Movie: The Help

Release Date: August 10, 2011

Director: Tate Taylor

Starring: Jessica Chastain, Viola Davis, Bryce Dallas Howard, Allison Janney, Octavia Spencer, Emma Stone.

Tag Lines: “Change begins with a whisper.”

Relevance: I first watched ‘The Help’ in December of 2011 when it became available on DVD. It was a good thing I was alone in my apartment and didn’t see it in theaters. This was a three box of Kleenex, ugly cry kind of movie for me. And that is exactly what happened: big ugly cry.

As I have said before, art always leads to more art. I immediately bought and read the book “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett after I watched the movie. I cried reading it as well. I am easily moved by all forms of art, especially when it involves themes of racism, sexism or oppression of any people. I get angry. I get sad. I cry. It still amazes me that only fifty years ago, America was that ugly. We are still ugly. Yes, we have come a long way, but we have so much further to go. That is why this story and movie will be relevant for years to come.

The movie was nominated for four Academy Awards at the 2012 Oscars. I didn’t think it would win in the Best Picture category (It happened to be a really strong year for movies that year), but I did think Viola Davis would win Best Actress. She was absolutely flawless. She owned that movie and every scene that she was in. There was no one better than her that year and it was her year to win. She didn’t. Meryl Streep won for ‘The Iron Lady.’ *rolling my eyes* Don’t get me wrong, I love Meryl Streep. And yes, she was good. But not Viola Davis good. Ms. Davis did finally get her Academy Award for ‘Fences’ in 2016, but in my opinion, that should have been her second Oscar.

Not only has the movie (and the book) moved and entertained me, it has triggered an on-going “joke” in my household. Every time my husband makes a dessert, whether it is a pie or not, he mentions Minny’s secret ingredient. One day I’ll stop laughing at him.

Today’s Thoughts: I have re-watched ‘The Help’ numerous times since my first viewing. When a movie is this good, it’s always like watching it for the first time. And that’s what it felt like today. It again moved me to tears and it probably always will. I just can’t help it. (Pun, intended.)

What I find extremely interesting about this movie, is the criticism that the film gets about its portrayal of race and African Americans. Most of the criticism says that the film distorts and trivializes the experiences of black domestic workers and that it might be offensive to some African Americans. A phrase that I keep seeing is ‘white savior narrative in film’ which I touched on a bit when I wrote about ‘Dances With Wolves.’ (see 355. Dances With Wolves) It is the idea that a white protagonist is portrayed as a messianic figure who often learns something about him or herself in the course of rescuing non-white characters from their plight.

Viola Davis herself has said this of the movie:

“I just felt that at the end of the day that it wasn’t the voices of the maids that were heard. I know Aibileen. I know Minny. They’re my grandma. They’re my mom. And I know that if you do a movie where the whole premise is, I want to know what it feels like to work for white people and to bring up children in 1963, I want to hear how you really feel about it. I never heard that in the course of the movie.”

I can’t argue about any of this criticism. It’s 100% valid and I completely understand it. Maybe I love this movie so much because it is essentially a feeling of psychological compensation. Maybe I feel guilty for racist ancestors and family members and I want myself to feel better about a gruesome and disgusting period in all of our lives. Honestly, when I watch the movie, whether it was the first time or today, I didn’t think the character of Skeeter was the heroine in the story. For me, it’s Aibileen, Minny and the rest of the strong women that endured so much pain and humiliation. But again, I can only see this through the eyes of a white man, because that’s how I was born. But I am 100% open to listening and talking about this idea with others of all races, creeds and religions. One of the things I love most about film and art, it causes discussion and debate.

Despite any of the criticism, I can’t help but feel the way I do about the movie. It is an example like ‘The King’s Speech’ (353. The King’s Speech) and ‘Michael Clayton’ (354. Michael Clayton), that if released 10 or more years earlier, would have been higher on this list. As the years pass by and I get older, I am confident it will rise up on my list of favorite, most influential movies of all time. No doubt about it.

Awards: Academy Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, Octavia Spencer (winner), Academy Award for Best Motion Picture of the Year (nomination), Academy Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role, Viola Davis (nomination), Academy Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, Jessica Chastain (nomination), Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, Octavia Spencer (winner), Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture – Drama (nomination), Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a motion Picture – Drama, Viola Davis (nomination), Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, Jessica Chastain (nomination), Golden Globe for Best Original Song, “The Living Proof,” Thomas Newman, Mary J. Blige, Harvey Mason Jr., Damon Thomas (nomination), BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actress, Octavia Spencer (winner), BAFTA Award for best Film (nomination), BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, Tate Taylor (nomination), BAFTA Award for Best Leading Actress, Viola Davis (nomination), BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actress, Jessica Chastain (nomination), Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture (winner), Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role, Viola Davis (winner), Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role, Octavia Spencer (winner), Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role, Jessica Chastain (nomination), Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Acting Ensemble (winner), Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress, Viola Davis (winner), Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress, Octavia Spencer (winner), Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for best Supporting Actress, Jessica Chastain (nomination), Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, Tate Taylor (nomination), Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Song, “The Living Proof,” Thomas Newman, Mary J. Blige, Harvey Mason Jr., Damon Thomas (nomination), Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Costume Design, Sharen Davis (nomination), Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress, Jessica Chastain (winner), National Board of review Award for Best Acting by an Ensemble (winner), National Society of Film Critics Award for best Supporting Actress, Jessica Chastain (winner), New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress, Jessica Chastain (winner), PGA Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures, Michael Barnathan, Chris Columbus, Btunson Green (nomination), Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, Tate Taylor (nomination).

Ways to Watch: YouTube, iTunes, Google Play, Vudu, Amazon Prime, Hulu, DVD Availability.