meant the book and/or the movie).

I am going to see the movie tomorrow and will come back with my 22 cents.

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by rhoyaltempest

Fiction or not, stories create opportunities to discuss issues, past and present.

Amen.

[shirley1929]

Originally Posted by ggforever

JUST returned from seeing The Help. GREAT movie. Like all book/movie adaptions, it is hard to compare, but I think they did a wonderful job in capturing the essence of the book.

I honestly thought it was by far the best book-to-screenplay adaptation I'd ever seen.

Originally Posted by violetpretty

Saw it on Monday at an advance screening with my alumnae chapter. A few thoughts:
*In the book, all 3 main characters narrate, but in the movie, I feel like Minny's "voice" was reduced a little, and she became comic relief in many of her scenes, especially with Celia.
*Also, if Hilly is 22, which we can assume since she grew up being friends with Skeeter, and Skeeter finished college (4 years, what an eternity)...how the HELL does Hilly have a mother who is old/frail enough to be put in a nursing home, especially since women back then/in that part of the country have kids in their late teens/early to mid 20s??? Hilly's mom would have had to be like 50 years old when Hilly was born.
*None of these things interfered with my enjoyment. I liked seeing the characters come to life and thought it was well cast.

#1 is true - I read a review beforehand that Aibileen's voice is the only one doing a voice over (and it wasn't that often) but I don't think that means we missed the voices of the others.

#2 I didn't really see Sissy Spacek's character as frail...more as selectively demented...

#3 Agreed - the casting really was well done. Everyone and everything looked as I'd pictured it in my mind.

[rhoyaltempest]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

Amen.

from one writer to another.