The Help Film

In the 2011 film release of The Help, Sissy Spacek certainly doesn't play the biggest part as the elderly Missus Walters, but I certainly look forward to her performance in the role.

The other day I shared my appreciation for Kathryn Stockett's book The Help. At the same time, in my post I voiced some hesitation about the 2011 film adaptation.

As a female centric story the cast certainly looks like Gary Marshall Valentine's Day film, uniquely capturing every demographic of film viewer (Emma Stone, Allison Janney, Sissy Spacek, Viola Davis, Jessica Chastain, and Bryce Dallas Howard). But if the film plays out like the book, the sauciest and most interesting performance will probably be that of Octavia Spencer who plays the part of Minnie Jackson.

Octavia Spencer, who also performs as Minnie Jackson on the audio performance of the book, and one would think this role could be one of those "Oscar contender types of roles." (Spencer is pictured right with Viola Davis).

That being said, for the love of this film, having it been directed by an untested director, Tate Taylor, makes me nervous.

These are the types of films that are amazing, or fall flat on the screen and I'm certainly not ready to jump on any band wagons. Especially since Tate Taylor is also on the untested screenwriter.

Here's hoping I'm wrong, but this film will have to be on the "wait and see list." It's mid-August 2011 release (August 12, 2011) suggests that the studios have some confidence in this film releasing it around the time of "similar demographic" releases Eat, Pray, Love (2010) and Julie & Julia (2009). The theme, adaptation of books women love staring women.

We'll see what this is a gem or stinker soon enough.