Review: Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire
Precious tells the story of 16-year old Claireece “Precious” Jones (Gabourey Sidibe), an obese, illiterate girl in 1987 Brooklyn. She’s pregnant with her second child, both from being raped by her now dead birth-father. This causes her mother Mary (Mo’Nique) to hate and resent her daughter and takes it out on her with physical and emotional abuse.
Precious likes school, but is too shy and honestly too unintelligent to succeed. Her principal asks her to attend an alternative school, to the dismay of her mother who is afraid of losing any and all welfare the family is getting from her child and her child’s child. The film tells of Precious’ struggle to get out of her mother’s strangling grasps and her journey to create some semblance of a normal life for her two children with the help of new teacher (Paula Patton) and classmates.
Needless to say from the description, Precious is a no holds barred, eye-opening drama. Director Lee Daniels made a film where this isn’t a moment you aren’t captivated with some aspect of what is going on in this girls life, and honestly at times it can be too much. There are dream sequences spread throughout the film that try to alleviate the harsh tone, and though they do add to the understanding of our main character, they didn’t work for me. However, that is probably my only qualm with the film.
This film is an actor’s gold mine and the whole cast is tremendous, especially Mo’Nique and Paula Patton’s Miss Rain. The moments that include Precious’ schoolmates allow for some funny and endearing moments, while staying honest to the story and I think the cast of mostly unknowns should be credited for that. Mo’Nique is equal parts scary and sad and it is truly one of the most engaging performances in cinema this year. My favorite performance came from Paula Patton as Precious’ teacher. It may just be the run of the mill “life changing character” but she takes full advantage of every moment on screen and shines in even scenes that are as heart-wrenching as they are gut-wrenching. Newcomer Gabourey Sidibe plays Precious with a very shy, soft demeanor but is up to the task in the moments that will have you on the edge of your seat.
I really was moved by this story, though I don’t think I ever want to see it again, because it is truly that effective and really, that depressing. Get yourself ready for this film, its not easy, but I really think you should see it.
