It’s not the best time to have at the movies this year, but it’s one of the best films you will see. Precious is a hard kick to the gut – with such gritty realism, the movie plays out with relentless torture. Torture for the characters and the audience. Most dramatic undertakings in any year of filmmaking will at least try and provide people with a final feeling of relief and warmth. This is not one of those movies, nor should it be. The movie is honest and emotionally charged, and you can’t find that these days from a lot of other movies who tend to take the high road and please the soul instead of challenging it.
Starring: Gabourey Sidibe, Mo’Nique, Paula Patton, Lenny Kravitz, Mariah Carey, Sherri Shepherd
Director: Lee Daniels
Screenwriter: Damien Paul, Sapphire (Novel)
Runtime: 1 hr 49 mins
Rated: R for child abuse including sexual assault, and pervasive language
Release: Nov 6, 2009 Limited
[Trailer] [IMDB]
Synopsis: Lee Daniels’s PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL “PUSH” BY SAPPHIRE is an honest and hopeful film about the human capacity to grow and overcome. Set in Harlem in 1987, it is the story of Claireece “Precious” Jones (Gabourey Sidibe), a sixteen-year-old African-American girl born into a life no one would want. She’s pregnant for the second time by her absent father; at home, she must wait hand and foot on her mother (Mo’Nique), a poisonously angry woman who abuses her emotionally and physically. School is a place of chaos, and Precious has reached the ninth grade with good marks and an awful secret: she can neither read nor write.
The acting in this movie is a blend of self-determination brought on by everyone involved in the making of the film. It rises above the material to showcase more than just acting abilities but a responsibility to the characters. Gabourey “Gabby” Sidibe who plays Precious in her first major acting role won’t soon be forgotten after this, a scary performance that could have made me feel sorry for her but she brought an attitude to the role that would clearly be there if you grew up in her neighborhood under her roof, she’s not always likeable that’s for sure but can draw empathy with just a look on her face. Mariah Carey is almost unrecognizable as a counselor dropping the makeup and spotlight for a cheap suit and compassion for Precious. When all is said and done, one thing I will never forget about this movie will be the performance of Mo’Nique as the mother to Precious. A convincing role full of rage and confusion, her presence on screen has you wondering just what is about to happen, as if you’re in the same room with your back turned to the beast. These actors were not cast for their names and status, but what they can bring out. That takes trust and Director Lee Daniels showcases his trust and resources for creating an emotionally astonishing film.
You don't know what real women do! Real women sacrifice!
There is a moment in the film where we realize Precious doesn’t know the meaning of “alternative” as she is sent to a new school. She soon discovers this is her chance at the literacy workshop taught by Ms. Rain (Paula Patton), Precious begins a journey that will lead her from darkness, pain and powerlessness to light, love and self-determination. We take the journey with her and I can’t recommend it enough. It’s a difficult film to watch and will have you feeling emotional after, I for one am still grateful people are taking chances with dark material these days when so much is catered towards kids and those with no attention span. Well done Precious.
Some folks has a lot of things around them that shines for other peoples. I think that maybe some of them was in tunnels. And in that tunnel, the only light they had, was inside of them. And then long after they escape that tunnel, they still be shinning for everybody else.
4 Red Scarves Out Of 4
Tags: gabourey sidibe, lenny kravitz, mariah carey, monique, movie review, paula patton, precious, push, sapphire, sherri shepherd
