The Help

Name: The Help
Genre: Drama
Released: August 10, 2011
Duration: 137 min
Rating: 62
Cast: Emma Stone, Octavia Spencer, Viola Davis

2011

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 41 Critics

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 438 Ratings

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7.8

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7.8	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 438 Ratings

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THE HELP

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Movie Details & Credits

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures | Release Date: August 10, 2011

Starring: Emma Stone, Octavia Spencer, Viola Davis

Summary: Mississippi during the 1960s: Skeeter, a southern society girl, returns from college determined to become a writer, but turns her friends' lives--and a small Mississippi town--upside down when she decides to interview the black women who have spent their lives taking care of prominent southern families. Aibileen, Skeeter's best friend'sMississippi during the 1960s: Skeeter, a southern society girl, returns from college determined to become a writer, but turns her friends' lives--and a small Mississippi town--upside down when she decides to interview the black women who have spent their lives taking care of prominent southern families. Aibileen, 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 Aibileen 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. (Walt Disney Pictures)

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Director: Tate Taylor

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 137 min

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Awards & Rankings

39	#39 Most Discussed Movie of 2011
31	#31 Most Shared Movie of 2011

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

New Orleans Times-Picayune - Mike Scott

Aug 9, 2011

The Help isn't intended to be so much a movie about the ugliness of the era than an optimistic tale of what can spring from that kind of ugliness, about the ability of people to love one another even when they're surrounded by hatred. And on that level, The Help succeeds wonderfully, a warm and sweet song of hope. Read full review

Salon - Andrew O'Hehir

Aug 9, 2011

The Help definitely worked on me as a consummate tear-jerker with a terrific cast, and it's pretty much the summer's only decent Hollywood drama. Read full review

Miami Herald - Connie Ogle

Aug 10, 2011

The Help will make you laugh, yes, but it can also break your heart. In the dog days of August moviegoing, that's a powerful recommendation. Read full review

NPR - Ella Taylor

Aug 12, 2011

Big hair, fine period frocks and interior design lend The Help a pleasingly retro look. Yet for someone who grew up in Mississippi, the director has little sense of place. Read full review

Time - Mary Pols

Aug 10, 2011

For every obvious turn The Help takes, there is Davis, the ideal counterweight. Read full review

Austin Chronicle - Kimberley Jones

Aug 10, 2011

The Help may be more interested in the moral at the end of the story than the story itself, but what saves the film from its meticulous one-dimensionality is that nuanced, deeply moving cast. Read full review

Slant Magazine - Andrew Schenker

Aug 9, 2011

High school creative-writing-class ironies of all kinds abound in The Help. Read full review

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User Reviews

retiredat56

Sep 4, 2011

My wife grew up in the south and wanted to see this movie. Not excited to be there, I expected it to be melodramatic and unmoving. The story is all too real even if the characters are fictional. The acting is excellent. It is the story of real courage in difficult times. Even if asMy wife grew up in the south and wanted to see this movie. Not excited to be there, I expected it to be melodramatic and unmoving. The story is all too real even if the characters are fictional. The acting is excellent. It is the story of real courage in difficult times. Even if as predictable as Titanic, it is well done and worth seeing.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

busbfran

Dec 31, 2013

The Help is one of the most gripping movies I have seen in a long time, once you start watching you virtually can't move. This is a example of a successful movie that will always continue to keep to clued to the screen. Never have I watched a movie where you cry and laugh at the same time. AThe Help is one of the most gripping movies I have seen in a long time, once you start watching you virtually can't move. This is a example of a successful movie that will always continue to keep to clued to the screen. Never have I watched a movie where you cry and laugh at the same time. A must watch for everyone, you will not be disappointed!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MontiYan

Dec 21, 2012

I like it cause Emma is in it. Haha :D But I think its a great movie. Aight? So.. Yeah.

A great movie. A must watch. I really need to watch this. ugh ^^

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

bigfre

Aug 29, 2011

I enjoyed this movie although I never read the book I still went to go see it and I thought this movie was good it showed that emma stone can other movies that are not comedy over all it was great movie.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

lasttimeisaw

Jan 29, 2012

This four Oscar-nominated film has finally set ashore here in the theater and is destined to be a gratifying crowd-pleaser. It is a resourceful reference to the color discrimination period almost 50 years ago in USA. The film is able to find its resonance elsewhere in the world painlessly,This four Oscar-nominated film has finally set ashore here in the theater and is destined to be a gratifying crowd-pleaser. It is a resourceful reference to the color discrimination period almost 50 years ago in USA. The film is able to find its resonance elsewhere in the world painlessly, even for a Chinese like myself, discrimination is commonplace among human societies, and we can all empathize with the characters and enjoy the theatrical conflict with some well-infilled satisfaction after a lengthy 150 minutes. From director/writer Tate Taylor (who has a supporting role in another Oscar-favorite WINTER'S BONE 2010), THE HELP interweaves a lively portrait of the bitterness and felicity of the lives of black helps, through a young white girl's intervention to harness their stories as the source materials for her book. Maybe one can argue that all the twist-and-turn is too hoary for the audience in the 21st century, but propped by an all-out effort from a superb cast, the film miraculously enjoyable and the epiphany comes with a perfect tempo, arguably a supporting role, Viola Davis demos a tenacious mojo on screen and her emotional flare-up is wondrous to watch, Octavia, Bryce, Jessica are among the elites of the nearly all-female supporting groups (Viola and Octavia is my current win in the leading and supporting actress respectively), and old hands like Allison, Sissy, Cicely and Mary also showcase their meticulous scene-stealer dexterity. All these accompaniments has induced that Emma Stoneâ… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

BKM

Feb 20, 2012

The Help is a crowd pleasing bit of fluff that doesn't really dig dip into the true ugliness, pain and complexity of the race issue. However, it still works thanks to the excellent performances by the entire cast. Viola Davis, Bryce Dallas Howard and Jessica Chastain are especially good.The Help is a crowd pleasing bit of fluff that doesn't really dig dip into the true ugliness, pain and complexity of the race issue. However, it still works thanks to the excellent performances by the entire cast. Viola Davis, Bryce Dallas Howard and Jessica Chastain are especially good. But say what you will about whether or not the film portrays the issue of race accurately and honestly, it still wins you over with its enormous heart.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

nashville13

Nov 1, 2011

this movie's too hard to understand..... i think that a movie shoud have Understandable Plot,Clear Motive, and a movie should also be entertaining.i think this movie looked more likely a documentary than a movie.

0 of 9 users found this helpful09

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