The Help


           The Help is a movie about black maids in the heart of Mississippi prior to the civil rights movement. The movie also has a very interesting premise. It is a movie based on a book, about a book being written. The antagonist is very clear from the beginning. Hilly Holbrook, played by Bryce Dallas Howard, is a borderline racist from Jackson, Mississippi. She is extremely manipulative and controlling. Everything has to go her way, and it is quite funny when things don't. Howard does an excellent job of making the audience hate Hilly Holbrook. She starts initiatives such as making maids use their own bathroom. When things in the movie don't go her way, everyone gets a nice laugh. For example, she asks Skeeter, played by Emma Stone, to put her bathroom initiative in the newspaper. In return, Skeeter places toilets from the junkyard all over her property.
           It is very moving hearing what the maids have to say about their lives. During that time period, no one ever asked or even cared for that matter. African Americans were not viewed as equals in the south, even though legally, they were. One of the maids, Aibileen (Viola Davis), was brought to tears when Skeeter Published the book about her. She said it felt so good for someone to ask and care about her.
           I did not really enjoy the help. I found it very confusing, but it was still entertaining, especially the ending. Everything works out perfectly, and Holly Davis even "eats shit" which is one of the best parts of the movie. I would rate this movie 5 out of 10.