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One could write long articles about what makes it detrimental to society. I believe I tried to explain briefly. If not, I'll make another,
short attempt:
It paints a false portrait of how people are.
It evokes sympathy for people who suffer in a dignified way. That is a false ideal of humanity. We are not like that. But this product is polished. It's purely a commercial product, made to please the palate - like an exquisite dessert. It's made to have maximum impact on the masses. This does not scare you enough, already?
It's not authentic. In real life, those who we are meant to have sympathy, throw temper tantrums at times. And we don't deliver perfect lines all the time, like they do in this movie. It's well-scripted and excellently directed and produced - it never veers off course.
I usually think Harry Warden has a bit too negative focus, too, but when I don't know exactly what he is talking about, I can't weigh in on it. In the matter of The Help, I *do* know what he is talking about. I even delivered a 10-15 minute diatribe to a stranger (or someone I did not recall who were) who came over to me to talk about how amazing The Help was, and how it stood far above all other movies at the festival - something I felt was a rubbish assessment. Harry Warden is just repeating the same things I said to this unwitting, male individual at the festival 10 days ago.
Movies that have mass appeal, just like anything that has mass appeal, alter the perception people (general audiences) have of the issues they deal with. They move goal posts. The Help creates an illlusion that racial issues can be dealt with overnight, and that some great victory was won in the sixties, because of a book, and because of this one, brave author.
On the other hand, I lived with three generations of African Americans from Mississippi, for two weeks last summer. A grandmother, a mother and a small son. I had hour-long talks with the grandmother. She explained to me how Mississippi was the most racist state in the US still, and how awful it was to be an African-American there. In 2010. So little has changed. But that is not in line with the palatable illusion that The Help creates. The Help provides easy absolution and release, for easily swayed, under-informed audiences. Almost all want quick fixes to complex problems, and giving it to people, is irresponsible. No conscientous principal, teacher or preacher would do that. But Hollywood does - because they are in the business of selling tasty products.
If you want to see an actual, authentic movie about racial issues and life in the deep south, I recommend you go check out "Ballast" instead. I saw that at the festival two years ago, in a huge auditorium. About 20 people there when it started, and 5 or 6 left when it ended. (In huge part because there were no subtitles, and the audio track was muddled, so anyone not very skilled in English, would not understand the dialogue.) No one ever talked about it, that I heard, or suggested it should be the winner of any prize during this quite flat and commercial festival. If you read reviews though, and check how it did at more intellectually prestigious festivals, you get quite a different picture. It was a great independent movie, that paints an authentic picture of life in the south. I can recommend it. But not if you thought The Help was a great piece of art, and authentic, I guess.
@giteshpandya FRI BO: #Help $3.63M, #Apollo18 $2.84M, #SharkNight $2.8M, Debt $2.61M, Colombiana $2M, Apes $1.85M. Sep 03, 09:01
THELP isn't that impressive. Its holds are good but in a different time of year, it wouldn't have a shot at number 1 Sep 03, 09:11
It couldn't compete with most films released during the heart of summer. {nm} Sep 03, 09:45
funny - it just did. and since when is a multiplier of over 4 - 4.5 (depending on how you calculate) not impressive? Sep 03, 09:54
Oh poor you. Can't handle people that don't agree with you. {nm} Sep 03, 09:57
And August is hardly the heart of summer. More like the end. {nm} Sep 03, 09:58
yeah - wah me. Sep 03, 10:08
Why can't you handle negativity? Have you watched the news lately? There's more of that than positivity, to be sure. {nm} Sep 03, 10:10
oh ok. Sep 03, 10:20
Oh poor you. You can't see that THELP has been impressive and thoroughly whupped your beloved horror movies. {nm} Sep 03, 10:01
Stick to chick flicks then. Leave the fun movies R-rated movies for those that can enjoy them. {nm} Sep 03, 10:03
Hooray for ad hominem attacks! I bow to you and your wisdom. {nm} Sep 03, 10:09
I have no problem with your opinion and feelings on the movie. Heck, if I were to watch it, I might feel the same way. Sep 03, 10:24
Believe it or not, movies are made by people intending to make a living i.e. a profit. By the very Sep 03, 10:24
If anything, fringe movies are more likely to make a profit because they're a lot cheaper than mainstream films. Sep 03, 10:29
Most of the films on this list of the 10 most profitable movies of all time are "fringe" Sep 03, 10:50
And this one Sep 03, 10:52
And their names are..............? {nm} Sep 03, 10:52
More than half your list is definitely fringe. Horror films are always fringe. They define fringe entertainment. {nm} Sep 03, 11:03
and as far as" the heart of summer", August 6th was exactly the middle of summer. THELP was released on the 10th. As Sep 03, 10:32
Sure. I am saying that movies are entertainment. You seem to be claiming there is some objective definition of great art. Sep 03, 11:23
"slick and cunning"=those that make movies that don't appeal to you. "cutting edge & creative"=movies that do Sep 03, 11:06
Why is it "appaling" that some people want to be emotionally moved by their entertainment? {nm} Sep 03, 11:07
Incidentally, more than half of 20= 11 or more. 11 or more of that list, even by your new definition, are not fringe. {nm} Sep 03, 11:17
Alctually you stated "fringe movies" were far more likely to make a profit than mainstream, so what Sep 03, 11:29
Facto {nm} Sep 03, 13:42
whoops..Facto: I do NOT distinguish between entertainment and art, unless you mean something like the Sep 03, 13:46
Facto: so you are saying professors and students of art determine what is art and what is entertainment? Sep 03, 16:07
No TV in your house???!?! {nm} Sep 03, 14:35
Harry: We have a TV, but it serves only as a monitor for DVDs or video games, no broadcast TV, cable, satellite etc. Sep 03, 15:59
Re: Facto Sep 03, 13:49
And there will always be fringe horror movies just like there will always be middlebrow crowdpleasers. {nm} Sep 03, 14:12
Fine, but I still don't see what makes The Help so "detrimental". {nm} Sep 03, 15:04
One could write long articles about what makes it detrimental to society. I believe I tried to explain briefly. If not, I'll make another, Sep 03, 16:58
Facto: movies are NOT real life. None of them. Even if they were, they would only be of the real life of Sep 03, 18:06
Sure, or I mean, could be, but it would've never beaten Pirates, or Thor, or TF3, or any other huge blockbuster. {nm} Sep 03, 17:55
I would like someone to explain the rationale that totally ignores older intellegent adults from the multiplex for 3 months? Sep 03, 10:46
"Harry Warden" {nm} Sep 03, 10:51
This is truly absurd. {nm} Sep 03, 12:05
ditto. {nm} Sep 03, 12:11
What is absurd? {nm} Sep 03, 12:53
Calling The Help's performance "not that impressive." {nm} Sep 03, 17:13
What does whether it's #1 or not have to do with whether the movie is a success? Sep 03, 18:31
D'oh... *paragraph* !! ;-p {nm} Sep 03, 19:17
Facto: Re your debate with forlorne: Sep 04, 05:38
Don't worry about the typos etc. I'm not picky, and I could still understand you. {nm} Sep 04, 07:06