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Reel World Reality A ministry of the ChildCare Action Project: Christian Analysis of American Culture (CAP Ministry) A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Christian Ministry. www.capalert.com/ Entertainment Media Analysis Report A service to His little ones through you in His name by His Word MAR2011.  (2011), PG-13 [R-13*] (140.5min) The #1 Christian entertainment media analysis service on the Internet. We give you OBJECTIVE tools NO ONE ELSE CAN to help YOU make an informed decision for yourself whether a film is fit for your family. Over 1300 analyses for parents, grandparents, pastors, youth leaders and more. |
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(While the Scriptural references are certainly not subjective, my commentary may be and sometimes is somewhat subjective.)
 Cast/Crew Details Courtesy Internet Movie Database Production (US): DreamWorks, Touchstone Pictures, Participant Media, Imagenation Abu Dhabi, Reliance Entertainment, 1492 Pictures/Harbinger Pictures Distribution (US): Beuna Vista Director(s): Tate Taylor Producer(s): Brunson Green, Chris Columbus, Michael Barnathan, Mark Radcliffe, L. Dean Jones, Jr., Nate Berkus, Jennifer Blum, John Norris, Jeff Skoll, Mohamed Mubarak Mazroouel, Sonya Lunsford Written by: Tate Taylor Based on Novel by Kathryn Stockett Cinematography/Camera: Steven Goldblatt Music: Thomas Newman Film Editing: Hughes Winborne Casting: Kerry Barden, Paul Schnee Production Design: Shelly Long Art Direction: Curt Beech Viewed on Fox Home Entertainment DVD This is a complex story. It is heavy with portrayal of racial hatred, denigration and derision; of belittling the African American of the mid century 1900s Mississippi, compartmentalizing any one with black skin into a second-class status. Whether the content is accurate to the reality of the day it might rekindle awareness of the wrongs that Caucasian America did to the African American. Before I get into an attempt to do right to this masterpiece of the period, let me remind all that when we each stand before Jesus as He sits on the Throne of Judgment, Jesus will not be black, white, Jew, Gentile, Baptist, Catholic or anything but Jesus. In a similar sense, He will care not about the color of our skin as He judges us. We are all equal at the foot of the Cross. Whether we believe it or not. Whether we like it or not. Whether we care or not. "No person shall require any white female to nurse in wards or rooms in which Negro men are placed. Books shall not be interchangeable between the white and coloured schools, but shall continue to be used by the race first using them. No coloured barber shall serve as a barber to white women or girls. Any person printing, publishing or circulating written matter urging for public acceptance or social equality between whites and Negroes is subject to imprisonment." This is portrayed as read from the Mississippi pamphlet No. 1: The Laws Governing the Conduct of Nonwhites and other Minorities and perfectly sets the stage for the theme of this show. The above pamphlet is read by white Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan (Emma Stone) and is narrated by black maid Aibileen "Aibee" Clark (Viola Davis) as Skeeter reads it to herself. Skeeter has gotten the burr under her saddle to write about the plight of "the help": the black females who serve whites as maids for 95 cents an hour. Though in the movie it is illegal to do so, Skeeter, due to her close friendship with a black maid with whom Skeeter grew up, has seen the until now invisible wrongdoings being done to the blacks of Jackson, Mississippi and has decided to write a book about it. Anonymously, of course. And 13 maids agree to tell in that book their stories of service to white folks. Anonymously, of course. One of the skits in the film which is particularly poignant is when Minnie Jackson (Octavia Spencer) baked a chocolate pie as an apology offering after her previous boss, Hilly Holbrook (Bryce Dallas Howard) fired Minnie for using the inside bathroom during a heavy rain. Hilly allowed Minnie to come back in the house because Hilly knew that Minnie's pies were culinary treasures. It was not until after two slices that Hilly discovered the secret ingredient in the pie. Because of the kind of woman Hilly is, this setting is a good place to bring up the old adage "You are what you eat." I'll not spoil any more of the story because, though I typically do not like or appreciate this genre of story, it has much to say that you may also appreciate but if I spoiled any more of it herein, it would not be as rich an entertainment experience for you should you decide it is fit. Following are brief discussions of the content per individual content investigation area. As always the Findings section of this report, the heart of the CAP Analysis Model, is the best source for discovering the full accounting of the content of this film. Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - 86 out of 100 One of the characters performs a self-abortion and admits to having done it twice before. Also, during an arrest of a combative black woman the police use a night stick on her head to subdue her. In addition, one of the characters steals a ring she found during cleaning. Impudence/Hate (I) - Zero out of 100 Profanity is used 26 times. [Col. 3:8, Eph. 4:29] That is in addition to abuse of God's name incorporated in the Offense to God content investigation area. But the strongest presence of impunity and hatred in this film is in a strong content of vanity [Prov. 30:8] and a stronger content of racial denigration and derision and hatred of blacks. [Gal. 3:28] Also found were an adult daughter's disrespect of her mother, lying and vengeance with hatred against blacks. Sexual Immorality (S) - 79 out of 100 A few examples of excessive cleavage, one instance of inappropriate touch, a mother and daughter in underwear, a discussion about lesbianism and a woman in a bathtub and on a commode combine to force loss of 21 of the starting 100 pints in this investigation area. [1 Ths. 4:7] Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 15 out of 100 While alcohol, drinking and drunkenness are not as prevalent in this PG-13 as in many PG-13s, smoking rears its ugly head rather often. Let us take a look at what the American College of Physicians say about exposing youth to such content. A 2002 study by the American College of Physicians (ACP) revealed that adolescent exposure to drinking in and as entertainment undeniably leads to abuse of alcohol among underage viewers. The finding entitled Relation Between Parental Restrictions on Movies and Adolescent Use of Tobacco and Alcohol reports that of 4544 youths from grades 5 through 8 of fifteen Vermont and New Hampshire middle schools (90% of the youths were under fourteen years old) only 16% were completely restricted in their entertainment diets. Within the ACP study population, the prevalence of having tried alcohol without parental knowledge was The study has similar things to say about the influence of smoking in and as entertainment as well. Offense to God (O) - 41 out of 100 The content of the film applicable to this investigation area found the magnitude of the content to be equivalent to many R-rated films. Fourteen times someone abuses God's name, four times with the four letter expletive and ten times without it. It might be weak to point out whether the abuse of His name is with or without the four letter expletive since God makes no distinction of abuse of His name with or without any other words. But, though God does not, man indeed does put more weight on the use of His name with the four letter expletive than without it. In either case, God does not exonerate them who use His name in vain, even if it is the flippant three-syllable sentence with His name trailing it. [Deut. 5:11] Whether the offenders believe it or not. Whether they like it or not. Whether they care or not. Further, someone called another a "fool." That places the one who does so in danger of hellfire. [Matt. 5:22] And I did not write the Rules. Murder/Suicide (M) - 100 out of 100 No murders or suicides were found. SCRIPTURAL APPLICATION(S) If needed to focus or fortify, applicable text is underlined or bracketed [ ] or bold. If you wish to have full context available, the Blue Letter Bible is a convenient source. If you use the Blue Letter Bible, a new window will open. Close it to return here or use "Window" in your browser's menu bar to alternate between the CAP page and the Blue Letter Bible page. CHAPTER/VERSE As always, it is best to refer to the Findings/Scoring section -- the heart of the CAP analysis model -- for the most complete assessment possible of this movie. |
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(The objective heart of the CAP Analysis Model, independent of and insulated from the Summary / Commentary section.)   Wanton Violence/Crime (W) - 86 out of 100 Impudence/Hate (I) - Zero out of 100 Sexual Immorality (S) - 79 out of 100 Drugs/Alcohol (D) - 15 out of 100 Offense to God (O) - 41 out of 100 Murder/Suicide (M) - 100 out of 100 |
| There are some in the entertainment industry who maintain that 1) violent programming is harmless because no studies exist that prove a connection between violent entertainment and aggressive behavior in children, and 2) young people know that television, movies, and video games are simply fantasy. Unfortunately, they are wrong on both accounts." And "Viewing violence may lead to real life violence." I applaud these associations for fortifying 1 Cor. 15:33. Read the rest of the story. From our years of study, I contend that other aberrant behaviors, attitudes, and expressions can be inserted in place of "violence" in that statement. Our Director - Child Psychology Support, a licensed psychologist and certified school psychologist concurs. For example, "Viewing arrogance against fair authority may lead to your kids defying you in real life." Or "Viewing sex may lead to sex in real life." Likewise and especially with impudence, hate and foul language. I further contend that any positive behavior can be inserted in place of "violence" with the same chance or likelihood of being a behavior template for the observer; of being incorporated into the behavior mechanics and/or coping skills of the observer. In choosing your entertainment, please consider carefully the "rest of the story" and our findings. |
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| For G rated Films with G equivalence: G PG equivalence: PG-G PG-13 equivalence: 13-G R equivalence: R-G< | For PG rated Films with G equivalence: G-PG PG equivalence: PG PG-13 equivalence: 13-PG R equivalence: R-PG | For PG-13 rated Films with G equivalence: G-13 PG equivalence: PG(13) PG-13 equivalence: PG-13 R equivalence: R-13 | For R rated Films with G equivalence: G-R PG equivalence: PG-R PG-13 equivalence: 13-R R equivalence: R | For NR rated Films with G equivalence: G-NR PG equivalence: PG-NR PG-13 equivalence: 13-NR R equivalence: R-NR |
