movie night with the girls - a much needed night out. we saw “the help“.
title: the help
release date: august 10, 2011
rating: pg-13
set in mississippi during the 1960s, skeeter (stone) is a southern society girl who returns from college determined to become a writer, but turns her friends’ lives — and a mississippi town — upside down when she decides to interview the black women who have spent their lives taking care of prominent southern families. aibileen (davis), skeeter’s best friend’s housekeeper, is the first to open up — to the dismay of her friends in the tight-knit black community. despite skeeter’s life-long friendships hanging in the balance, she and a continue their collaboration and soon more women come forward to tell their stories — and as it turns out, they have a lot to say. 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.
my review: i was excited to see this as i had just finished the book last week.
i was surprised at how they massages the story from the book into a film.
i was more excited as to how they would address constantine
and the relationship between skeeter and her mom and with stuart.
i enjoyed bryce dallas howard as hilly.
but was disappointed in how they portrayed celia. they left so much debt of her character out.
albie was wonderful except the film allowed her strength
to some out immediately instead of slowly and with growth.
funny thing is i did cry in the movie because of the changes
with albie and may moblie and skitter and her mom.
my rating: 4/5
other reviews:
hollywood reporter
rotten tomatoes
huffington post
**rating scale – stars: out of 5
1 star: not a fan – at all. turned it off or walked out – asked for my money back.
1.5 stars: not worth my time. definitely, thought about turning on something else or was two steps away from walking out.
2 stars: fine. nothing to write home about. too much swearing and unnecessary scenes of sex and violence for my taste.
2.5 stars: was ok, but if i hadn’t seen it i’d live. just blah.
3 stars: enjoyed the movie but i was bothered by a particular aspect – poor plot, bad character development, could have cut down on the violence, sex, or foul language.
3.5 stars: glad i saw it. would recommend it. it won’t be one that is part of my permanent collection.
4 stars: i really enjoyed this movie. would recommend it to my friends and family; if it’s their style of movie.
4.5 stars: loved it. still thinking about it, laughing about it! actively promoting it to others to see.
5 stars: fabulous! bought it and/or downloaded it.
Ultimately, when you put the games and dating tricks aside the movie really was about just being yourself…that the right one will love you for you. And that we are all the exception. What a great thought.
