Monday, March 05, 2012

The Help: Movie Review

There's something about racism that attracts me. Perhaps I used to be one myself. Or it's also because of how Malaysia is very multi cultured and I'm the offspring of 2 cultures combined. But when it comes to something like The Help, it doesn't only make you question how you treat your fellow brother or sister of another race. In fact, you should even ask of your own too.

Aibileen (An excellent Viola Davis) is a house maid. Crudely, you'd call her a slave, or another lighter word would be The Help. Being a maid all her life, she is then approached by Skeeter (I expect good things of Emma Stone, after Easy A and now Gwen Stacy) to co write a book to explain the views of the help. Together with another maid Mindy (Very well deserved win for Octavia Spencer) the three co wrote a book that changes the course of how mankind may very well treat colored people.

You can get this at Unifi's HyppTv pay per view service at RM 8. And by God it is well worth the money you're paying. I could give all praises to how wonderful the actresses, the script, the editing were for the movie, but the real stars to me lie on how thought provoking the movie is. So Tate Taylor deserves this for the praise.

The scenery feels so vivid that it really is matched to how the struggles of the african americans had to endure against the, hurm, harsh treatment being given by the americans. But truly ask yourself, a house maid is not allowed to use the toilet of the employer's house. What sort of defilement would that have meant? Minny was fantastic at this scene.

The good parts also came when Minny found a new employer. Someone who desperately needs help because she has no knowledge of how to be a wife. The best part (SPOILER) is when the americans acknowledged someone else's help, even when that very person is an african american. Heck, it was wonderful seeing Celia cook up so much, all from the lesson she got from Minny. And heck, Minny, as the house maid, ends up being the employer for the day. (END SPOILER)

The human heart has a wonderful story to tell. And by the time you get to end, while it is a sad and tear jerking parting, you will have felt a wonderful feeling that you can accept the world. Even if we are different by color, race and beliefs. Don't miss this piece!

Kyo's Score: 9.5/10. Bryce can do a lot more than that. That's my real problem and the minused score.