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From Amazon.co.uk
There are male viewers who will enjoy The Help, but Mississippi native Tate Taylor aims his adaptation squarely at the female readers who made Kathryn Stockett's novel a bestseller. If the multi-character narrative revolves around race relations in the Kennedy-era South, the perspective belongs to the women. Veteran maid Aibileen (Doubt's Viola Davis in an Oscar-worthy performance) provides the heartfelt narration that brackets the story. A widow devastated by the death of her son, she takes pride in the 17 children she has helped to raise, but she's hardly fulfilled. That changes when Skeeter (Easy A's Emma Stone) returns home after college. Unlike her peers, Skeeter wants to work, so she gets a job as a newspaper columnist. But she really longs to write about Jackson's domestics, so she meets with Aibileen in secret--after much cajoling and the promise of anonymity. When Aibileen's smart-mouthed friend Minny (breakout star Octavia Spencer) breaches her uptight employer's protocol, Hilly (Bryce Dallas Howard) gives her the boot, and she ends up in the employ of local outcast Celia (Jessica Chastain, hilarious and heartbreaking), who can't catch a break due to her dirt-poor origins. After the murder of Medgar Evers, even more maids, Minny among them, bring their stories to Skeeter, leading to a book that scandalizes the town--in a good way. Not since Steel Magnolias has Hollywood produced a Southern woman's picture more likely to produce buckets of tears (and almost as many laughs). --Kathleen C. Fennessy
Product Description
The #1 New York Times bestseller by Kathryn Stockett comes to vivid life through the powerful performances of a phenomenal ensemble cast. Led by Emma Stone, Academy Award®-nominated Viola Davis (Best Supporting Actress, Doubt, 2008), Octavia Spencer and Bryce Dallas Howard, The Help is an inspirational, courageous and empowering story about very different, extraordinary women in the 1960s South who build an unlikely friendship around a secret writing project — one that breaks society’s rules and puts them all at risk. Filled with poignancy, humor and hope — and complete with compelling, never-before-seen bonus features — The Help is a timeless, universal and triumphant story about the ability to create change.
Special Features:
Special Features:
- Deleted Scenes with introduction by director Tate Taylor
- A Senator's Son
- Keep on Walkin’
- “The Living Proof” Music Video
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
77 of 81 people found the following review helpful
By MadameAddams
Format:DVD
When I was invited to a preview screening of The Help earlier in the year, I was unsure of what to expect. This may be easier to understand when one takes into consideration that Walt Disney Studios are responsible for the distribution of a film that is targeted at the older woman, the single hardest demographic to coax into cinema screens presently. Having read the book, (read review here) I knew the director had a lot to prove. As a fan I was wary yet excited at the evolution of this great book and the reception it's had worldwide. It is an unfortunate truth that Hollywood rarely makes the most of the projects it gets it's hands on, in terms of quality at least thus, the concern for an international bestseller making its way into the lap of Disney is an obvious worry.
However, I was pleasantly surprised. The film is a well-constructed piece that remains loyal to Stockett's text and demonstrates the fear, discrimination and seething hatred that seems to have been so apparent during the 1960's of KKK riddled Jackson, Mississippi in a clear and poignant way. In contrast to other reviewers critiques, I did not find the film overly sentimental or sappy by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, Tate Taylor is to be credited for the realism he has managed to instill in the direction and in the screenplay, which he adopted from Stockett's text. For me, there were several outstanding performances, especially Octavia Spencer as outspoken Minny Jackson, the maid who rises above her many unfortunate choices in employer.
See full review here: [...]
However, I was pleasantly surprised. The film is a well-constructed piece that remains loyal to Stockett's text and demonstrates the fear, discrimination and seething hatred that seems to have been so apparent during the 1960's of KKK riddled Jackson, Mississippi in a clear and poignant way. In contrast to other reviewers critiques, I did not find the film overly sentimental or sappy by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, Tate Taylor is to be credited for the realism he has managed to instill in the direction and in the screenplay, which he adopted from Stockett's text. For me, there were several outstanding performances, especially Octavia Spencer as outspoken Minny Jackson, the maid who rises above her many unfortunate choices in employer.
See full review here: [...]
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase
I bought my wife the book The Help when it came out and she really enjoyed it. She then went to see it in the cinema and loved the film adaptation so buying this as a mothers day present couldn't fail! Set in a time of severe division and racial prejudice it can make the viewer uncomfortable by exposing the bigotry that black Americans suffered. The undertone of the film reminded me of Mississippi Burning [DVD] [1989] although without nearly as much hatred and violence as the story itself has very little to do with racist killings just touching on them briefly. Do not take this comparison the wrong way, this is a film that you can watch and feel uplifted by and has one of the funniest lines (regarding a pie) that I have heard in a long time. If you have an ounce of compassion this film will make you laugh, make you cry and ultimately it will make you happy that you watched it.
68 of 73 people found the following review helpful
By Ingrid
Format:Blu-ray
Was at the cinema yesterday and had a great experience with this film. Loved it so much - lots of laughter as well as tears - very emotional and lovely and it was entertaining through all two and a half hours. People laughed out loud and you could hear sniffling in the emotional parts. The actors acted so well and the filming was wonderful and the music so underlined the era and the story from the original book was followed as expected, altogether making it a memorable evening with colleagues. I will definitively watch it at least one more time - to get all the details and enjoy the film all over.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
great film
Never got a chance to see this at the cinema and wondered what all the hipe was about. It truly was a great film.
Published 16 hours ago by Mrs S Dayman
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Help
I read this book and felt the film was a" must" see for me. It lived up to my expectations.
Published 3 days ago by apple pine
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fab film
Watched at the cinema and read the book. Shocking to realise that segregation was so blatant, so hypocritical and so recent - and still exists in some parts.
Published 6 days ago by Ms. S. Hutchings
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Help
This story was beautifully written and acted It showed how arrogant the white people in Mississippi were. I hope they don't still think that they are better than black americans
Published 7 days ago by sandrawinsor
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautifully acted
A really great film. I very much enjoyed it. The characters were totally believable and I so wanted them to succeed
Published 7 days ago by GhostUponTheStage
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Help (DVD) by Emma Stone
This really is a must to see - although I thought the book was better. The story is a serious matter and very heartfelt pity for the poor black maids but at the same time very... Read more
Published 10 days ago by jewilliams
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great!
Loved this film. Drew me on from the first words of the movie! Excellent twist that will have you in stitches!
Published 12 days ago by Pen Name
5.0 out of 5 stars
Me and my family really enjoy this movie
This movie is inspiring. I recommend more people to watch it and share with family and friends. Nice family movie
Published 12 days ago by C Benjamin
3.0 out of 5 stars
Below expectations - The Help
The book was far better. This film needs to be watched several times at a high volume to hear and understand the southern dialect particularly the "Helps". Disapointing.
Published 15 days ago by Margaret Crabb
5.0 out of 5 stars
great viewing
Watched this on sky movies then read the book, it's one of those movies that make you laugh and cry and you can watch it again and again, timeless
Published 23 days ago by H. K. Hare
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