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1492 Pictures
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Change begins with a whisper.
Aibileen Clark is a middle-aged African-American maid who has spent her life raising white children and has recently lost her only son; Minny Jackson is an African-American maid who has often offended her employers despite her family's struggles with money and her desperate need for jobs; and Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan is a young white woman who has recently moved back home after graduating college to find out her childhood maid has mysteriously disappeared. These three stories intertwine to explain how life in Jackson, Mississippi revolves around "the help"; yet they are always kept at a certain distance because of racial lines.
iuvavum
Aug 6, 2026 · via TMDB
Sound, music, acting, sets, and camera are good in this movie but I do have concerns what the story is saying about african americans. Which is amazing as at its core it's your typical "good" vs "bad" guys story with a bit of romance sprinkled in but somehow manages to still portrait the underdogs good guys (black maids) as terrible people while most actions by the antagonists (white house wives) aren't really that evil if you think about it. For example: One of the maids asks her boss for a loan which gets denied and then feels entitled to steal from her workplace but soon after gets arrested for it which prompts a lot of other maids to want to publish gossip about their workplace experiences as a form of protest. There are also many other questionable acts by the protagonists.
CinemaSerf
Feb 8, 2025 · via TMDB
I hadn’t quite realised the extent to which racial segregation laws permeated into every day life, especially when a black person couldn't cut a white child’s hair or write anything remotely disparaging about their white brethren. “Skeeter” (Emma Stone) returns from college and decides there might be a way around this. She will write the book, but a selection of women from their Mississippi homes will provide the meat for this literary sandwich. These women are maids who all have stories to tell, but she faces quite a battle convincing them to spill any beans. That’s partly from loyalty, partly from fear and also because they all know that the local community on all sides is disinclined to rock the boat. It’s to “Aibileen” (Viola Davis) she initially turns and after some persuasion she begins to open up - and boy is it juicy! It’s not just a chance to open some eyes, but it gives the author a chance to re-evaluate her relationship with her own mother (Allison Janney) and with friends “Hilly” (Bruce Dallas Howard) and their odious friend “Celia” (Jessica Chastain) as well as a cast of family retainers who had more to do with bring up the children than any of their privileged parents ever did. When “Minny” (Octavia Spencer) gets sacked and a second source comes on stream for the book, the ridiculousness of, and hypocrisies that prevail in, this society are increasingly laid bare amidst attitudes of visceral hatred. Janney and Howard deliver well, crafting characters it’s easy to relate to - even in quiet a loathsome fashion, and both Spencer and Davis elicit sympathy but not cloyingly - it’s clear that they are worth ten of their wealthier and entitled employers. The boys don’t really feature so much here which allows a focus on the narrative uncluttered by romance, and there’s even a little from Sissy Spacek to add a little extra finesse to what is at times quite a subtly performed indictment of ignorance and bullying. Chocolate pie, anyone?
Kamurai
Oct 3, 2020 · via TMDB
Great watch, probably won't watch again, and can recommend. To be fair, you should watch this prepared for what it is: a racial suffrage movie. That means that it is filled with racism and unfair strife, and stupid jerks of the elite class that are under the impression that they can still buy and sell people because they do. This is a fantastic movie, but it is a heavy, serious story, and the humor in it barely makes it more palatable in that regard. The cast is filled with great actresses who give excellent performances, the script is well written, and the production value is great. It isn't going to provide a level of escapism from worldly problems, but I don't have to like a movie to recognize its greatness.
DoryDarko
Feb 21, 2017 · via TMDB
I just watched The Help, almost immediately after finishing the book. Now, when comparing The Film to The Book it was based on (generally speaking), one major rule of thumb almost always applies: The Book is better. The Help is no exception. Accordingly, with the novel still so fresh in the back of my mind, separating my mind from the book in order to enjoy the film was an almost impossible task. No matter how hard you try, you just can't quit comparing the two, nitpicking every detail and being frustrated with everything they changed. Nevertheless, I was still able to enjoy the film for what it was, though I am glad that I possessed full knowledge of the actual story. The Help tells the story of black domestic servants in 1960's Jackson, Mississippi. It focuses on white Miss Eugenia 'Skeeter' Phelan, and her efforts to give a voice to black maids by writing their stories from their perspective and thus giving them an opportunity to be heard for the first time in their lives. Among the black women, Aibileen and Minny are the two key characters. So let's just get the "bad" stuff out of the way. One of the elements in the novel that I enjoyed the most was the incredibly delicate bond of trust and understanding that builds up (over an extensive period of time) between Aibileen and Skeeter. It really does take Skeeter a long time before she finally wins Aibileen over and convinces her to share her deepest feelings with a white woman. In the film, this process felt rather rushed, like Aibileen just woke up the next morning and decided to do it. What bothers me about this is not just the fact that (oh, cliché) it was "better" in the book, but mostly because the film forgets to underline WHY it took so long. Not only is it much more clearly explained in writing that these black women face an incredible danger in divulging their true feelings about the white women they work for, the film also fails to capture the palpable tension and sense of urgency of the book. These women aren't just risking their jobs, they are risking their lives, AND the lives of their loved ones. They're in danger just for being seen talking to a white lady. I found this to be a rather big flaw of the film. The film also lacks a lot of the character development I was hoping for. Quite a few character changes were made, so that in the film they all just kind of appear out of nowhere, and more or less seem to go about their business without – again – the big "why" of it all. One of the most underexposed characters was a woman named Celia Foote, who is a poor white trash girl who married way out of her league – and because of it, has to face the constant disgrace and condescension from the other stuck-up, "sophisticated" white ladies. Celia is just the sweetest, loveliest person in the entire story, and her relationship with her maid Minny is heart warming. The fact that they barely included this in the film is a real shame. OK – if I keep comparing the film to the book, this review will never reach its end. Obviously, there is a lot more I could (and certainly want to) say, but it's not really relevant to the effectiveness of this review. So, moving on. At least they got the actors right! Each and every one of them was cast spot-on to their character. Emma Stone is wonderful as Skeeter –capturing her youthful daring and naiveté perfectly. There's also something about her voice and attitude that make it clear that this girl is different from her snooty bridge club peers. Viola Davis is the perfect Aibileen – all I kept thinking was, damn, she should have gotten that Oscar. Her performance is very moving and heartfelt. Octavia Spencer did actually win an Oscar for her role as Minny, and it was well deserved. She is exactly as I imagined Minny to be – sassy, smart-mouthed and with an attitude that could render any white woman speechless, even if it means losing her job a dozen times. Celia Foote is played by Jessica Chastain, and I fear I'm at risk of doubling over in superlatives to describe how perfect she was, so I'll just leave it at this. The Evil Witch in this story is Hilly Holbrook, played by Bryce Dallas Howard. I'm not sure how big of a compliment it is to say that she is very good at playing a snide, cunning racist – so let's just say she is a very good actress. Another actress worth mentioning is Allison Janney, who plays the role of Skeeter's mother. Though she is not quite like I imagined her the way she was in the book (there we go again...), I always enjoy her performances very much and this one's no exception. Oh, and Sissy Spacek plays Hilly's mother, and she is a delight to watch. I got the feeling that the director extended her role to a little more than what it was in the book, just to give her more screen time. I don't blame him. Overall, the film is properly paced and reasonably well-constructed, though some creative liberties are taken here and there considering the timeline. In comparison to the book, it is a little disappointing, but I can't think of a single book-to-film adaptation where this wasn't the case. I still rate The Help 8 out of 10, because I think it is an important story to be told and the performances are stellar, but if you have a little more patience, I strongly recommend reading the book instead. _(March 2013)_
Andres Gomez
Jan 24, 2014 · via TMDB
Great setting, cast, story and performances. A must to be seen.
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
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Emma Stone
Skeeter Phelan
Viola Davis
Aibileen Clark
Bryce Dallas Howard
Hilly Holbrook
Octavia Spencer
Minny Jackson
Jessica Chastain
Celia Foote
Ahna O'Reilly
Elizabeth Leefolt
Allison Janney
Charlotte Phelan
Anna Camp
Jolene French
Eleanor Henry
Mae Mobley
Chris Lowell
Stuart Whitworth
Cicely Tyson
Constantine Jefferson
Mike Vogel
Johnny Foote
Sissy Spacek
Missus Walters
Brian Kerwin
Robert Phelan
Wes Chatham
Carlton Phelan
Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor
Yule Mae Davis
Ted Welch
William Holbrook
Shane McRae
Raleigh Leefolt
Roslyn Ruff
Pascagoula
Tarra Riggs
Gretchen
Leslie Jordan
Mr. Blackly
Mary Steenburgen
Elaine Stein
Tiffany Brouwer
Rebecca
Carol Sutton
Cora
Ashley Johnson
Mary Beth Caldwell
Ritchie Montgomery
Bus Driver
Nelsan Ellis
Henry The Waiter
David Oyelowo
Preacher Green
LaChanze
Rachel
Dana Ivey
Gracie Higginbotham
Lamar Lott
Bus Rider (uncredited)
Curt Beech
Art Direction
Mark Ricker
Production Design
Rena DeAngelo
Set Decoration
Stephen Goldblatt
Director of Photography
Dale Robinette
Still Photographer
Sharen Davis
Costume Design
Camille Friend
Hair Department Head
Robert Bella
Post Production Supervisor
Rex Reddick
Stunt Coordinator
Rocky Capella
Stunt Coordinator
Jwaundace Candece
Stunts
Tate Taylor
Director
Hughes Winborne
Editor
Jeff Skoll
Executive Producer
John Norris
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Mark Radcliffe
Executive Producer
Nate Berkus
Executive Producer
Tate Taylor
Executive Producer
Brunson Green
Producer
Chris Columbus
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Michael Barnathan
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Thomas Newman
Original Music Composer
Willie D. Burton
Production Sound Mixer
Harvey Mason Jr.
Songs
Mary J. Blige
Songs
Thomas Newman
Songs
Scott A. Jennings
Sound Effects Editor
Tate Taylor
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The Tower of Lies
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Richard Jewell
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The Birth of a Nation
Aug 9, 2011
Beverly Hills, California
Aug 10, 2011
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Versus
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Stripper Wives
1999
Sally's Beauty Spot
1990
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Battle your watched movies head-to-head
Community Top Movies
Evil Dead II
1987 · 14 wins
The Dark Knight
2008 · 14 wins
Halloween
1978 · 13 wins
Final Destination
2000 · 12 wins
Halloween II
1981 · 11 wins
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