The Help

"Courage sometimes skips a generation. Thank you for bringing it back to our family."

Life in Jackson, MS doesn't change.  Black maids raise and care for white children, and then the children grow up and turn into their parents.  This is the status quo for Abileen (Davis), who has a knack for babies until they reach a certain age.  Abileen lost her own son, and since his death she has been working for the Leefolts.

Mrs. Leefolt's (O'Reilly) best friends are Hilly Holbrook (Howard) and Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan (Stone).  Hilly runs the social circles with an iron fist, keeping everyone on task and under her thumb.  Her mother (Sissy Spacek) employs the best cook in town, Minny (Spencer).  Minny is outspoken and is fired, with only one option left: Celia Foote (Chastain) the social outcast.

Skeeter doesn't want the same life as her friends, she has big dreams.  Skeeter finished college and is looking for a writing job.  A New York editor suggests Skeeter find a unique topic for her writing.  She wants to write about the perspective of the help, and asks Abileen and Minny to talk about their experiences as maids.  Since it's against the law, what will happen if people find out what they're doing?

I read the book ("The Help" by Kathryn Stockett), based on a glowing recommendation from my mother.  She read it because everyone in her boss' family had just finished the book and loved it.  So I dove right in.  The book was a powerful, well-written story that I couldn't put down.  Meanwhile, many of our friends saw the movie and raved about it.  So after my roommate finished the book, we decided to spend the $8 to see the movie in theaters, and took along a friend that had not read the book.

Our take: you should wait to read the book AFTER you see the movie.  My friend loved the movie, while my roommate and I had lukewarm feelings about it.  The movie is good, but if you've read the book you will disappointed by the changes.  People that see the movie first, enjoy both and find that the book explains some situations better (obviously there is more detail in the book).

With my literature background, I am a book purist.  I like my film adaptations to remain true to the original literature.  There are exceptions, but I tend to prefer the book.  Obviously you can't fully flesh out the story in a 2 hour movie, and to faithfully adapt a novel to the screen involves making it much longer (like a mini-series), but I hate when filmmakers change a character or scene to make it more friendly to a mass audience.

The movie takes a lighter look at the plot of the book.  There are still serious moments, but other aspects of the story focus more on the humor of the situation.  Some characters / plotlines are condensed or removed or replaced with new scenes that have the same general feel.  Overall I wasn't bothered by the changes, but there were a few that stood out.  First, they changed the Constantine plot slightly (the daughter), to keep one character likeable.  Also, they took out one of my favorite Celia scenes, when she defends Minny.  The scene in the book clearly lays out who Celia is, and cements her relationship with Minny.  The scene was replaced with Celia tending to a cut on Minny's face... same premise, but the book version is better.


The cast is great and fully embody their roles.  Viola Davis and Emma Stone carry the film, while Octavia Spencer gets to say the things that everyone wants to say.

A decent film ... but the book is better.

The Help (2011) 146 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for thematic material
Director: Tate Taylor
Starring: Emma Stone as Skeeter Phelan
Viola Davis as Abileen Clark
Bryce Dallas Howard as Hilly Holbrook
Octavia Spencer as Minny Jackson
Jessica Chastain as Celia Foote
Ahna O'Reilly as Elizabeth Leefolt

That Touch of Mink

"What happened?"
"I was knocked down two flights of stairs and then viciously attacked by a dog in a taxi. This has been the most satisfying day of my life."

Cathy Timberlake (Day) is a nice girl that has a tendency to date the wrong men.  One morning on her way to an interview she is splashed with mud by a passing car.  Her new dress is ruined and his interview does not go well.  The car that splashed belonged to Philip Shayne (Grant), a rich businessman who is used to getting what he wants.  When they meet so he can apologize, there is an instant attraction, and they spend the entire day together.

He wants to take her to Bermuda.  She thinks it is a marriage proposal, while he is just planning a fling.  Despite warnings from her outspoken and protective roommate, Connie (Meadows), and Shayne's assistant, Roger (Young), Cathy goes to Bermuda... but can she live with being the mistress and not the wife?


They don't make movies like this anymore... Cary Grant was a superb leading man, regardless the role (from his serious turns in Alfred Hitchcock movies to slapstick with Katharine Hepburn to any number of romantic comedies).  Doris Day was an iconic woman, playing the sweet and innocent girl in the majority of her films.  Their films are great, even after all these years.

This film has lost something over the years... especially now when it is normal for an unmarried couple to vacation together and sleep in the same room / bed.  But the film still works because of the strong cast.  Grant and Day are perfect.  Their are aided by Audrey Meadows, best known as Alice on the TV show The Honeymooners (1953-1956), and Gig Young.  Meadows is a great best-friend character, who gets to do the things most women want to do for their best friend.  Young steals the show as Shayne's assistant who is in therapy because of his job.  He has great chemistry with Grant and delivers the funniest lines.  There is also a notable cameo by New York Yankee players Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, and Roger Maris.

A great Friday-night movie (or for girls night)!

That Touch of Mink (1962) 99 minutes
Director: Delbert Mann
Cary Grant as Philip Shayne
Doris Day as Cathy Timberlake
Gig Young as Roger
Audrey Meadows as Connie Emerson

How to Steal a Million

"American millionaires must be all quite mad. Perhaps it's something they put in the ink when they print the money."

Charles Bonnet (Griffith), is a wealthy art collector.  Many of the pieces in his collection have not been seen for years, including the Cellini Venus sculpture.  Bonnet agrees to loan the Cellini Venus to a museum in Paris.  However, Bonnet's Venus and his art collection are fakes; the Venus was sculpted by Bonnet's father.

Bonnet agrees to allow the museum to borrow the Venus, much to the chagrin of his daughter Nicole (Hepburn).  Nicole's fears are realized when the museum decides to test the sculpture.  To save her family reputation, she hires a "society burglar," Simon Dermott (O'Toole), to steal the sculpture before the tests.  Nicole met Simon when he broke into her home and she accidentally shot him.  Can they pull off the impossible and steal the priceless sculpture without getting caught?



A delightful romp of a heist film.  The story is funny and intriguing, with everything building to the heist.  Audrey Hepburn glides gracefully into the role of Nicole, delivering a solid performance.  Peter O'Toole channels Cary Grant's suave leading man persona as Simon.  They have decent chemistry and both work well.  The stars are flanked by Hugh Griffith and Eli Wallach.  Griffith looks like he's having a great time as Bonnet and gets the best lines.  Wallach has a smaller role as a wealthy art dealer... he is entertaining and a good actor, but not noteworthy in this case.

A must-see for Hepburn fans.

How to Steal a Million (1966) 123 minutes
Director: William Wyler
Starring: Audrey Hepburn as Nicole Bonnet
Peter O'Toole as Simon Dermott
Eli Wallach as Davis Leland
Hugh Griffith as Charles Bonnet

The Mummy (1999)

"You better think of something fast, because, if he turns me into a mummy you're the first one I'm coming after."

Librarian and aspiring archaeologist Evie Carnahan (Weisz) is given a map to the lost city of Hamunaptra.  She enlists the help of her cowardly, treasure hungry brother, Jonathan (Hannah), who gave her the map and an intricate box that turns into a key.  To get to the city they need the help of Rick O'Connell (Fraser), an American prisoner who's been there before.

At the site they encounter a group of American treasure hunters, led by Rick's old "friend," Beni (O'Connor).  Rick, Evie, and Jonathan find the mummy of High Priest Imhotep (Vosloo).  That night Evie reads from an ancient book the American team finds, and brings Imhotep back to life.  His resurrection means death for the Americans and destruction for the world, unless they can stop him.  With help from Ardeth Bay (Fehr) and the rest of the Medjai, who guard Imhotep's tomb, can they stop Imhotep from fully regenerating and resurrecting his lost love, the pharoah's mistress Anck-su-Namun (Patricia Velasquez), into Evie's body.


A remake of the 1932 Boris Karloff film.  The plot mimics the original, but the names and places have changed.  In addition, this film embraces the action of the situation... feeling more like an Indiana Jones.  There is more humor and horror than the original.

This was Brendan Fraser's first action film, and made him into a certifiable action star.  His leading man charisma and ability to deliver a sarcastic comment, makes him the perfect leading man.  This film also launched Rachel Weisz into stardom... making Evie plucky but vulnerable, smart and strong-willed.  She owns the role.  John Hannah completes the trio as Jonathan, Evie's bumbling brother.  He works well in the role, delivering consistent laughs and working well with the rest of the team.  The rest of the cast is good, but not as good as the chemistry of the trio.

The film was successful enough to have 2 sequels: The Mummy Returns in 2001 and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor in 2008.

The Mummy (1999) 125 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for pervasive adventure violence and some partial nudity.
Director: Stephen Sommers
Starring: Brendan Fraser as Rick O'Connell
Rachel Weisz as Evie Carnahan
John Hannah as Jonathan Carnahan
Arnold Vosloo as High Priest Imhotep
Kevin J. O'Connor as Beni
Oded Fehr as Ardeth Bay

The Mummy (1932)

""Death... eternal punishment... for... anyone... who... opens... this... casket. In the name... of Amon-Ra... the king of the gods." Good heavens, what a terrible curse!"
"Well, let's see what's inside!"

In 1921, a group of archaeologists, led by Sir Joeseph Whemple (Byron), uncover the tomb of Egyptian priest Imhotep (Karloff).  Buried with Imhotep is a special scroll, which resurrects him when impatient Ralph (Bramwell Fletcher) translates and reads it.  When the rest of the team returns, both the mummy and scroll are gone.

Ten years later, Imhotep resurfaces as a modern Egyptian man named Ardath Bey.  He goes to the site of the latest archaeological dig, led by Frank Whemple (Manners), whose father led the team that originally discovered Imhotep. Bey offers them a tip: the location of the tomb of Pharoah's daughter Ankh-es-en-amon.  Imhoteph's love for Ankh-es-en-amon was the reason for his death by mummification.  He wants to resurrect her soul into the body of a modern Egyptian woman, Helen (Johann).  But Helen is in love with Frank.  Can the Whemple men, with the help of ancient Egyptian scholar Dr. Muller (Van Sloan), save Helen?


In my quest to watch all of the original versions of classic monster movies, I sat down with this film... having already seen the 1999 remake series starring Brendan Fraser.  And sadly, I have to admit, I prefer the remake (that never happens).  While Boris Karloff is amazing, the film is not as strong (or holds up as well) as other monster movies.

Edward Van Sloan is the VMP of classic (1930s) horror movies: appearing (as essentially the same character) in Frankenstein, Dracula, and The Mummy.  Once again, Van Sloan is the voice of reason / the expert in the strange situation.

It's o.k., but I prefer Frankenstein (or Dracula).

The Mummy (1932) 73 minutes
Director: Karl Freund
Starring: Boris Karloff as Imhotep / Ardath Bey
Zita Johann as Helen
David Manners as Frank Whemple
Arthur Byron as Sir Joseph Whemple
Edward Van Sloan as Dr. Muller

Young @ Heart

"Jean, did you see that white light that everybody talks about?"
[laughing] "No. I refused to look."

A documentary about a senior citizen choir from Northampton, Massachusetts.  The group of twenty-two singers, known as "Young @ Heart", are known for their renditions of popular hard rock songs.  Director Stephen Walker, and his crew, follow the choir and director Bob Cilman for two months as they prepare the new material for their upcoming home concert and international tour.

The choir interpret songs ranging from James Brown's "I Feel Good" to Sonic Youth's "Schizophrenia."  The choir has unique interpretations on the song, making you re-evaluate the song and decipher the lyrics in new ways.  In addition to seeing how the songs are brought to life, you are taken inside the lives of the choir.

I don't normally enjoy or seek out documentaries, but this was an exception.  It is engaging from the opening scene, as the oldest member of the choir, Eileen Hall, speaks the lyrics to "Should I Stay Or Should I Go" by the Clash.  You will laugh, and you will cry: I dare you not to get choked up during the performance at the prison, or during Fred Knittle's performance of  Coldplay's "Fix You."  When I reach that age I hope to have half the energy these people have... and their zest for life.  I will not soon forget this movie.

Young At Heart (2007) 107 minutes
Director: Stephen Walker & Sally George