The Help

This year's summer offering with a pedigree was hounded by plenty of controversy after its release about the veracity of its depictions of life for black women in the 1960s American South.  Not knowing enough about that history to speak intelligently about it, I'll stick to the cinematic aspects of the movie.

Synopsis: a college graduate goes back to her home in Mississippi with a dream of becoming a journalist.  Being put off by the unfair way that black maids working for rich white families (like her own) are treated, she decides to write a book to tell their stories.  It won't be easy to get the very guarded women to open up, but once they do, the stories come flowing.  Once published, the book upends the life of our young author as well as those of the many people she wrote of and for.

Emma Stone does a good job in a serious role after her incredibly successful turn in the great comedy Easy A, but it's the black maids that really steal the show here.  Both Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer give star turning performances worthy of Oscar nominations (and even wins!).

Of note were also the always great Allison Janney, Bryce Dallas Howard, and this year's breakout star Jessica Chastain (who was great in The Debt).  Finally, Sissy Spacek turns in a subtle but incisive performance.

The screenplay is well written and deftly takes us through the many tense situations that arise between the black and white women.  The art direction/set decoration and costume design are top notch.

The Bottom Line: taken on its own, The Help is interesting, well acted, and well directed.  I would recommend it, especially to Oscar watchers, given that it will most certainly be showered with several nominations.

Grade: 8