Every so often Hollywood gives us a "landmark" movie that is a must-see. Along side The Color Purple, Roots, and other major African-American historical films, we must place The Help.
The story takes place in Mississippi in the early 60s. Those were days when American citizens of color had to sit in the back of the bus, could not vote, had to cross the street when whites approached, and were treated as less-than-human. What a disgrace.
Those of us who are old enough to have lived during those times know how shameful they were. It took Lyndon Johnson's Civil Rights Act of 1964 to award African-Americans equality under the law and to abolish the old Jim Crow ways.
The Help takes us back to a time that every American, white or black, must re-visit. Painful as it is, we must return to a time when maids were treated like slaves. We must recall how complicit all of America was in the mistreatment of fellow Americans.
Without being a spoiler, I can report that the film tells the story of some very brave domestics, black women, who risk life and limb to tell what being a maid in a southern household is all about. Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer shine as the leaders of the revolt. Watch for their names when Oscar nominations are announced.
Emma Stone emerges from starlet status to real actress. She plays the young, idealistic journalist who strives to share with the world the misery of those "imprisoned" in the south. She could also get an Oscar nod.
Add to the stellar cast Bryce Dallas Howard, Cicely Tyson,and Sissy Spacek, and you can imagine what a treat awaits you! But it's a sad, dour view of America. A few laughs lighten the spirit a bit. Don't expect to feel good after viewing the film.
GRADE: A+ An amazing, important movie that all viewers should RUN to see.
Oh, now this is what film is meant to be. Take a rich novel with substance (I loved it!), add perfect casting that allows for superb performances (thank you ALL), and play it in late summer when the blockbusters have come and cooled. Now, we just need to get more men in the theatre. There were four in our showing, 3 in my sister's.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I think I actually liked this better than the book. There's just something about people's eyes.
Dr. Melissa harris-Perry, professor of political science at Tulane, and African-American, had a real problem with the film. One criticism was that they spent as much film time on Evers' death as the bridge club scene. Well, this is not a film about the Civil Rights movement; true, that is the larger picture, the backdrop, if you will, to a more intimate tale. But as she points out herself, this is really a coming-of-age story about Skeeter. I would add, also a coming-of-age for Abilene, as she struggles to find her voice. Beautiful story beautifully told.
Yes indeed, Valerie, as you noted, this is what real film is all about. Should there have been more Civil Rights History background? Not for folks like you and me who lived through that sad and disgraceful period in American life. But for the younger generation, yeah, probably, even if the book did not do much more than note the Evers murder. Loved the characters in this movie. So memorable. Oscars await!
ReplyDelete