Like the movie? Buy the book.: The Help: torrent of clips and Mary J Blige on her theme song & The Book.

Wednesday, 3 August 2011

The Help: torrent of clips and Mary J Blige on her theme song & The Book.

I’m rooting for this film. I like the book and I like what I’ve seen of the film so far. But I also fear for it. It has neither an all star cast nor the star director that films of this nature often need to find a decent audience. It seems to be fully relying on the popularity of the book itself and that can often be a danger. I’ve talked about the film before (Click Here) and as its release date draws near I find myself looking forward to it on a number of levels.

The fact is that as much fun as it can be and as entertaining it does deal with significant issues. In focusing on the ridiculous state of affairs that was faux Apartheid America, it shows us the past of not just that county but most; at the same time it shines a light on the similarities in treatment of any number of peles today.

Here’s the official synopsis...

Based on one of the most talked about books in years and a #1 New York Times best-selling phenomenon, “The Help” stars Emma Stone (“Easy A”) as Skeeter, Academy Award®–nominated Viola Davis (“Doubt”) as Aibileen and Octavia Spencer as Minny—three very different, extraordinary women in Mississippi during the 1960s, who build an unlikely friendship around a secret writing project that breaks societal rules and puts them all at risk. From their improbable alliance a remarkable sisterhood emerges, instilling all of them with the courage to transcend the lines that define them, and the realization that sometimes those lines are made to be crossed —even if it means bringing everyone in town face-to-face with the changing times.

Deeply moving, filled with poignancy, humor and hope, “The Help” is a timeless and universal story about the ability to create change.

The film stars Viola Davis, Bryce Dallas Howard, Allison Janney, Sissy Spacek, Octavia Spencer, Emma Stone, Cicely Tyson and Mary Steenburgen. It has been written and directed by Tate Taylor and does have a heavyweight producer in the form of Chris Columbus (Who is not on my favourite list as a director) so hopefully it will be given the push the source warrants. Of course a good book is by no means an indication that there will be an interesting or a good film at the end; but the hope has to be that the film, one way or the other will lead people to read the book; Just like the blog title says. Of course I’d also say if you hate the movie buy the book, it will almost definitely be better, or at least different.