The acting in this was incredible, and there were a lot of great scenes, but the movie is just horrendous to have to sit through, rarely makes any sense, and ultimately is completely unsatisfying. Toward the end, it became comedic for me (perhaps I had been sitting in the theatre too long), I found myself rooting AGAINST Oprah's character, and I thought the Beah Richards cameo was over-hyped. If you liked the book and/or like Oprah, give it a try. If not, stay away at all costs!