The Help DVD
Starring: Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Jessica Chastain, Bryce Dallas Howard
Director: Tate Taylor
Rating: 4/5
The Help has been basking in award glory over the last few weeks as both Octavia Spencer & Viola Davis have won gongs on the award circuit.
This is was one of the most heart-warming movies that hit the big screen in 2011 and it deserved all of the praise and award nominations that came its way.
An aspiring author during the civil rights movement of the 1960's decides to write a book detailing the African American Maid's point of view on the White families they work for, and their hardships they go through on a day to day basis.
Along the way, unlikely friendships are forged and a new sisterhood emerges, but not before everyone in town has a thing or two to say themselves when they become unwittingly - and unwillingly - caught up in the changing times.
This is a faithful adaptation of the popular novel that blends humour with emotion and heartbreak so effortlessly that you cannot help but get swept away in the story and the struggle.
It's not very often that a female ensemble cast it put together for a movie but this one really does work a treat.
The performances are simply superb - but it is that of Viola Davis that really does stand out. It's a tour de force performance by Davis as she can not longer bear the way that she and her fellow maids are treated so, despite her fear of the repercussions, she stands up for what she believes in and does what she feels is right.
There is also a great performance from Octavia L. Spencer as Minnie as she provides many of the laughs in the movie with her no nonsense attitude.
Bryce Dallas Howard is also superb as is Jessica Chastain who, despite being a white woman, also finds herself excluded.
The Help is just a fascinating watch and the movie has been crafted so well - you can't help but feel for these women and you want them to fight back.
But this movie delivers a great message, without every being preachy, that the truth, no matter how difficult it is to tell or what repercussions it may bring, has the power to set you free.
It's inspirational and it's powerful, it's emotional, it's full of humour and it is a real tribute to the people of that time and the things that they suffered.
The Help is out on DVD & Blu-Ray now
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw
Tagged in Emma Stone Viola Davis Octavia Spencer