Adapted from Kathryn Stockett's bestselling novel, The Help is set in Jackson, MS, during the early 1960s, where ambitious author Eugenia “Skeeter” Phelan (Emma Stone) lands a job ghostwriting a “cleaning advice” column for the local newspaper, and—knowing little about the topic—seeks advice from her friend's maid, Aibileen (Viola Davis). Chatting with hired help doesn't sit well with the belles of the bridge club, so Skeeter sneaks out to Aibileen's house, asking her what it's like to be a black servant who takes care of white people's babies. Aibileen is understandably reluctant to respond at first, but soon she's sharing her suffering, including the fact that her only son was killed by racist negligence after a mill accident. This kind of fraternization breaks Southern societal rules and puts the pair at risk of the local law, but soon Aibileen's friend Minny (Octavia Spencer) decides to confide in Skeeter, as do a dozen other maids, telling their poignant tales of domestic life, particularly mistreatment by Southern women, such as Hilly (Bryce Dallas Howard), whose spitefulness offends everyone, including her mother (Sissy Spacek); Elizabeth (Ahna O'Reilly), who deliberately neglects her plump toddler daughter; and Skeeter's own ailing mother (Allison Janney), who inexplicably fired their beloved, longtime maid Constantine (Cicely Tyson). Also on hand is hapless Celia (Jessica Chastain), a shunned newcomer who's considered “white trash.” A provocative and powerful film, this is highly recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include deleted scenes (3 min.), the music video for “The Living Proof” by Mary J. Blige, and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release is a “making-of” featurette (24 min.), an “In Their Own Words: A Tribute to the Maids of Mississippi” featurette (12 min.), additional deleted scenes (7 min.), and a bonus DVD copy of the film. Bottom line: a decent extras package for a winning film.] (S. Granger)
The Help
Buena Vista, 146 min., PG-13, DVD: $29.99, Blu-ray: $39.99, Dec. 6 Volume 26, Issue 6
The Help
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