I have never been a huge fan of seeing a movie based on a book I thought was wonderful save three exceptions: The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Harry Potter Series, and Princess Bride.
I am torn about my feelings for the work done by Tate Taylor's adaptation of Kathryn Stockett's novel, The Help. Halfway through the movie, all I could do is think about what was left out: the intricacies and development of each character were not there. So many story lines changed or left out altogether. That is what always disappoints me. I know the thoughts in the characters minds, and what they are feeling, which is difficult, if not impossible, to translate to the screen. As I watched, I kept thinking to myself, "why did you do that?" And, "that's not what she said. She said it so much better." And I kept thinking, why did you make such a leap in the story and leave that huge gaping gap?
Also, I was wondering if I hadn't read the book, would I really appreciate and understand the message of the book - because I was able to fill in the huge gaps that the movie left out, whereas the viewer of the movie is missing the internal dialogue.
However, as the last half of the movie unfolded, I began to appreciate and prefer Tate Taylor's interpretation of this important story. In particular, he created a much stronger and compelling character in Charlotte Phelan, Skeeter's mother. She became one of the heroine's of the story, instead of one of the villain's. And there were more emotionally uplifting and moving moments in the last part of the movie, that elicited emotions that the book did not, by rewriting the story.
But the most disappointing aspect of the movie was the storyline that was not fully developed between Aibileen and Mae Mobley, the two-year old daughter of Elizabeth Leefolt. There was so much going on with these two in the book, resulting in the complete dissolution of racial disparity that could only result from childhood innocence during that time period. This was one of the key themes of the book - that children do not know evil, until taught it. So sorry to see this theme downplayed in the movie.
However, the movie did have it's upsides and strengths over the print version. Three scenes in particular struck me as standouts above the novel:
1) Sissy Spacek's phenomenal portrayal as Hilly Holbrook's mother, Missus Walters. Her character had much more impact in the movie, particularly with the scenes of The Terrible Awful, the book club reading, and the phone call urging her daughter to read the book because it was "scandalous" and sounded "just like Jackson."
2) Allison Janney's portrayal of Charlotte Phelan. When Hilly Holbrook shows up at the Phelan home to "tell on" Skeeter to her mother about writing the book about The Help. In the book, Skeeter's mother did not know about the book, but in the movie, she had secretly read it and figured out that "Anonymous" was her daughter. The telling off of Miss Hilly in a southern mother appropriate way to defend her daughter, Skeeter, was a high point of the movie. Whereas in the book, Charlotte was always more concerned with preserving her appearances and societal status. This was a fantastic change in the movie vs. the book.
3) Minnie's relationship with the Foote family. Although this relationship was one of the highlights in the book, the movie took it to another level. The scene toward the end of the movie where Celia makes a spread of food that she cooked all by herself, and set it on the dinner table where she admittedly could not beg two of the towns people to sit was touching. Celia's statement of accomplishment of "doing everything Minnie had taught her" (which never happened in the book) was moving. But most of all, Johnnie Foote pulling the chair out for Minnie to sit down at the same table as them to eat - that brought tears to my eyes. That was one of the best scenes in the movie.
But I wonder. If I hadn't read the book and known these characters inside and out - would this movie have had the same emotional impact? I would be happy to hear from anyone that saw the movie, and did not read the book. In the meantime, my husband will be the guinea pig, and I will gauge his reactions to this movie, because he has not read the book.
However, I am disappointed that one of the best lines in the book was not in the movie - unless I missed it. "Wasn't that the point of the book? For women to realize, we are just two people. Not that much separates us. Not nearly as much as I'd thought."
If you don't see the movie, at least check out the book, or vice versa. A new and insightful spin on a very important time in American History.
If you have read the book and seen the movie - what are your thoughts? What are your thoughts in general about film adaptations of classic writings?
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