"The Help"

Wow.

Really and truly.

Very rarely does a movie ever make me laugh and cry!

Because we had to use our vouchers for Fandango.com by yesterday, and I had to call LivingSocial to get them to refund my $9 total for the two tickets due to the fact that I was unable to redeem them (until, of course, after 20 painstaking minutes of explaining to the customer service at LivingSocial that their site wasn't even allowing me to see any of my vouchers, let alone the one that was expiring at midnight), and I finally got my tickets printed - I decided that we were going to see "The Help." (I did call LivingSocial back, by the way: They had refunded the $9 already, and credited my account for $5 worth of LivingSocial bucks! So, because the deal cost $9 for two tickets, and I shared the deal with 4 people - one being my husband - I got my deal free, but we had to pay $9 for his. In short, we made $5 on this deal, even after I called LivingSocial back to explain that I'd finally gotten my code to work. They said not to worry about it, and just keep the $5!)

Now, usually, we don't go see movies at the theater. It's way too expensive. I don't even buy brand new DVDs very often anymore, unless I get a super great discount and/or coupon. We pretty much get everything online for cheap, or at Half Price Books (where I recently scored Sweet Home Alabama on DVD for $6.99 + 20% off on Labor Day!) However, because we had two sets of free tickets from LivingSocial, as well as two other pairs of tickets from birthdays/ Christmas - we went to two movies this summer!

The second one being "The Help."

I can honestly say that even if most critics didn't take Emma Stone seriously after "Easy A," or "Malcom in the Middle" - this critic has only ever seen her in "The Help," and I think she is really making a name for herself. Talk about a difficult and challenging role to play! Well, I won't comment much on the amazing and incredible wardrobe she got to use for the role of Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan, but IT WAS SIMPLY STUNNING! But between her character's emotional highs and lows in the movie, and the fact that she was playing a part from yesteryear - she was absolutely and positively radiant.

Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer co-starred in what were unarguably the most dramatic roles I have ever seen in a screenplay. (Which, I really must say, the writer of the screenplay did nothing short of a phenomenal job!) This movie will wind up being talked about for years as revolutionary - even 40 some years post - the Civil Rights Movement's big steps.

This is a really long-winded way of saying: "Well done!" "Two thumbs up!" "3 out of 5 Crombies approve! (only because the other two haven't seen it yet)." "Stunningly convicting and real!"

Best. Movie. Ever.