In Which I Come Late to the Party: The Help

It seems I have a habit of not catching a book until it comes around on paperback, and by that time, the book has been out for a while already.  I usually find these come-latelys-to-me at Costco or Target.  The Help was one of those books.  It came out in hardback in February, 2009, and wasn't released in paperback until April 5, 2011, but, somehow, I never was interested in it, never caught the buzz over it.

I'm not exactly sure what caused me to pick it up that summer day in Costco, but I had a vague recollection of there being a movie coming out based on the book.  I'm the kind of movie watcher who likes to read the book first, <insert shaking fist and head> because that movie better stick as closely as possible to the book.  I'm not sure why I am one of those "That wasn't in the book!" movie-goers but I am.  My poor family.  So I bought The Help to read in anticipation of the movie release on August 10, 2011.

I absolutely loved the book.  It touched me deeply, and even caused me to look at people differently.  I live in an extremely segregated county in North Carolina, even in this day and age, and could identify with some of what went on in the book.  Kathryn Sockett's writing was eloquent and well-suited for each character.  I came to strongly dislike Hilly Holbrook, and her bullying kind of Christianity, which to me, isn't even real Christianity.  I came to root for Minnie in her battle against her husband.  I so desperately wanted Celia to be accepted into the group.  And I especially wanted Abileen to help Skeeter.  I wanted lives and attitudes to change; some did and some didn't.  But that is the human condition.

I eagerly anticipated the movie and made plans with my friend Margaret to see it at the very first possible showing on opening day, something I have only done one other time.  But that's when my movie doubts began to surface.  How closely will this movie stick to the book?  What will they leave out?  What will the movie focus on in a way the book doesn't?  Can this movie live up to the book?  I firmly believe that many a good book has not been done justice by it's movie.  This sums it up for me:



So Margaret and I went.  In the middle of the day on a Wednesday, the theater was packed.  The audience was very diverse.  And the movie lived up to the book.  There was one scene where the police were arresting Yula Mae, well, without spoiling it, let's just say that every single person sitting in front of me jerked back.  I have never seen a response like that in a movie!

According to IMBD, The Help has been nominated for 53 awards from 29 different awarding organizations.  It has only won 36.  It is nominated for 4 Oscars: Best Picture, Best Actress, and two Best Supporting Actresses.  It better win.  That's all I'm saying.

And it didn't.  How incredibly disappointing.  The Help lost to The Artist for Best Picture.  (Have YOU seen The Artist?  I hadn't even heard of it until the nominees were announced.)  Viola Davis lost to Meryl Streep for Best Actress in a Leading Role.  And I was in that half of Americans who went: "On no! Oh come on . . . ."  Viola Davis should have won that!  At least Octavia Spencer won for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.  Frankly they should have given a double award for that category;  Jessica Chastain should have gotten one for her role as Celia Foote.  And Hollywood wonders why people don't watch - because they don't give awards to movies people actually watch and like!