The Help

my rating: 3.5 out of 5
Emma Stone is absolutely irresistible as "Skeeter", a recent college grad returning to her home town of Jackson, Mississippi in the early 60s. The plot of The Help involves Skeeter, an aspiring writer, setting out to write a tell-all book about the racist and unfair way that "the help" are treated in rich white society.

Along the way, we meet Aibileen (Viola Davis) and Minny (Octavia Spencer), two maids who have extrordinary character and rich personality. Skeeter attempts to recruit them to help her with her book. Through the process, they get past the societal expectations and boundaries to form real friendship.

The Help tackles some heavy racial issues, with mixed results. Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer are definitely Oscar worthy. Emma Stone is great. And, even though some people are criticizing this movie for not delving harder into the racial "nitty gritty" of the issues, it almost seems welcomed that they don't rub our noses in it. (like American History X does, for example). It is already obvious to any modern audience that these issues are heavy and layered with multiple problems and perspectives. We can't tackle all that in one movie.

The Help boldly approaches race issues, but like Driving Miss Daisy, it handles the issues with a certain amount of grace. There are only a few tacky moments and cheap laughs. But, those moments are almost welcomed in a story that is so touchy and sad.

I recommend that you see The Help. It's not as good as Driving Miss Daisy or The Color Purple, but it is in the same general category. And, all the performances are solid. It is fairly well written and directed by Tate Taylor.