The Notable Films of 2011: Part Six

The Help
Opens: August 12th 2011
Cast: Emma Stone, Bryce Dallas Howard, Viola Davis, Mike Vogel, Allison Janney
Director: Tate Taylor

Summary: Set in the early 1960's, a white college graduate uncomfortable with the current social norms of Mississippi at the time plans a book detailing the life of the various black maids in the area. Her research soon uncovers not just racism but cruelty and criminal action by white society women, some of them even her friends.

Analysis: It took five years of writing and rejects from nearly fifty literary agents, but Kathryn Stockett's debut novel in 2009 was a critical and commercial hit, spending at least a full year on the Los Angeles Times bestseller list. When Dreamworks announced that production was to get underway on a film adaptation, a lot of people were very interested in who would be cast and how the adaptation would be done.

The results haven't pleased everyone. Though stocked with a swath of impressive acting talent both younger (Emma Stone, Bryce Dallas Howard, Jessica Chastain, David Oyelowo, Chris Lowell, Mike Vogel) and older (Viola Davis, Allison Janney, Octavia Spencer, Cicely Tyson, Dana Ivey, Leslie Jordan), there's been vocal criticism about the lack of genuine Southern actors in key roles.

There's also a question mark about actor turned filmmaker Tate Taylor. Not only is this only his second film as director after 2008's not well-received "Pretty Ugly People", but it's also a very high profile and demanding assignment which will be scrutinised to an extent most films don't come under. I wish him the best of luck because if this does work out, it'll put him quickly on the map of in-demand directors.

One bit of authenticity is the setting. The film was shot on location in Mississippi this past Summer, the most significant film production to hit the state since the Coens' "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" a decade ago. However the town of Greenwood was used to portray 1960s-era Jackson for much of the shoot with only some pickups and external filming in real-life Jackson.

Homework
Opens: 2011
Cast: Freddie Highmore, Emma Roberts, Michael Angarano, Elizabeth Reaser, Alicia Silverstone
Director: Gavin Wiesen

Summary: George, a lonely and fatalistic teen who's made it all the way to his senior year without ever having done a real day of work, is befriended by Sally, a popular but complicated girl who recognizes in him a kindred spirit.

Analysis: A cute little rom-com marking Gavin Wiesen's directorial debut, the film is set to have its world premiere at Sundance next month. Shot back in April this year in New York City, its inclusion at Park City surprised mainly because there's practically nothing known about it. Yet the festival's selectors obviously liked it enough to allow its inclusion. Certainly the cast is strong as it includes the above named actors along with Sam Robards, Blair Underwood and Rita Wilson.

Darkhorizons for the rest
xoxo
Carrie