The Help

[Mugsy]

Black women are sassy servants to the main characters, fat people are funny side kicks. Both are allowed to reveal a sensitive side, but for no more than 1/6th of their characters screen time. I'm pretty sure that's how the law is written.

One of the leads in Bridesmaids was black. A huge movie that was a hit across the board.
I realize that's only one example, but it's better than none. She was not a sassy servant and was on screen for most of the movie.

[fictionista]

If you're referring to Mya Rudolph, she is biracial. I know, one drop rule, yadda yadda, but IMO, she isn't black. now, had it been Nia Long or Gabrielle Union in her slot, then maybe I'd rejoice. We can't pretend that Hollywood doesn't prefer a certain phenotype when it comes to minority casting, particularly in non-sidekick roles.

[Deleted]

Mar 4, 2012 22:05:06 GMT -4 fictionista said:

If you're referring to Mya Rudolph, she is biracial. I know, one drop rule, yadda yadda, but IMO, she isn't black. now, had it been Nia Long or Gabrielle Union in her slot, then maybe I'd rejoice. We can't pretend that Hollywood doesn't prefer a certain phenotype when it comes to minority casting, particularly in non-sidekick roles.

I don't think Mya's looks help her at all in Hollywood. She falls into the odd position of not looking black enough for "the black roles" and not white enough for "the white roles". I liked that "Bridesmaids" presented a biracial family in a completely matter-of-fact way. "Run Fatboy Run" also did. It's a short list. Movie makers seem to think that audience's can't wrap their heads around any blurring of racial definitions.

Anyway, it's not like mainstream movies are knee-deep in light-skinned black women being given major roles. All black actresses are pretty evenly shortchanged, in my opinion.

[ladytrentham]

I've only just recently seen the movie and haven't read the book yet. In the book, does Hilly Holbrook get a bigger comeuppance than in the movie? Not that "Now get your raggedy ass off my porch" wasn't awesome, but the very last scene where she's just upset, staring at the front door didn't quite cut it for me.

[Mugsy]

You didn't think having everyone in town figure out that she ate her maid's shit (when she wouldn't share the toilet with her) wasn't comeuppance?

[Deleted]

And having toilets left on her front lawn? Hilly is all about appearances, and in her own mind she's been ruined.

[Neurochick]

Mar 4, 2012 22:05:06 GMT -4 fictionista said:

If you're referring to Mya Rudolph, she is biracial. I know, one drop rule, yadda yadda, but IMO, she isn't black. now, had it been Nia Long or Gabrielle Union in her slot, then maybe I'd rejoice. We can't pretend that Hollywood doesn't prefer a certain phenotype when it comes to minority casting, particularly in non-sidekick roles.

Not black? I don't know about that. She's darker than my own mother who's always said that she's black. I don't think a person has to look like Nia Long to be a "genuine" black person. Comments like that only separate people.

[Deleted]

Mar 6, 2012 18:16:52 GMT -4 ladytrentham said:

I've only just recently seen the movie and haven't read the book yet. In the book, does Hilly Holbrook get a bigger comeuppance than in the movie? Not that "Now get your raggedy ass off my porch" wasn't awesome, but the very last scene where she's just upset, staring at the front door didn't quite cut it for me.

Well, in the book Skeeter's mother never really figures out what Hilly was and did, so she never even got to send her off the porch. The confrontation scene between Hilly and Skeeter was different. The mother does play a role though. The film also did Hilly the favour of showing her seemingly upset in the end at the things she has done; IIRC the book doesn't go that far. The last scene between Hilly and Aibileen was pretty much the same in the book.

I still wonder why they changed Constantine's conflict with Skeeter's mother for the film. Too complicated? Too big of a story that they didn't want to include?

[ladytrentham]

Sorry, should have made my point better: I felt let down because she was still in her position of power & influence--she was still able to push Aibilene's employer around. I would have liked to have seen her forced out of the Junior League, or similar.

And I was confused by the cold sore. Were they trying to imply it was caused by the two slices of pie???

Part of the problem for me is that I watched while home sick with a cold. I'll have to try watching again, without the benadryl haze.

[chiquita]

Mar 7, 2012 16:41:09 GMT -4 ladytrentham said:

Sorry, should have made my point better: I felt let down because she was still in her position of power & influence--she was still able to push Aibilene's employer around. I would have liked to have seen her forced out of the Junior League, or similar.

I think it was more accurate for Hilly not to face many consequences. The book was a first step for the maids, but the Civil Rights Movement still had a long way to go. Being the queen bitch racist was probably a major positive for the Jackson Junior League at the time.