The Help, Movie Review Example

Introduction

This section provides an overall depiction on the major topic that the discussion is to be about. Pointing out the historical value of the film, this section gives the readers a glimpse of what is to be expected within the entire context of the discussion.

About the Movie:

This section summarizes the entire movie, its themes as well as the creative solutions that the director used to make sure that the plot of the movie is able to convey the message it hopes to send to the viewers.

Technical Setup Critique:

This section gives particular focus on how the technical points of the movie that has been presented actually affects the entire meaning of the film towards the viewing audience.

Overall Reaction and Reflections:

The author gives a comprehensive definition of his stance in identifying the most compelling points of the film that he can relate to and that he can give attention to as somewhat important to the society at present. 

Introduction

The American white and black races have often been stationed against each other ever since the incoming years of 1960’s. It could be analyzed that with the whites established as the “lords” the black Americans are noted as slaves to these families that tend to treat them with respect and yet the said situation is most often than not an elusive dream. This is the reason why most journalists find the said topic interesting as it does provide a sense of definition on how prejudice and the instance of discrimination occurs in a society that is supposedly united by the goals of becoming one nation. One material that captured the essence of the said impact of racial separation in the American society is that of Kathryn Stockett’s novel.

About the Movie

Presented through a lighter view of the situation, director Tate Taylor decides to make a relative dedication of the consideration over the humor that envelope the reality assuming the course by which women ought to see women regardless of their race differences. Presenting the situation from the viewpoint of Eugenia Skeeter Phelan, a journalist who accidentally goes around the story of maids and provides a view of who they really are and what they really think instead of just seeing them as helpers in the house who are almost seen to be worthless by their “white lords”.

Appealing to the essence of womanhood, this movie hopes to create a bridge that is supposed to withstand racial differences because of the gender balance they have. It could be noted that along with the issues of slavery during the time, gender inequality is also considered as a serious matter to give attention to. In the movie, it could be realized that somehow, such value on womanhood is placed as a more important issue that Skeeter preferred to give attention to; something that is far beyond the condition of setting aside their races by valuing their condition of being women.

Technical Setup Critique

Set in the 1960’s, the envisioning of an almost perfect society has become the base of each setting. Perhaps setting a contrast between the environment and the actual social situation, it could be observed that the director was careful enough to set the sense of irony hence creating an option of redefining the theme of the movie. Bringing about the question of whether or not womanhood could be the specific answer to the social problem addressed in the movie, the director creates a desire on the primary character [as per defined in the novel] to find a way to make the ends meet through addressing the course of gender unison.

Being a supposedly “woman film”, the colors used to depict both the characters and the society have been bright and lively, something specifically apart from the commonality of the clothes and styles representing the “maids” or the helps. This specific definition of the characters notes their differences in a sense of providing a specific point of separating the lives that the two races lived and the roles that they took as members of the early American society. Even though there are some flaws especially when it comes to clarity of script, the entire movie was able to deliver the message it hopes to provide its viewers with, the chance of making a definite impact of pointing out how reality could bring people together in unity amidst all the differences they may have between each other.

Overall Reaction and Reflections

The meaning of the movie is rather compelling as did the novel that it has been based upon. Director Taylor was able to have an impacting reflection of the different characters that he specifically used in the film. Notably, bringing the three main characters together [namely Skeeter, Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer] gives a more specific point of refining the role that each individual has towards each other. Pointing out the envisioning desire of Skeeter towards finding a story beyond a story made the entire movie a worthy refined depiction of truth that has become obvious back in the 1960’s towards the current years of human existence [particularly focusing on the American society].

Showing how gender role definition is hoped to create a sense of realization on the unity that the society must have, it could be noted that the movie was effective enough in sending a message that womanhood was able to create a bridge that established a new friendship between the characters involved hence placing a sense of hope on the chance of developing peace and unity between the supposed “slaves” and their lords. Pointing out the role that the maids took which is specifically dedicated to the real meaning of motherhood, the movie specifically considered the importance of the maids as women and not as helpers alone. This means that the entire condition of the women became the most important consideration in the movie instead of showing how separate their races are from each other which often causes prejudice on those who do not understand the real meaning of womanhood. Overall, the quality of the movie could be rated above average when it comes to the theme that it hopes to send out to the audiences. It could be considered rather fair when it comes to the quality of cinematography as although it did provide a good sense of defining the meaning of the film, it was quite weak in refining the chances by which all the elements of the film come together for the establishment of its overall theme.