What’s it about? Based on Katherine Stockett’s 2009 novel, The Help follows Skeeter (Emma Stone) an aspiring writer in racially-segregated Mississippi during the 1950s. Returning home from college Skeeter finds that her childhood maid has mysteriously disappeared, and her friend Hilly Holbrook is insisting that everyone install separate bathrooms outside for ‘the help’, Skeeter decides to write a book from the point of view of the maids who essentially raised her and her friends. Skeeter embarks on this secret mission with Aibleen (Viola Davis) and Minny (Octavia Spencer) to uncover what it’s actually like to be 'the help'.
Who’s in it? Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Bryce Dallas Howard, Jessica Chastain, Alison Janney and Sissy Spacek
Handbag hearts: The pace, tone and message given by The Help reminded us of the feel-good, plot-led films that just don’t seem to get made very often by Hollywood anymore. Instead we’re left with big-budget action movies, remakes of classics or low-budget independent films.
The performances are sensational, and as a result you’re behind the characters every step of the way. Expect Oscar nominations, if not wins, galore for the acting talent in The Help, especially Spencer and Davis. Both funny and moving, the film gives the message that standing up for what you believe in might be a struggle but it’s a worthwhile one – a message we could do with hearing more often.
The scenes between Octavia Spencer and Jessica Chastain are brilliant, proving that Chastain can manage comedy as well as the more serious roles she’s become known for (although we’re not sure if it’s even possible to become typecast in the space of a year), and you spend most of the film looking forward to the next scene between the two of them.
What’s bad: The distinction between good and bad is so black and white (sorry) that Bryce Dallas Howard may as well have scrawled 'baddie' across her forehead and Emma Stone donned a halo and some angel wings for less obvious character construction. They would have felt less like caricatures if they’d been allowed a few grey moments, as in the book.
If you can forgive The Help for focusing only on a tiny element of the racial debate in the Deep South and pretty much ignoring the rest, then you’ll enjoy this. And anyway, an hour and a half is hardly enough time to say everything that needs to be said on such a huge issue. The cinematography is gorgeous, and gloriously bright, which makes you feel as though the film is glossing over what should be a gritty subject matter. But then again it’s this bright sheen that makes the film so enjoyable and inspiring – and surely that’s what it should be about?
Should you see it? We absolutely loved The Help. So it’s a big 'yes' from us. Moving and heart-warming, they just don’t make movies like this anymore.
Watch our Emma Stone and Viola Davis interview for The Help.
Check out the other October movie releases you shouldn’t miss
