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The Help International Trailer, Or; How to Make the Civil Rights Movement Cinematically Friendly for White People

By Dustin Rowles | Posted Under Trailers | Comments (12)

Emma-Stone-in-The-Help.jpg

This is the second trailer for The Help that we’ve seen, and it does nothing to dispel the notion that the movie, based on Kathryn Stockett’s “sensational” best-seller, is Kentucky-Fried Disneyfying the Civil Rights movement. The white women are shrill and racist; the black maids are patient and wise. And Emma Stone’s Skeeter character is courageous and understanding. Cue another Motown track.

Doesn’t mean I don’t want to see it. Doesn’t even mean I’m not looking forward to it, because I am. I just wish the “courage” spoken of in the movie were actually applied to the story and its tone. But then again, the idea is to make white folks feel good about the progress African Americans have made, not feel bad for making it necessary.











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Comments

I don't know about calling this "Disney-fication" of the Civil Rights movement.

When I read the book, I felt that Abilene was the hero of the story. The idea of the book came from her dead son, she was the first to offer to tell her story, and she, right along with Skeeter, edited and really wrote the book.

The story is merely told from Skeeter's perspective.

Posted by: nix at June 9, 2011 11:31 AM

I certainly didn't think the book was "Disneyfied". It could have delved deeper into some issues, but it certainly wasn't sanitized. There were real consequences for all of the women involved.

The movie, however, looks... polished. Shined-up for mass consumption.

Posted by: Pea at June 9, 2011 12:42 PM

We manage to tell the story of the feminist movement without men, WWII without women, friends in New York without a single POC, but damned if we can tell the story of black people in this country and their struggle for civl rights without having to make white folks the focus. SMDH.

Posted by: khia213 at June 9, 2011 12:58 PM

My dad watched The Ghosts of MS the other day and said that he remembers his family laughing at the death of Medger Evers and that he felt sick and just shut his mouth. Not all white people sucked at the time but a the vast majority of them did.

Posted by: Melody Be at June 9, 2011 1:31 PM

What's weird is she looks exactly like the antagonist on "Luther" there.

Posted by: Jay at June 9, 2011 1:48 PM

I also cannot see the disneyfication there. The maids are not portrayed as angels and not every white woman is a bitch. What happened to some of these women is hard to stomach. Sure worse things may have happened in real life but these stories were enough to make me cry and be incredibly angry on their behalf all over again. I think that this makes this a valuable book. You feel with these women, thats what matters.

Posted by: Phedre at June 9, 2011 2:42 PM

Yes, but the important issue is that Emma Stone is too attractive, too short and her hair too tame to play Skeeter.

Posted by: Hannah at June 9, 2011 3:37 PM

I’m sick and tired of these type of movies wherein some smiling black maid has to forget about her own place in society and make sure little Susie grows up unharmed by life. All the while praying to god every night that her own husband or son aren’t lynched for nothing more than being black. This movie isn’t really about the goddamn maid, it’s about how some snot nose brat is made to feel safe by her wise maid. And of course the maid is wise, she’s wise because she can quote the bible at the drop of a hat and hum a mean hymn as she’s washing Mrs. Whatever’s husband’s dirty underwear by hand. If Disney wants to confront the Civil Rights Movement maybe the opening scene should be of a bunch of black men having their fucking skulls cracked open just for trying to sit at a counter and order lunch.

Posted by: Pookie at June 9, 2011 5:09 PM

Doesn't look much like the book but I'm interested

Posted by: Candy at June 9, 2011 11:05 PM

Allison Janney?

ALLISON JANNEY?

I love her. Must see this just for her. Even if it sucks and dies. It's Allison Janney!

Posted by: Fuckchop at June 10, 2011 2:06 AM

Is that Beverly Leslie I see?

Posted by: E-Money at June 10, 2011 10:56 AM

It looks all right to me. Not a theater purchase, but I'll Netflix it. It's Allison Janney, for one thing.

Posted by: Sara H at June 10, 2011 3:06 PM