What Do The Critics Say?

"Stockett’s book was written with great affection for these characters, even when it veered into suds and overstatement. Films are both more literal and more impressionistic, and the movie version of "The Help" actually improves on the book. A Southern gothic comedy-drama with wickedly observed performances and a story arc that feels absolutely epic, despite the modest, domestic setting." Burl Burlingame HONOLULU STAR-ADVERTISER "The appeal to emotion here is often simplistic, but it’s the skill with which the heart strings are plucked that make this such a moving, unsettling, compassionate, ultimately uplifting neo-classic. If you get to the end of this movie without tearing up at least once, please check for a pulse; you might already be dead. A runaway hit in America and surely bound for Oscars. Very, very strongly recommended." Jim Schembri THE AGE "Tate Taylor's film isn't heavy on preaching, nor is it overloaded with saccharine sentiment. Rather, it has a real bite to it with feisty characters you care about or love to hate, as well as emotion that truly pulls you in with its raw underlying power. This feel-good story is a knockout: a much more emotionally satisfying and meaningful watch than last year’s sugary Eat Pray Love." Katina Vangopoulos CUT PRINT PREVIEW "If you lived through that time, it is incredible to contemplate how much has changed (and how much hasn't) over the years, not only in race relations but in attitudes toward women. That's part of the fascination of watching The Help. Provides great parts for two exceptional actresses, Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer. It isn’t too soon to be talking about Oscar where these women are concerned; their humanity shines through every scene." Leonard Maltin LEONARD MALTIN'S PICKS

"Fine actresses sharing thick pressure cooker air: Davis inhales, Stone fumes, Spencer erupts. The Help is well meaning and entertaining and best of all affords us the rare opportunity of seeing several watchable actresses chewing on a meaty multi-course feast together. Chief among the delights in the acting arena is watching the dependable Viola Davis. The interplay between the characters makes up the bulk of the entertainment value." Nathaniel Rogers FILM EXPERIENCE "Though The Help sometimes gets close to becoming an uppity pantomime, the film always corrects itself , thanks to an unfailing moral compass. And also some sharply administered jolts of comic relief. Superbly cast and effectively scripted, The Help has been designed to forge a direct connection with the viewer on an emotional level. This it does with a sensitivity and sureness of intent that guarantees its heart and head remain in the right place at all times." Leigh Paatsch HERALD SUN "A Civil Rights drama that artfully dramatizes the love for one's enemy espoused by Martin Luther King. The Help's aim is true. And a climactic scene, in which the maid played by Davis confronts the movie's most vile bigot, unfolds with such unexpected compassion and grace (as opposed to the usual sort of righteous comeuppance we get at the movies) that it nearly takes your breath away." Josh Larsen LARSEN ON FILMS "The movie doesn't sugarcoat the difficulties of being African American in Jim Crow Mississippi, but there are positive messages about how the '60s were a revolutionary time for Civil Rights, even as so many had to die to achieve it. The film not only teaches about segregation and the importance of racial equality, but it also shows how oppressed people have important stories to tell." Sandie Angulo Chen COMMON SENSE MEDIA

The Inside Story As friendship is so vital to the story of "The Help", so was friendship vital to how the film got made. The film's Director and Screenwriter Tate Taylor and Kathryn Stockett, author of the book "The Help", were childhood friends who grew up together in Jackson, Mississippi, in the 1970's. After taking five years to write the novel and receiving sixty rejections from literary agents, Stockett was close to giving up when she gave it to Tate Taylor for a read. Taylor recalls: "I started reading the manuscript and was blown away. I was moved by the truth of the story, about these unlikely women coming together to create change in Mississippi in 1963." Taylor remembers calling Stockett and telling her, "This is fantastic. You cannot give up: this will be published. If it doesn’t, I’ll make it into a movie." The authenticity of the story of "The Help" resonated with Taylor from the moment he opened the book. "“This was our childhood. Kathryn and I weren’t quite raised like the characters in the book because we were raised in the seventies. But our mothers were single moms who had to work. And they, like the women in the story, needed to get help with the children. Kathryn and I like to refer to the women who raised us as our co-mothers. Mine was Carol Lee and hers was Demitri." With Stockett’s blessing, Taylor, with the help of their mutual friend and producer Brunson Green, acquired the film rights to "The Help" and Taylor began to adapt the novel into a screenplay. About a year later, in 2009, "The Help" was published by Penguin Books. Taylor happened to be traveling through Alabama withStockett and Brunson Green following a book signing in Jackson, Mississippi, en route to Atlanta, the last stop on the book tour, when Stockett received a call from her publisher. They quickly pulled over at a truck stop to hear the news from the publisher: "The Help" was debuting on the New York Times bestseller list. Green recalls, "I snapped a photo of them celebrating in front of the truck stop with their Smirnoff Ices. Kathryn was literally on the phone with her publisher and very excited.Spurred by passionate word of mouth from readers, "The Help" stayed on the New York Times bestseller list for one hundred and three weeks, six of which were in the number one spot. In the meantime, Taylor and Green embarked on a mission to set the movie up with a veteran producer. It was only natural that Taylor would take the project to Chris Columbus ("Bicentennial Man") who had known him for some time. When Taylor asked him to read the manuscript, 2004 BAFTA Children's Award winner Columbus agreed. "I read the book and it was phenomenal. It was so complex and socially relevant for our time." Tate Taylor (who played Lieutenant Percy in the 2002 film "I Spy") knew from the beginning the film had to be shot on location in Mississippi, where the story takes place. He wanted to capture the period of time in a very honest and entertaining way and it couldn't be accomplished on a movie studio back lot. The producers agreed with Taylor's premise that Mississippi itself is a character in the film, and though filming in the heat of a southern summer would be challenging, they set out to find the perfect representation of what the South looked like in 1963. Columbus was also impressed with Taylor's screenplay and felt strongly that Taylor was the best choice to direct the project. "Tate’s the only guy who could have directed this movie because he lived in this world; he grew up with these people. He understands every detail, every nuance. And that’s what you look for in a director." The next step was to find a studio that would support the their vision of turning "The Help" into a feature film. This was not an easy process as Taylor and the producers found themselves also meeting rejection, just as Kathryn Stockett had with the book. Then what they all had worked and hoped for happened. "DreamWorks came in and really supported Tate directing the film and that really was the kick off," Columbus states. Green notes: "Tate and I are Mississippi natives, so we knew we could accomplish a complete and genuine look there. Along with our production designer, Mark Ricker, we set out on a road trip across Mississippi and searched for five days for the perfect spot. When we finally arrived in Greenwood, we saw that the 1960s Jackson has remained intact. Everything fit: we saw Skeeter’s and Hilly’s houses, and the abandoned ballroom where we could hold the benefit. It was at that point we knew Greenwood was the right place. The town opened their homes and their hearts to the entire production." When the filmmakers discovered the town of Greenwood, Mississippi, they knew that they had the ideal setting. Producer Michael Barnathan ("Cheaper by the Dozen") notes: "Greenwood is an interesting place. It is like stepping back in time. It affected the movie in a big way and I don’t think we could have made the same movie if we were shooting it somewhere else. It was inspiring to be there." The town provided the perfect setting to go back to the 1960s and offered the filmmakers exactly the authenticity of time and place they were looking for. Production Designer Mark Ricker ("Julie Johnson" & "Julie & Julia") searched the local area for the perfect exterior locations for the character's homes and then created interiors that represented the feel and look of the '60s and were true to the characters’ personalities and lifestyles. Taylor ("Pretty Ugly People") notes: "The South is an oppressive, complicated, beautiful, tragic, loving place all in one bundle. And being there as a group, like we were in summer camp, really bled into these performances and into the film." "It’s about taking the audience to a time and place," Columbus ("Home Alone" & "Night at the Museum") summed up. Mississippi is nothing like the neighboring state of Louisiana. The architecture changes when one crosses the Mississippi River. "You can drive around and see the cotton fields here, but they are just cotton fields. The real difference I noticed was in the houses. You can’t find Mississippi houses in Louisiana. They are just different," says Ricker. The filmmakers found practical locations for the Phelan Farm, Hilly’s House, Elizabeth’s House, the Foote Mansion, the Robert E. Lee Hoteland Aibileen and Minny’s houses all in Greenwood or neighboring towns. For the actors, shooting in Mississippi gave them a different perspective, which helped in building their characters. "Mississippi’s another character," says Viola Davis. "You feel the ghosts of the past. You feel the ghosts of all the people who died with unrealized hopes and dreams. You feel it in every fiber, in the heat, in the homes and in the faces of people who live here. It informs your character in a way that wouldn’t have been informed if you were shooting in L.A. And, I hope that people see that when they see the film." "All the films that have done it well have made it feel real. And that's what I think Tate did so beautifully." It was important that Tate Taylor be not only surrounded by a cast that would support his vision, but also that he have a really talented crew to create the authenticity he wanted. "Since Mark Ricker is from the South, I knew he was the perfect choice. Then luckily I got Stephen Goldblatt as my Director of Photography, who is just phenomenal and whose body of work speaks for itself." One of the biggest responsibilities in casting "The Help" was living up to the book readers’ expectations and the filmmakers felt a great obligation to the readers to bring the characters to life in an authentic way, while at the same time casting with an eye to reach an audience who'd never read the book. They searched for actors who could transcend who they are as a personality and become the real, honest characters that were in the novel. Taylor (who was cast as Satterfield in "Winter's Bone") recalls: "When we were looking for actors, I was looking at how they talked, the way they moved, and these actresses just have such great body language that I swear they could be in Jackson, Mississippi. That really guided me a lot of the way. It’s just a regional authenticity." Barnathan ("Fantastic Four") confirmed, "Tate didn’t want a 'Hollywoodized' version of the South. He wanted to have it feel authentic. So that was his gauge for assessing the actresses." In many ways the character Aibileen is the heart and soul of "The Help." She is also perhaps the most complex and conflicted of the women. For this all-important role, the filmmakers were thrilled when two-time Tony Award ® winner ("King Hedley II" & "Fences") and Academy Award ® nominee ("Doubt") Viola Davis read Taylor’s screenplay and accepted the role. However, it wasn’t an easy process to lock her down. "We weren't certain that we could get her for the role, since she was committed to her Tony Award® winning role on Broadway's 'Fences', but timing was on our side and everything fell into place," Green says. "For me it felt like a movie where it wasn’t just a chance for me to create a character that was interesting and complicated but it was also a chance for me to be in a movie that illuminated a part of our history that we have a tendency to be silent about," says Davis. Emma Stone ("Easy A" & "Zombieland") was a hands-down favorite to portray Skeeter Phelan primarily due to her scene-stealing vulnerability in a series of comedic movies. As Skeeter, Stone portrays an Ole Miss graduate who has come back home, is living with her parents, unmarried and desperately in search of a career in journalism. "No one else could be playing Skeeter except for Emma Stone. Kathryn, the author, feels the same way. I met Emma and saw some of her work and it was just so obvious. She is so smart and she brings to the character of Skeeter this intelligence, a healthy naiveté, and you just root for her," says Tate. Stone describes Skeeter as "a bit of a misfit. Someone who has never been rebellious, she has always conformed to the laws of her society, her family, her friends." One of the most difficult roles to cast was that of the antagonist Hilly Holbrook. "Hilly is that type of villain who has no idea that she is doing anything wrong," says Brunson Green. Bryce Dallas Howard ("Hereafter") isn’t necessarily the first person you’d think of to portray an iconic villain, but the filmmakers all agreed that she was the right actress to portray Hilly Holbrook. Howard was first introduced to "The Help" through her mother who had read the novel. "I read the script first and just thought, oh my gosh, this is wonderful. I auditioned for it immediately. Only then did I go back and read the book." Versatile, talented actress Octavia Spencer (who played a Streetwalker in "The Nine") was Taylor's first choice for the dauntless Minny. "Octavia and I were roommates for four years, and Brunson, Octavia and I all ran around." "A lot of playing Minny was stripping away what is inherently me and leaving what is inherently Minny: a strong woman who lives in an oppressive environment, an abused wife and mother of five; and a good cook," Spencer ("Ugly Betty") revealed. What's It All About?

Skeeter, a southern society girl has returned home from college. The strong willed young woman is determined to become a writer, but her ambition turns her friends lives and the town they live in, upside down when she decides to interview the black women who have spent their lives taking care of prominent southern families. Aibileen, her best friend’s housekeeper, is the first to open up, much to the dismay of her friends in the tight-knit black community. Despite Skeeter’s life-long friendships hanging in the balance, the two continue their collaboration and before long more women come forward to tell their stories. As it turns out, they have a lot to say. Along the way, unlikely friendships are forged and a new sisterhood will emerge. 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.

The Verdict "Sometimes, memories of a good read can get in the way of appreciating a good film. Thankfully, that's not the case, when it comes to the bigscreen version of Kathryn Stockett's wonderful book, "The Help". The characters literally leap from the book onto the bigscreen in what is a seemless transition, thanks to the superb casting of some very talented and familiar faces. Taking on lead roles are Emma Stone ("Ghosts of Girlfriends Past"), Viola Davis ("Knight & Day"), Bryce Dallas Howard ("The Village"), Octavia Spencer ("Dinner For Schmucks"), Allison Janney ("Juno") and an actress many won't be familiar with: Jessica Chastain ("The Debt") who plays the socially ostracised Celia Foote. Those who have read the best-selling "The Help", will find Tate Taylor's big screen version every bit as good as the book. The life of the 'maids' and what they endure, will enthrall viewers thanks to a feel of genuine authenticity, while the struggle for racial equality that runs in the background adds more weight. In fact, many Australian cinemagoers may find their concience pricked by this tale, which brings to mind, the struggle of our 'First Nation People'. Bring the tissues as "The Help" is highly emotive at times, ensuring most viewers will shed a tear or two. Guys, show some nounce. Don't dismiss "The Help" as just another chick flick. You'll only be confirming to your partner, that you haven't tamed the Neanderthal within. Very Recommended. 4 1/2 STARS." Who Is Playing Who?

Emma Stone Viola Davis Bryce Dallas Howard Octavia Spencer Jessica Chastain Ahna O'Reilly Allison Janney Anna Camp Eleanor Henry Emma Henry Chris Lowell Cicely Tyson Mike Vogel Sissy Spacek Brian Kerwin Wes Chatham Aunjanue Ellis Ted Welch Shane McRae Roslyn Ruff Tarra Riggs Leslie Jordan Mary Steenburgen Tiffany Brouwer Carol Sutton Millicent Bolton Ashley Johnson

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

Eugenia 'Skeeter' Phelan Aibileen Clark Hilly Holbrook Minny Jackson Celia Foote Elizabeth Leefolt Charlotte Phelan Jolene French Mae Mobley Mae Mobley Stuart Whitworth Constantine Jefferson Johnny Foote Missus Walters Robert Phelan Carlton Phelan Yule Mae Davis William Holbrook Raleigh Leefolt Pascagoula Gretchen Mr Blackly Elain Stein Rebecca Cora Callie Mary Beth Caldwell

The Production Team Directed by Tate Taylor Screenplay by Tate Taylor From the best selling novel by Kathryn Stockett Produced by Michael Barnathan/Chris Columbus/Brunson Green Original Music by Thomas Newman Director of Photography Stephen Goldblatt Film Editing by Hughes Winborne Casting by Kerry Barden & Paul Schnee Production Design by Mark Ricker Art Direction by Curt Beech Set Decoration by Rena DeAngelo Costume Design by Sharen Davis Run Time 146 minutes Rated M [AUST] Copyright ©2011 - Dreamworks SKG & Walt Disney Films - All Rights Reserved ©1999-2011 - The Movie Pages & Impact Internet Services - All Rights Reserved. Protected by Australian & International Copyright, Trademark Laws & Intellectual Property Rights.