The Help

I didnt want to see The Help. I have a million and one reasons why I did not wish to see it but the main reason is because I'm tired of movies like that. You know .... the magical white person comes and saves the Negroes .... type of movies. I was sitting in the theater waiting to see Jumping The Broom when the trailer premiered. I remember someone in the theater saying loudly "I dont want to see that shit. That's just going to make me want to punch someone in the face" My sentiments exactly but before I knew it all anyone was talking about was "The Help"

I cant start to count how many family members, friends and associates were calling me to tell me how good The Help was. Not one person understood that while I knew the movie was going to be good, I had no desire to see it. They were baffled by it. ME, someone who LOVES a good movie was NOT interested in seeing one of the BEST movies of the year? They didnt get it. The calls kept pouring in and eventually I broke down and went to see it.

First and foremost you should know that I had a major attitude walking into the theater. It was full and me and my companions were the only black people in the theater.  You cant go to a movie dealing with 1950's racism and be the only blacks in the theater. It makes an enjoyable experience awkward. When the film started off I remember saying "Here we go with this shit". I cant lie. It took me more than a few minutes to sigh, put my feet up, relax and get into the movie. It was everything that I expected it to be. Great cast, great acting, good storyline, good film.

I loved Minny's character but hated that she stuck with her sorry excuse for a man that was whooping her ass. I think Minny was an excellent portrayal of so many women that I know. You know the sassy mouth ones that are quick to put you in your place but cant do the same thing at home. I was so happy when she finally left his ass. I loved her for standing up to Hilly's character even though the way she did it was nassssttttyyyyyyy!!!! Ewwww! lol I never eat chocolate and I certainly wont be eating it after watching The Help LOL.  Speaking of HIlly,  I despised Hilly's character. She reminded me of too many people in my hometown and that took me down a road that I try not drive down very often. Just ignorant and miserable. How do I know she was miserable? Easy. You can tell a miserable person by the way they treat other people. Hilly was evil for no reason. I really thought that her maid was going to expose something scandalous about her like her husband was cheating or something like that. I was disappointed that her story only contained her eating Minny's shit. Oh well. I thought Abilene's character did an excellent job. The lady whom I believe is named Viola has been a great actress and one that I have grown fond of every since I saw her in Doubt. Her lines to the little girl ... you are smart, you are kind, you are important were lines that probably would've had me in tears had I not had a major attitude entering the theater. Skeeter is probably someone that everyone who saw the film loved but I rolled my eyes a lot when she was on the screen. A typical captain save-a-hoe. I had to remind myself that this is fictional...its just a movie.  However I wonder if she would have been interested in the help's story IF she was not gaining anything by it.  Now one white woman that I did love was Minny's boss, Celia. She seemed sincere and I loved the last scene where SHE cooked for MINNY. I think that was an excellent portrayal of the theme that everyone is NOT bad.  There are a few good people in the world who are nice and kind not for profit but because that is just what kind of people they are. It was crazy that Celia wanted to be accepted by Hilly and her clowns. One last thing .... Cicely Tyson. Is there a rule book somewhere that says that Cicely Tyson must have a part in all racial movies? When she first came on I had the craziest look on my face. Is that Cicely Tyson? Naw naw naw, thats not Cicely Tyson. Damn...that's Cicely Tyson. Cicely has been acting in racial films since Roots and it does not look like she's hanging it up anytime soon. I totally did not expect to see her in this film.

The movie is 2 hours long but you get wrapped up into it so the 2 hours fly by. It was kind of predictable. If you've seen one racial movie, you've seen them all. You kind of know what is going to happen. Everyone in the theater laughed and when we walked out, a few movie goers had red eyes from crying. I did not cry as everyone told me that I would. The crazy thing is that I am a huge cry baby. I also did not laugh...as everyone told me I would. I was pretty emotionless except for the anger that crept up every now and then.  It was a good film but not one that I would like to see again.  Seriously how many films like "the help" exist? Many! I grew up around racism. I come from a small little town where we just received our FIRST black head coach for football and our FIRST black assistant principal last year. And let me tell you, both positions have left many with mouths wide open. They are shocking. I dont have to see racism on film....I saw it daily growing up.

Anyhoo getting back to the film and off of my personal rant, I give the film an A. Heres the trailer :)