Urban drama erupts into something 'Precious'
Gabourey Sidibe makes a stunning feature film debut as the title character. (Lionsgate)
Precious
Running time: 109 minutes
MPAA rating: R (violence, harsh profanity, extreme adult situations including sexual assault)
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"I shouldn't have said none of that. Mama gonna kill me."
It's 1987 in the welfare state of Harlem when "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" opens.
A 16-year-old illiterate 9th grader named Precious has just served up undercooked pig's feet to her monstrous, anger-ravaged mother. Precious isn't exaggerating when she says her mama might kill her. Her mother's fits of violence can go from zero to 60 in a racing heartbeat.
It's unlikely, though. Mama is too lazy to cook her own pig's feet.
Actually, it's her father who comes closest to destroying Precious's life force. Precious is pregnant with her absentee dad's second child when the slightest glimmer of hope shows up in the deeply troubled teen's hard knock life.
It's fair to wonder why we as movie-goers should go to see a grim urban drama gritty enough to leave lasting dark shadows not only on the souls of the characters, but on ours as well.
Overweight and overwrought, Claireece "Precious" Jones (newcomer Gabourey Sidibe) escapes into flights of fantasy whenever the real world becomes too ugly. Her mother Mary, a monster in almost every sense of the word, is portrayed to perfection and a step or two beyond by outspoken (and we can now add "fearless") comedian Mo'Nique.
In some ways, "Precious" is a disaster movie. It works as startling, bleak entertainment because when the projector shuts off, many of us can walk out into the sunlight of better circumstances.
There are other reasons to embrace "Precious." Better reasons. Hailed with Audience Awards at both the Sundance and Toronto film festivals, which is a first, this tough love/tougher hate drama is one of the finest films of 2009.
It could rank as the absolute best from this aisle seat, although a few other films remain to be seen. Certainly, "Precious" impacts the psyche with the most emotional force of the year so far.
Part of the dramatic impact comes from the filmmakers, of course. In only his second feature film in the director's chair, Lee Daniels ("Shadowboxer") pulls no punches on grim reality; poverty, ignorance and the welfare misery-go-round that blindsides too many of our citizens with a life-force knockout punch.
The script, adapted from the novel "Push" by Sapphire, comes from newcomer Geoffrey Fletcher, who studied under Martin Scorsese and Spike Lee. Fans of the book will notice that Fletcher expands on the flights of escapism fantasy.
What I admire most about "Precious" are the performances. Sidibe, who was 24 at the time of filming in 2007, could very well find herself in the Oscar race her first time in front of a feature film camera. Mo'Nique, who also appeared in Daniels' "Shadowboxer" (ironically as a character called Precious), is a shoo-in for at least a supporting actress nomination, if you ask me.
Also, look for solid performances from singer Mariah Carey as Ms. Weiss, the matter-of-fact social services worker, and Paula Patton ("Deja Vu"), the empathetic alternative school teacher.
Spike Lee has explored the urban landscape for over 20 years. But even Lee's gritty style of his early work ("She's Gotta Have It," etc.) has always involved some sort of heightened reality.
There's nothing heightened with "Precious." It's about as painfully real as a dramatic feature film can get.
It's 1987 in the welfare state of Harlem when "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" opens.
A 16-year-old illiterate 9th grader named Precious has just served up undercooked pig's feet to her monstrous, anger-ravaged mother. Precious isn't exaggerating when she says her mama might kill her. Her mother's fits of violence can go from zero to 60 in a racing heartbeat.
It's unlikely, though. Mama is too lazy to cook her own pig's feet.
Actually, it's her father who comes closest to destroying Precious's life force. Precious is pregnant with her absentee dad's second child when the slightest glimmer of hope shows up in the deeply troubled teen's hard knock life.
It's fair to wonder why we as movie-goers should go to see a grim urban drama gritty enough to leave lasting dark shadows not only on the souls of the characters, but on ours as well.
Overweight and overwrought, Claireece "Precious" Jones (newcomer Gabourey Sidibe) escapes into flights of fantasy whenever the real world becomes too ugly. Her mother Mary, a monster in almost every sense of the word, is portrayed to perfection and a step or two beyond by outspoken (and we can now add "fearless") comedian Mo'Nique.
In some ways, "Precious" is a disaster movie. It works as startling, bleak entertainment because when the projector shuts off, many of us can walk out into the sunlight of better circumstances.
There are other reasons to embrace "Precious." Better reasons. Hailed with Audience Awards at both the Sundance and Toronto film festivals, which is a first, this tough love/tougher hate drama is one of the finest films of 2009.
It could rank as the absolute best from this aisle seat, although a few other films remain to be seen. Certainly, "Precious" impacts the psyche with the most emotional force of the year so far.
Part of the dramatic impact comes from the filmmakers, of course. In only his second feature film in the director's chair, Lee Daniels ("Shadowboxer") pulls no punches on grim reality; poverty, ignorance and the welfare misery-go-round that blindsides too many of our citizens with a life-force knockout punch.
The script, adapted from the novel "Push" by Sapphire, comes from newcomer Geoffrey Fletcher, who studied under Martin Scorsese and Spike Lee. Fans of the book will notice that Fletcher expands on the flights of escapism fantasy.
What I admire most about "Precious" are the performances. Sidibe, who was 24 at the time of filming in 2007, could very well find herself in the Oscar race her first time in front of a feature film camera. Mo'Nique, who also appeared in Daniels' "Shadowboxer" (ironically as a character called Precious), is a shoo-in for at least a supporting actress nomination, if you ask me.
Also, look for solid performances from singer Mariah Carey as Ms. Weiss, the matter-of-fact social services worker, and Paula Patton ("Deja Vu"), the empathetic alternative school teacher.
Spike Lee has explored the urban landscape for over 20 years. But even Lee's gritty style of his early work ("She's Gotta Have It," etc.) has always involved some sort of heightened reality.
There's nothing heightened with "Precious." It's about as painfully real as a dramatic feature film can get.
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