Having just finished reading The Help shortly before seeing the film adaptation, I’m in a position to say what's often true: the novel is generally superior. This holds up with The Help as well. It proved difficult to separate my thoughts about the book while watching the movie; it was almost impossible not to constantly compare them and find fault with the changes made. Still, I managed to appreciate the film on its own terms, though having read the original story certainly helped. The Help recounts the experiences of black domestic workers in 1960s Jackson, Mississippi. The narrative centers on white Miss Eugenia ‘Skeeter’ Phelan and her attempt to give a voice to these women by documenting their stories from their perspective – an unprecedented opportunity for them to be heard. Aibileen and Minny are two central figures among the black women featured. One significant drawback is how the film rushed what was a gradual development in the book: the bond of trust that slowly builds between Skeeter and Aibileen. In the novel, it takes considerable time for Skeeter to earn Aibileen's confidence and elicit her innermost feelings. The movie makes this transition seem abrupt. What’s troubling isn’t simply that the film version falls short compared to the book, but also because it fails to explain *why* this trust was so hard-won. The novel clearly illustrates the danger these women faced when expressing their true opinions about their white employers; the film doesn't convey the palpable tension and sense of urgency present in the written story. These women risked not only their jobs but also their lives and those of their families, simply for engaging in conversations with a white woman. The movie also lacks some of the character development found in the book. Several changes were made that resulted in characters appearing abruptly, without clear motivations. Celia Foote, a poor white woman who married above her station and consequently endures constant scorn from other wealthy women, is one such example. Her relationship with her maid, Minny, provides a heartwarming element to the story, but it’s largely absent from the film. Continuing comparisons to the book would make this review endless, so I'll move on. Fortunately, the casting was spot-on across the board. Emma Stone is excellent as Skeeter, perfectly capturing her youthful spirit and innocence. Viola Davis embodies Aibileen with a performance that deserved an Oscar. Octavia Spencer’s portrayal of Minny is exactly as imagined – sassy, quick-witted, and possessing an attitude capable of silencing even the most privileged white woman, regardless of the consequences. Jessica Chastain's performance as Celia Foote was also exceptional. Bryce Dallas Howard portrays Hilly Holbrook, the story’s antagonist, with chilling effectiveness. Allison Janney is enjoyable as Skeeter’s mother, though she differs from her depiction in the book. Sissy Spacek, playing Hilly's mother, adds a welcome presence to the screen; it seemed the director expanded her role for more time on camera. Overall, the film maintains a reasonable pace and has solid construction, despite some alterations to the original timeline. While disappointing when measured against the source material, this is a common issue with book-to-film adaptations. I still give The Help an 8 out of 10, because it’s an important story told well, and the acting performances are outstanding. However, if you have the time, I highly recommend experiencing the story through reading the novel instead.

Source on TMDB