Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire is the story of a 16 year-old obese, illiterate, mother of two living in 1980’s Harlem. Going into Precious I expected to witness a tear jerking drama based on the black struggle like so many movies before it. That is not what this movie is about. There are many heavy, dramatic, dark moments in the film, but overall Precious is a very light-hearted, wholly inspirational film that encourages self-reflection and perseverance.
Precious could have easily been a downer just like director Lee Daniels previous movies Monster Ball, which he produced, and Shadow Boxer, which he directed. The synopsis reads like a pathos heavy drama. In Precious, however, Daniels takes a different approach. Precious is more of a comedy than a drama. Nine out of ten times you are laughing at Precious’ dreams of stardom, the eclectic characters of 1987 Harlem, or the pitiable way Precious stumbles from scene to scene. You soon realize that this humor is how Precious, as well as the audience, copes and “pushes” forward from the violence and graphic events in the film. This light and dark provides an excellent contrast that makes the story more bearable.
Lee, Mariah, and MoNique at Sundance
Precious is the definition of the anti-hero. She is obese, poor, illiterate, and black. The allure of the film is in the way Precious faces and reacts to each obstacle she is confronted with. The film touches on a lot of themes homosexuality, obesity, incest, rape, self-image, socio-economic conditions. There is so much going on, yet the film never becomes overbearing. This is done through the excellent use of narration by Precious herself. We constantly know exactly what Precious is thinking and feeling, sometimes it may sound or look silly, but her narration brings each scene into context.
The entire cast standouts and shines. Everyone involved gives a very genuine performance. Every character has a story and is handled with such care and precision. I guarantee you will remember each character that comes on screen. Gabourey “Gabby”
Sidibe as Precious is immaculate in the role. She is witty, charming, and endearing. I don’t know if it is because she physically embodies the characteristics of Precious, but you immediately feel for her. She is in almost every scene and we see the world through her eyes. When Precious cries (and ironically it’s not too often) you cry and when she laughs you laugh. Sibide turns in a top notch performance. Precious’ school mates at her alternative school steal every scene they are in. When you first meet them you can’t help but smile and laugh at the group of misfits. Mariah Carey as a social worker and Lenny Kravits as a nurse turn in great performances as well. The absolute standout roles, however, belong to Paula Patton as Precious’ teacher Ms. Rain and Mo’Nique as Precious’ mother Mary. Continuing the theme of light and dark in the film Ms. Rain is a beacon of light throughout entire film and you genuinely appreciate that she’s there. On the opposite end of the spectrum is Mary as Precious’ mother. When she is introduced your jaw will drop and stay there until the scene is over. You will not believe the things she says and does in the film. This is the first time we ever see any real range from Mo’Nique and she turns in an excellent performance. By the end of the movie you understand why she is the way she is. The scene where Mary and Precious finally confront each other is without a doubt one of the most tense, engaging moments of the year.
The only major gripe I would have with the film would be the actual attempts at comedy. Some scenes are inserted like SNL skits and while I understand it is supposed to lighten the story these scenes take you too far away and become distracting.
I walked into Precious expecting to be emotionally drained. The story is so heavy, but you never feel the weight while watching the movie. You walk with Precious as she becomes a woman. This is a coming of age film that is so brutally honest and raw you cannot help but feel something by the time the credits roll. This is a film for everyone who ever felt less than they are worth. Expect to cry, but also expect to laugh and be inspired.
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I saw the movie last night….inspiring, emotional, horrific…these are just some of the words that came to mind. I totally felt the whole light and dark theme because the movie made you feel really good at some points but during others, it was just WHOA….Its so easy to think your life is horrible and that its just the worse setup ever, but watching Precious reminded me that there are people who experience worse, because there are many Clarice Precious' in the world.
I wanted so badly for this to be a great film. It has garnered quite a bit of good reveiws, there is a ton of star power involved with this movie and it's a "black" film. Unfortunately the screenplay does not hold up. I'm sorry but this is hack writing at it's best. The mother of the lead is a classic example. She stands and watches while her daughter is being raped, forces her daughter to eat a pig's feet, hates her own grandchildren and her own mother, forces her daughter to have sex with her and if that's not enough she tells her daughter that she might have AIDS because her father just died from the disease. This is overkill in screenwriting. When the mother stood by and watched her own daughter being raped we that was enough. Because the writer kept piling it on is the sign of a poorly written screenplay. The writer ran out of ideas so he merely repeated himself until he saw there were 120 pages. There are other issues with this screenplay but I think I've made my point. Thumbs down this film.
your problem seems to be with the book, not the movie. Do you realize this movie was based on a book?
The "Star Power" in this film was pretty much besides the point. Each of the actors had to step outside of themselves and deliver the characters that had been written.
I can't tell if you liked the movie or were just turned off by the story.
I"m sorry but you're off topic. Let me help you get back on track. What did you like or dislike about this film?
I liked the acting performances. I thought everyone arrived at this project with their A-Game. I thought this was the best directing job Lee Daniels has ever done. I thought the film did the book justice. I also thought it captured the time period well.
I disliked some of the editing. I disliked the music choices. I disliked some of the lighting choices, though I understand why they were made.
If the topic is the film, which is the topic we're discussing, then I thought it was a well shot, well made film.
Your criticism seems to boil down to "this was a bad story". And that's fine. I'm just saying that the story was a book. Having read the book, I was interested in seeing the film. And the film did the book justice, in my opinion.
It doesn't matter whether the screenplay is original or an adaptation the story in this film wreaks of contrivance in my opinion. The lead character is not strong at all simply because the screenwriter bombarded her with one tradgedy after another without melding them together. Because the lead is not strong the supporting cast is weak as well. The lead is not strong enough to create tension between herself and her mother. The lead is a punching bag for the mother and this is not good screenwriting. This film is below average at best.
rievans57 You don't get the option to not be a punching bag when you are a child..even if you are obese….you don't get to say wait no I just was rapped don't beat me too! Welcome to the real world! Oppinons are common but stories like this are rare……because people tend to look the other way..pretend things like this don't happen…I believe this to be a jewel of truth. Those who is it any other way may want to examine themselves
My friend I would say that I have witnessed a dog urinating in public a million times and not once did I view it as entertaining. Just because something is real does not necessarily mean it's entertaining. A film is a form of entertainment. It's a story told with moving pictures. If a writer does not recognize this simple fact his art will wallow in mediocrity. A child being abused is part of the world we live in but when you are making a major motion picture a child being abused is not enough. A screenplay must be more than that if it's going to entertain us. The film "Precious" presents us with child abuse only and this my friend is not enough to be considered a great film.
rievans57 You don't get the option to not be a punching bag when you are a child..even if you are obese….you don't get to say wait no I just was rapped don't beat me too! Welcome to the real world! Oppinons are common but stories like this are rare……because people tend to look the other way..pretend things like this don't happen…I believe this to be a jewel of truth. Those who is it any other way may want to examine themselves