I’ve never been one for reviewing books, or music, or films.  I don’t know why, exactly… I like to write, I like books, I like music and I like films…but my last book review, was, well, I can’t exactly recall off the top of my head – but I’d say, if I had to guess, was back in Sacred Heart Grammar School – a loooong time ago.

I’ve never felt the need to get home quickly after a movie just so I can attempt to write a ‘review’ of sorts, until tonight. (Ok, technically last night, but I started this blog last night, as soon as I got home from the cinema) and by ‘review’ I mean a gushing ‘go see it, go see it, go see it’ post!

Though, I can’t say I’ve ever seen a film quite like the one I watched tonight.  I knew from the first ten minutes that I was going to have to write about it.

It ran me over like a train.  I’m still reeling.

Let me rewind, cinema night, girls (Emily, Magz and I) went to see one movie, The Help and the gentlemen (Luke, Sam and Col) went to see another movie, Cowboys and Aliens.

I’ll be honest, I was torn, I wanted to see both films, as did Col.  But, I decided that my obsession love for Allison Janney (Col and I have a mutual LOVE for West Wing) and my want to go see a movie with my girlies won out (plus, the trailer had lured me in) so, The Help it was!

Set in 1960’s Jackson, Mississippi, The Help tells the story of a fresh out of college, aspiring writer (Skeeter) who returns to her home town.  With big dreams of moving to New York to work for a famous publishing house, Skeeter, on their recommendation, decides to take a job with her local newspaper the Jackson Journal, writing a ‘housewife’ column, answering letters from women who are asking help and advice on domestic matters to gain the necessary experience to make it in the big time.

In an era of racial discrimination, where almost every white family employed a black maid (commonly known as ‘The Help’),  Skeeter decides to undertake writing a book based on the lives of these black maids.  Determined to tell the ”untold” story, from their everyday life experiences working for white families, to enable their point of view to be heard.

This idea is originally met with tremendous fear, horror and hostility from the maids, though after a while, two maids decide to tell their stories – in secret – as, at the time, it was illegal for whites and blacks to socialise, even in private.

These two maids, Aibileen Clark (Viola Davis) and Minny Jackson (Octavia Spencer) make the perfect pair of best friends (I’m sure most girls can relate to them, I certainly could!) and tell their sometimes heart-breaking and sometimes laugh out loud tales throughout the film.  As it happens, not only does this endeavour help the young writer in reaching her goal, but she gave these black ladies a voice, a voice, that had, until now, been silenced.

I can’t remember the last film that made me both laugh out loud and cry in the same two hours.  It was a really fantastic movie and I loved every minute of it, so much so, that I want to go and see it again.

And what of Ms Janney? I hear you say!

Well, she rocked! I thought she gave a fantastic performance! Any fears I had about seeing her as CJ and only CJ, were completely blown out of the water as soon as she came on screen.  The entire cast was crackin’!

What I WILL say is, don’t wait to read the book first, the movie’s biggest criticism is that it’s not as good as the book.  Well, three of us went to see the movie last night without having read the book and we all thought it was amazing.

I used to be a ”read the book first” kind of person, until a number of movies let me down (Twilight among others), so I’ve now converted to a watch the movie first and then enjoy a step UP to the book!

I can’t begin to tell you how good this film is, or how much I enjoyed it.  It’s deep, it deals with a number of social injustices and complex themes woven into a wondeful movie with excellent actresses telling the tale.

It was inspiring beyond explanation and re-ignited my inner naivety idealism that one person’s dreams can affect and change the future of many.

Go see this movie!