THE HELP - This Looks Like It Could Be One Of The Years Best Movies

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 5/15/11 at 6:35pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0dWCXCjX9o

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 5/15/11 at 7:55pm

The trailer made it look very good. However, I worry it will go the way of books like "Divine Secrets of the YaYa Sisterhood" and a few others in which the storytelling was just too big for the film and it ended up disappointing.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 5/15/11 at 7:57pm

Oh. My. Christ. I wanted to projectile vomit at the screen.

But, you know, it takes all kinds of taste to make the world.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/15/11 at 9:19pm

Oh....don't know if I like the look of that. I ADORED the book and that just looks too...bright and clean.

I grimace.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 5/15/11 at 9:20pm

Really, Namo??? I think it looks so good!!!

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 5/15/11 at 9:27pm

I agree dramamama-it seems really sanitized and Lifetime movie-fied. Im a little worried.

[Kad]

Posted: 5/15/11 at 9:36pm

The trailer makes it seem a bit "here's another story of a brave white person sticking up for black people when it wasn't cool" / "female empowerment period piece".

That said, any excuse to see more Viola Davis..

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 5/15/11 at 9:42pm

I just trust Viola Davis' film choices so much I know this will be good. And if it isn't, oh well. Lol

[CapnHook]

Posted: 5/15/11 at 9:50pm

This looks really good. I've only been deceived by a film trailer once, which was for SUNSHINE CLEANING.

I'm definitely seeing this on opening day. I'll go with ya, Jordan!

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/16/11 at 5:58am

I think it looks horrible. It's a strong (enough) premise with interesting characters that has been given the "feel good" Brady Bunch teen-girl treatment.

Yuck.

I think I just got a cavity watching that trailer. I may need an insulin shot if I ever see the actual film ... which is doubtful now. And I was actually looking forward to this.

[madbrian]

Posted: 5/16/11 at 8:08am

Looks like Tyler Perry remade The Long Walk Home.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 5/16/11 at 9:36am

I think they are waiting for August for a reason. They wont have to compete with the summer blockbusters.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 5/16/11 at 9:58am

You guys can suck it. I think it looks great! :-P

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 5/16/11 at 10:40am

It's hard to say. Trailers are often cut to sell to a certain audience, and they don't necessarily reflect what the movie is actually like.

But I gotta say this looks awfully cutesy-poo.

And how come everyone has a 60s hairstyle except for the main (I assume) character.

[StockardFan]

Posted: 5/16/11 at 12:34pm

I loved the book. Sometimes when I love a book, I'm afraid to watch the movie.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 5/17/11 at 11:55am

The trailer made me feel squicky. I just feel like I've already seen the movie where down to earth black folks teach life lessons to well meaning, but entitled, white people.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 5/17/11 at 2:51pm

I was excited because I loved Emma Stone in EASY A and of course Viola Davis is brilliant and Sissy Spacek is always great (absolutely hate Bryce Dallas Howard though, talk about someone who gets jobs based on her last name). However, that trailer makes it look like a fun summer movie about how this one good-hearted white girl wants to learn from all this exotic, (as Phyllis said) down to earth, working class black people.
I find the subject of maids in the 60s really interesting (CAROLINE OR CHANGE is one of my all time favorite musicals, probably second to FOLLIES), but this looks like such a squeaky-clean version of what was going on at the time. I'll wait for the reviews, but the trailer looks pretty annoying.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 5/17/11 at 8:03pm

Racism. It's really about the white people.

[ucjrdude902]

Posted: 5/17/11 at 10:22pm

I remember reading an early review of it, I wish I could remember where it came from but to paraphrase it said "Octavia Spencer has played her fair share of minor roles but now is the time for her to step into the spotlight. This role good get her a Best Supporting Actress nomination at the Oscars if not the award itself".

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 12/2/11 at 7:48pm

SPOILER:






Entertainment Weekly revealed a sad alternative ending for Minny.


'The Help': Octavia Spencer on the harrowing alternative ending for Minny -- EXCLUSIVE CLIP

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 12/2/11 at 8:59pm

The book is far from flawless--I felt it wrapped up too easily, and even on the page the whole ****-cake subplot felt like too much of an unrealistic crowd pleaser, but the movie amped all that up. It really didn't feel like it knew whether it wanted to be a (wonderfully acted) female empowerment crowd pleaser, or a more realistic drama. I think it works more or less on those terms, but a lot of it had me rolling my eyes.

As for this new dark ending--I actually think in the context of the film it might have seemed too much (in the context of *this* film--it could have worked in a different take on the novel) and comes off to me almost as more pandering for some reason, so it was probably smart to cut it.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 12/2/11 at 9:02pm

Maybe they'll use it in next Summer's "Cowboys and Aliens and The Help"

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 12/2/11 at 9:35pm

Could only improve Cowboys and Aliens.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 12/2/11 at 10:43pm

Octavia Spencer could kick some serious alien ass.