I watched The Help this weekend.

[RiffRandell]

I didn't read the book, so I can't compare them but I really liked the movie.

Good cast--Octavia Spencer totally deserved her Oscar and Bryce Dallas Howard was really good in it.

[Bertha Venation]

1. That movie was very good. And I agree about Spencer.

I suggest your read the book. The filmmakers didn't deviate much; I was pleased to see that.

Didn't the racism portrayed make you furious? It was hard to watch. It was harder for Mrs. V.; she grew up with that horrible kind of racism.

Did you ever hear of the Clinton 12, or the Clinton, TN high school bombing? Clinton is Mrs. V.'s hometown, and she remembers those events vividly, although she was a child.

Further off topic: when four little girls died in the Birmingham church bombing, Mrs. V. was 12. She was gathered at Sunday school with some of her friends, and they were crying. A deacon went over to them and said, "I don't know what y'all are so upset over. It was only four little n***** girls." Absolutely infuriating.

[RiffRandell]

2. Big time.

I cried at certain parts. My husband and I discussed it the next day and he said it really depressed him.

Never heard of the Clinton 12--I'll look it up.

The deacon story is disgusting, and the same stuff is alive and well today. My friend fell on hard times and had to move back in with her parents who force her to go to church with them every Sunday. On the way to church, Dad was complaining how "all the Mexicans and n****** are ruining the country."

My friend is in hell right now.

[bigwillq]

3. It was entertaining

if not slightly overrated. As you said, good cast.

[LynneSin]

4. It was a great movie and I thought both Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer were amazing

Viola Davis was robbed of an Oscar but I guess the Academy felt Meryl Streep was long overdue for her third Oscar. (or to make up for the fact that Streep was robbed a few years back when Catherine Zeta Jones won for 'Chicago' when Streep was 100000% better in 'Adaptation').

In fact most of the cast was great except Emma Stone, I'm starting to think she's a bit overrated but that could be me.