Ileana’s Movie Review: The Help

Starring: Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Bryce Dallas Howard

Summary: Adapted from the 2009 novel, The Help tells the story of black maids working for white families in Jackson, Mississippi during the sixties. The movie focuses on Aibileen (Davis) and her sassy best friend Minny (Spencer). We see the trials they endure at the hands of the housewives they work for. Leading the housewives is Hilly (Howard) who firmly believes it is her duty to keep whites and blacks separate. Things change when Hilly’s friend Skeeter (Stone) comes home from college determined to be a writer. She decides to interview Aibileen and the other maids to get their perspective on domestic life in the south. However, when the book is finally published it creates a bit of an uproar within Jackson.

As I have stated before, I absolutely adore Emma Stone and wanted to see this movie because of her. After seeing the movie I was pleased to see that hers was not the only spectacular performance. Bryce Dallas Howard did a phenomenal job as Hilly, so much so that you can’t help but cheer as she gets her comeuppance. Octavia Spencer was also delightful as the feisty Minny, who isn’t afraid to tell it like it is. But it was Viola Davis who stole the show. Her performance as Aibileen was heart-breaking and touching. Every time you look at her, you can see how tired she is of the life she is forced to live.

Trivia: Emma Stone and Bruce Dallas Howard have both played Gwen Stacy in Spider-Man movies.

Rated: PG-13 – For thematic material.