A little racially uncomfortable to be sure, the fact that the story is fictional robs it of the excuse that "well, it happened", and it is a little overly sentimental. It's also a little too safe... there's lost potential as this would have benefited from being a little more biting. I can't help but feel conflicted, because aside from this it is an impeccably crafted and entertaining film with really great acting. Great movie, but maybe best not to think about it too much. Score is not a grade.

A powerhouse performance from Davis, and great performances from the rest of the cast. Strong script, sensitively handled and at times heartbreaking, but not on the verge of becoming too cheesy. I don't really know why this seems to be getting a lot of stick.

racismo sem cair no lugar comum.

Well intentioned but far too simplistic and heavy handed drama which feels like a relic from the 1960s in its simple minded exploration of the effects of racism. Performers are adequate but struggle against a screenplay which veers wildly from scatalogical humour and satire to intense drama, which only serves to trivialise the important issues being discussed. Draws characters of both races in too broad strokes. Interminable length is the final nail in the coffin.

THE HELP's value as a portrait of a time, place, and mood has been much questioned (not without justification), but as an actors' showcase, it's excellent. Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer are both superb, Spencer perfectly embracing Minny's pain and humor, and Davis Aibileen's weariness and determination. The script is not so good, being weakly constructed and having too many one-dimensional characters, but the acting and sense of period (and the moments of real emotional power) pull it through.

Good story, excellent acting.

An insightful movie with strong acting.

very obvious but the cast is good

Solid performances move this along well. However, the light-hearted affair is sappy and more than predictable. Nothing profound.

At times I just wish it was a bit more in depth and less predictable (the majority of the whites are some sort of pitchfork wielding she-demons). It kept me engaged, which is more than I can say for most "feel-good" films, mostly due to some well done performances (no need to name names, everyone was equally competent).

The ignorance of history displayed in this movie soured me to it, despite its unique approach and strong cast. To wit: the scene where everyone in the black church has a copy of the book, as if they needed to read it to know the truth about segregation, and implying that the Civil Rights movement had started in the 60s, and they were fine with the status quo prior to that.

The only type of movies I find almost as hard to bear as those mindless CGI crap-fests for teens is emotionally manipulative melodramas 'for women'. Add some social problem like racism explored in really primitive and clean way and you have yourself two and a half hours of cringes and face-palms. Admittedly some of the characters were funny, not sure if that was the intention. Costumes were well done, I think.

There was really this times in the past,shame on us :(

It would be perfect if not for pretty much all of the white people behind the camera. More perspective from "the help" would be fantastic.

The performances are brilliant. The script not so much, but its still entertaining.

http://acriticalreviewofthehelp.wordpress.com/

It was sappy and predictable, but I still really enjoyed most of the characters and performances. Yeah it's light hearted, but I'm fairly certain there's no rule that every movie dealing with this subject matter or that period has to be completely dead on serious or tackle the toughest issues at all times. It's a fun/tear-jerking movie, and it's worth it for the excellent performances alone.

It's a bit too long and gets a bit sappy at times but it's still far better than I expected.

This is okay, I guess. It's kind of amateurishly made, but it kept my attention for 2 1/2 hours. It's watchable and involving in the way soap operas or TV dramas are watchable and involving--the characters are all portrayed as faultlessly likable (except for the cartoonish villainesses) and the story's painted in such elaborately broad strokes that we sort of find ourselves swept along against our will. I sat through it and sort of moderately enjoyed it, but it didn't raise my pulse any.

The Help's biggest selling point, its tremendous ensemble cast, is unfortunately led by an out-of-place Emma Stone who doesn't service much to bring the other characters together. I would imagine the book is much better at getting the message across, but the Help is certainly worth watching for the at least half-dozen award worthy performances scattered throughout.

Most criticism seems to stem from expectations not being met of a film that should comprehensively analyze the civil rights era from the perspective of black Mississippi maids in the '60s. Unfair, as the film chose to tackle a variety of themes under the context of this era: racial, gender, class, social, & family issues. The cast balances the comedy and drama perfectly!

Damn this is a good film. Stellar performances all around, and it'll make you laugh and cry. Nice personal highlight of some rediculously recent history. Probably lighter than it would be if it was going for full accuracy, but does the job.

Let me explain my lowish score: This is an enjoyable movie that whitewashes the struggle for civil rights. So it's hit and miss.

Every character is either a paragon of goodness or a bastion of supreme evil. Which might be fine if the story wasn't trying to realistically portray history. Watch it if obvious, simplistic, well-worn moral statements make you feel better about yourself.

for me this movie is remembered by its actresses and their acting specially Viola Davis , Octavia Spencer and Jessica Chastain . ofcourse it has a right subject and script but the acting ensemble is what I get influenced .

Generic, cliche story... 2D characters. Add civil rights movement (sorta) and the critics go crazy.

Played me like a fiddle.

Between this and "50/50" Bryce Dallas Howard is really getting pigeonholed as a mean bitch. Other than that the acting was pretty much as flawless as the morale was politically correct, the plot was predictable and the whole thing was uncontroversial. It's simply anemic. So no wonder that the Academy loves it.

Great acting but a horrible, cliché filled and hopelessly predictable story. Political correct to it's inner core and a half hour to long. The Help was never the less great and charming company for it's running time and I would lie if I wasn't just a little seduced by the southern charm of the female cast.

Muy Buena. Excelentes actuaciones, y una trama que te atrapa. Mirada distinta de una epoca dificil.

The Help is charming in many ways where it does not follow the beaten path of the predecessors. But I felt really reluctant to watch it, as I really do not think the problematic is actual in any direction. Now I don't blame myself for doing this. There was a script and charming Emma Stone really to enjoy.

A powerful film thanks to some outstanding performances from it's mostly female cast, in particular Viola Davis and surprisingly Bryce Dallas Howard. While its a long film it certainly holds your interest as female maids band together to get their stories heard about their poor treatment by their masters. It's not a film for everyone but I can certainly see why it's gained so much attention and praise as it's a great film with a strong message, and again some stellar acting performances.

Besides the obvious lack of 'realism' of a rejected teenager helping with the racism cause on the USA, the film is quite good. It has a powerful story to be told, but the writer and the director had chosen to tell it in a lightly way, however standing strong at the same time. Also I have to mention the solid acting by the cast, the very good costumes used in this movie and the clean and stylish cinematography too. And at last, how can someone not fall in love with Celia Foote?