In this century when racism starts to feel sooo old and primitive, we are reeled back in time during the 1960's civil rights movement in The Help, based on Kathryn Stocket's novel of the same title.
Skeeter (Emma Stone), an independent 23-year-old aspiring writer, lives in Jackson, Mississippi, in a Desperate Housewives-like setting, where white families each have their own black maid.
Skeeter is different. Not only is she still single and refuses to conform with her shallow and pretty young suburban mom friends, but she is also sympathetic to the plight of the discriminated black maids. Fueled by the unexplained disappearance of her own beloved black nanny, she risks imprisonment by secretly recording the black maids testimonies and experiences in the hands of their white masters, and writing a book about it.
Skeeter is different. Not only is she still single and refuses to conform with her shallow and pretty young suburban mom friends, but she is also sympathetic to the plight of the discriminated black maids. Fueled by the unexplained disappearance of her own beloved black nanny, she risks imprisonment by secretly recording the black maids testimonies and experiences in the hands of their white masters, and writing a book about it.
What could have been a touching, courageous, and inspiring movie, The Help, directed by Tate Taylor, is lacking and shallow. With such a sensitive and immensely profound subject such as racial discrimination, it does not emotionally connect. Sometimes you feel a tiny spark of emotion, but it immediately dissipates and do not blossom into a gripping experience. Emma Stone is unfitting for the role, her eyes devoid of depth in emotionally laden scenes. The treatment may be light and comedic, still this painful period in history should still be palpable, the fear and compassion for the discriminated group of people should rise to the surface and hit you. Nothing.
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| Redhead Bryce Dallas Howard, a talent to watch out for. |
The Help, in its entirety, is a disappointment, a self-aware movie that you will finish dry-eyed and unsmiling. Yes, it can hold your attention towards the end, but it's not soul-satisfying.
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