The Help

 

 Based on the book by Kathryn Stockett

It has been so long since I felt invested in a character-driven film, I was afraid I'd never see one again.
OK, not entirely true, but I was certainly taken by surprise by this movie. Not preachy, and not as saturated with estrogen as you would think. That's right fellas; watching this movie will not merit having your man card revoked. However, with such strong female characters, it is certainly aimed toward a female audience. A bit of a risky move for Hollywood, but we need more stories like this one.
The Help takes place in Jackson, Mississippi, in the early 1960's, at the height of "separate but equal", just before the civil rights movement really exploded. We follow our lead, Skeeter (Emma Stone) as she fights to expose the truth about African American life in such trying times. Many suburban white families employed black maids to cook, clean, and raise their children. Most of them were treated like second rate humans. Using the inside toilet (as opposed to their "equal but separate" toilet built in the back yard) would be grounds for firing.

What really sets this movie rolling is Skeeter's ambition to become a writer. She begs a few of the maids to speak with her on what it's like to work for white people and shenanigans ensue. Despite the way they've been treated, these ladies still have a strong sense of pride and a wicked sense of humor. Revenge is served in all forms, including some "special" pies. But the ultimate revenge is the tell-all book written by Skeeter with the stories from all the maids in Jackson, detailing their hardships and secret triumphs in a world of oppression.

 Honestly, what this movie does well is bringing humor to such a dark time period. It's both fun and thought-provoking while being visually true to the time period. The story is very well written and all of the actors give strong performances. I couldn't help but absolutely loathe Hilly (played by Bryce Dallas Howard) and love her at the same time. She is a perfect antagonist.
The only thing missing was some strong male characters.

The Help is in theaters now.