THE HELP is an entertaining and amusing film while touching on the prejudices and
fear of the days in White controlled South in 1960s USA. One young white woman, Skeeter (Emma Stone), looks
to tell the story of the black maids who have to deal with the racism of the people who employ them including having separate bathrooms
just for the help.
THE HELP elevates to a movie about friendship and sacrifice for a better future for their
children. Skeeter strikes up a friendship with many of the maids while one of the maids has a friendship with a new
maid to help her around the house (without letting her husband know).
SPECIAL FEATURES:
Six deleted scenes with introductions by Director Tate Taylor are included on
the blu-ray (with three of the scenes also included on the DVD). Two of the scenes are interesting (with one being
cut to make for a more uplifting ending for a character) while most scenes were cut for pacing reasons. The Music video
for Mary J. Blige's "The Living Proof" is both on the Blu-ray and DVD.
The Blu-ray also has two very interesting
featurettes:
IN THEIR OWN WORDS: A TRIBUTE TO THE MAIDS
OF MISSISSIPPI has interviews with the maids who inspired the characters in THE HELP (including the one who helped raise the
director) and their children.
MAKING OF THE HELP: FROM FRIENDSHIP TO FILM is more of the story of how the novel
came to be written, published, and Tate Taylor got to direct it. Not much of it focuses on the actual making of the
film itself.
FINAL ANALYSIS: THE HELP is a touching story of friendship during the difficult 1960s
in Mississippi. I wish they had more extras even though most of the extras are rather good.
this
review is (c)12-18-2011 David Blackwell and cnanot be reprinted without permission. send all comments to feedback@enterline-media.com
