The Help… I hear it’s a great book. I know it’s a great movie.
HELP! HELP! HELP!!!! Yes, that’s right, today I am reviewing the movie “The Help.”
I’ve had many, many girlfriends (both past and present… and some future) come up to me and say, “This is one great book,” and I can’t believe that they made a book out of this excellent movie! But being a professional movie reviewer, I can firmly say that the movie is ALWAYS better than the book. Let me give you an example: when I was younger I read the comic book “Transformers.” Now granted it was a great book, but it didn’t even come close to the movie! That’s just one example, there are many more out there. But I digress, back to the review.
The movie takes place in the 50’s and early 60’s and is about an aspiring writer named Skeeter Phalen (played by Emma Stone) who wants to write about something important, instead of writing a column about housecleaning in the local paper. She gets the idea to write the stories of the African-American maids around town who work at the houses of her friends. These friends are mostly racist biggots who don’t even realize that they are racists. Skeeter realizes this and she wants the truth out there. One problem, the maids can’t let anyone know they’re involved in this book for fear of being fired, or worse, being beaten.
I fell in love with the two main characters – the maids. First there was Aibileen Clark (Viola Davis). She was the strong woman in this film, quietly telling her story and then eventually getting all the other maids on board to tell their stories. Then there is Minnie Jackson (Octavia Spencer), the best woman in this film and my one true love! She is a spunky middle-aged lady that added some humor to a film that was filled with depressing overtones. Also, she does something to a pie that, if I were in Jackson, Mississippi at that time, I would run right over to her and give her the biggest hug and kiss ever! I loved this lady. You must see this film to understand where I’m coming from, trust me.
This story is happening during a racially charged time in Jackson and it makes me feel very sad that this could happen in our great country, but I am happy that this film was made, because I didn’t know too much about this era.
This may be the best movie not involving Optimus Prime, Captain America or bunches of apes I’ve seen in a long time. I strongly suggest you get yourself to the local cineplex and catch what most likely will be an Oscar-nominated movie.
Matthew W. Kelley – movie reviewer/male model, reporting.