Oscar Hopes Are Very High for ‘The Help’

The 2009 best-selling novel by Kathryn Stockett narrates the story of the civil rights movement through the eyes of two African American maids in early 1960s Mississippi who begin spilling their secrets to a young white writer.

With an all-star cast and rave reviews,there are very high chances that "The Help" will charm their way into the hearts of Oscar voters.

Early reviewers have been focusing most of their praise on the two maids, played by Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer. The film's awards campaigners will have a hard decision when determining whether the two ladies should compete against each other as supporting actresses or place the better-known Davis in lead.

Reviews are so great for "The Help" (scoring 73 at Metacritic) that it might even compete into the races for best screenplay, director, even best picture.

84th Academy Awards Telecast To Be Produced By Brett Ratner , Don Mischer

Filmmaker Brett Ratner and Don Mischer will produce the 84th Academy Awards telecast, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president, Tom Sherak announced lately.

This is going to be Ratner's first involvement with the Oscar show; For Mischer it will be the second year in a row as a producer and as the telecast director.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2011 will be presented on 26 February 2012 and it will be held at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood and Highland Center.

Tom Sherak stated that he was so impressed with Brett when he met with him to discuss the Oscar show. He added that he has an unbelievable love of film and its history and is a true student of the business of movies. He's incredibly creative and knows how to take risks that are both appealing and inspirational. He concluded that, together with Don Mischer, who just earned an Emmy nomination for his work on the 83rd Academy Awards, both of them can certainly present a fantastic Oscar show that no one would want to miss.