The Help (12A)

A rare film that was as enjoyable as the book. Brilliant acting by all, superb sets, and yes there was some broad brush characterisation and storytelling, but still it hit home truthfully about race bigotry and also class snobbery. The maid's relationships also made me cry, it was a very moving and powerful film. Great to see Cissy Spacek too acting wittily and brilliantly.

I loved the big houses, spick and span - good work ladies! Those flash big cars twenty foot long with two coupe doors - sublime, the elegant gardens and scrumptious pies, tight waisted frocks and pencil skirts - hell why did I miss the 60's? I just need some of that home help down in my Essex spread. Give 'em all actors an Oscarino each - I'm gonna buy that book, just love the pale blue cover.

Mississippi, the same year that Kennedy is killed, is an abomination of racial hatred. Truth be told the Southern US States still hold a scary volume of racial tensions. The Help dwells on the petty everyday behavior of mistresses towards their maids. But it's these accumulated insults that grind away at the maids' dignity. The cast-iron law that maids cannot use the mansion house toilets, whatever the urgency, and must not be sassy. The practice that maids are passed onto to the next generation of daughters by their mothers, confers a job for life, but removes freedom of choice. These harsh iniquities are set within a glittering array of colonial mansions, bridge afternoons, chocolate pie and fabulous Cadillacs. A minor rebellion takes place amongst the maids fed by the newly graduated Skeeter Phelan, she secures a NY journalist's career launched on the back of the maids' everyday gossipy revelations about their nasty employers - a book is successfully published, "The Help" earning the contributers $40 each. This all ties up rather nicely as Skeeter gets her job and the maids' lose theirs. A Women's Institute's view of inhumanity from a kitchen range vista but still an enjoyable two hours.

Very enjoable and moving film. No special affects just great acting. worth seeing!!!

I was led to believe it was a film based on a true story so was a little skeptical. At the end it told me it was from a novel and strangly didn't mind the slight contrivances. Clearly based on the dreadful treatment my fellow whites have meted out over the years. So, shame on us. But a very interesting way of telling the story. Highly enjoyable and moving at the same time and definite oscar worthy perforrmances all round. My only slight gripe is I found it difficult to catch all the dialogue. Go see it you won't be wasting your time.

Well, got my tear duct's troubled (and my tear duct's aren't usually troubled unless watching all time fave's) and not a second too long. Downside? 80's MISSISSIPPI BURNING deals with such behaviour with far more power and - what't he hell? EMMA STONE top billing? 2 better performances on display but, hey! now's not the time (wtf?) Anyway, great viewing, lovely vibe, not a second to long but....25 years too late perhaps? 7+/10

And I agree as well, hence my own 4 stars. It's corny as hell, it isn't deep, and it has more than a few cardboard-cuout characters. But it's fun, and it's well acted, has a memorable gross-out gag and features Emma Stone looking remarkably like Lindsay Lohan, which is entertainment in itself. Don't look too deeply into it; just enjoy its quickly passing two plus hours.

Missed the first 10 mins, but soon caught up. Forget the pretentious crap. It's not a scary film, it does have a message, of times gone by, but this was a thoroughl;y enjoyable film which touches just about every emotion and was well worth seeing, even at that length! Deserves every one of its 4 stars.

Simple message racismn is odious and not all white people are evil i have seldom been as moved as i was watching bthe help they should award oscars to the whole cast And Jessica is surely the new streep yes it pushed every button known and by the end newmans bloody piano scvore was grating but a great fil 4 stars

So let's see; it's getting 2 stars in audience reviews because it's about two hours and something long? Time for objectivity. I agree with the main review and have nothing to add; ignore the occasional clichés and schmaltizeness and you're left with a highly enjoyable film.