The Help, Tate Taylor‘s adaptation of the Kathryn Stockett ’60s-set novel about black maids and their white bosses in Jackson, Miss., has prompted some African-American observers to express reservations about the lens through which the story is told.
Screen veteran Viola Davis, a star of the film, is frustrated by those responses, which largely have come from those who haven’t had the benefit of first seeing the movie or, in some cases, reading the book.
Davis, a Tony winner with dozens of film and television roles to her credit, including last year’s It’s Kind of a Funny Story and Eat Pray Love, and 2008’s Doubt, is one of several black actresses out front in the movie. The list also includes Octavia Spencer, the great Cicely Tyson, now 77, Aunjanue Ellis, and Roslyn Ruff. The seemingly ubiquitous Emma Stone (Crazy, Stupid, Love, Friends With Benefits) gets top billing.
“There are few movies coming out this year with African-American women in them,” Tyson told Entertainment Weekly. “Very few are being made. Black actresses have enough obstacles in our way without someone protesting an opportunity for us to show our work on screen. It’s one thing if you go see The Help and you don’t like it. But give it a chance!”
The Help opens wide today.
2 responses to “Viola Davis on the Backlash Against “The Help””
Ms. Davis is a great actress, it’s the film that is bad. The backlash is also having Nate Berkus as its executive producer. Insiders say his connection, a tv stylist, is just ridiculous. He was asked by the film’s director and other producers. They all play on the same team. Also, the negative publicity of him being a diva on his daytime talk show and his interest in only “pretty boys” guests, turns viewers off. He needs to change his image before the show is cancelled.
Didn’t know that about his background. But lots of viewers, and critics, would disagree that the film is “bad”? What did you dislike about it?
Thanks for reading and commenting.