The Help

Touching. Quite touching, indeed.

Some critics have critacised the film for glossing over its racial themes. I disagree. Although these themes are not EXPLICITLY explored, they are not omitted or sugar-coated, well, not SIGNIFICANTLY glossed. Some scenes made me feel quite uneasy - the film can be morbid, especially in the early scenes. Bryce Dallas Howard's confident portrayal of the COCKY ringleader constantly reminds us of the context, Jackson, Mississippi, circa early '60s. The coloured were powerless and that cocky witch (give and take a letter) held the power. This film runs for ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY SIX minutes, no one is going to sit there and watch hopeless tales of coloured maids for that amount of time... not even me.

So naturally, this film is inspirational. I'm very glad that it isn't IN YOUR FACE inspirational, and this can be credited to the script and the superb cast. The lovely Emma Stone is great as the generous, intelligent and rebellious journalist. Viola Davis is perfect as the reserved Aibileen - maid of an AIR head, who doesn't love her OWN daughter just because she isn't beautiful, BOO. I love Octavia Spencer! She is divine as the outspoken MINNY (her comic timing is SPOT ON). Though I would have liked more time with STONE, I hear the OSCAR bells ringing... what is it... VIOLA DAVIS. Oh yes, her much needed kartharsis at the end... "you're a godless woman!" AMEN!

Needless to say, the supporting cast is effective. Sissy Spacek (SPARK-ET) brings a spicy, edgy spark to her character... pun intended. Jessica Chastain with her Marilyn Monroe-ness is adorable as the naive Celia, the only one with a decent ... let's say aesthetically pleasing... husband, proving that aside from Skeeter (Stone) there are other decent white people.

Celia is naive and Skeeter is intelligent, but they're both generous to the coloured because they are not trapped in the typical white mindset [of the time]. They are ACTUALLY grateful for THE HELP from these people. This is why the film is great, it's not simply WHITE VERSUS COLOURED where WHITE is the villain; it's a misunderstanding. Hilly (Howard) truly believes in what she is fighting for... even though her concern is rather illogical; basically, she wants to preserve her way of living and frankly we all want that stability. HOWEVER, stepping on the backs of others and treating them as sub-human... I don't know. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is in NO WAY 'glossy'.

At the end of the day, Skeeter's best-selling novel is insignificant. It reminds her mother of courage, and liberates Minny and Aibileen, but it is not a major milestone for social equality. Of course, we can't help but feel inspired because somethings ARE worth fighting for. However, we NEVER forget that this was only a patch of sunshine [for several characters] and that there were many [others] still trapped under the shadow of Jackson, Mississippi.

P.S. I really wanted to cry but I couldn't, although I almost did... someone with a heart would have cried.