The reviews are in for Precious, and though some critics object to director Lee Daniels' "need to shove the reality of Precious' life in our faces," most say it's a brilliant film about hideous truths Hollywood usually ignores.
Precious, which opened Friday in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Atlanta, is based on the novel Push by Sapphire and executive-produced by Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry, who came on board after its screening at Sundance. The film is set in late 80s Harlem, where 16-year-old Claireece Precious Jones (Gabourey "Gabby" Sidibe) is facing more hardships than it seems one person should ever endure. Her mother Mary (Mo'Nique) physically and emotionally abuses her and she's pregnant by her drug addict father for the second time. She's illiterate and mostly quiet (at first), but has an elaborate inner life the film portrays in fantasy sequences. When Precious is threatened with expulsion because she's pregnant she's offered the chance to transfer to an alternative school. Her new teacher, Blu Rain (Paula Patton), and Mrs. Weiss (Mariah Carey), a social worker, help Precious begin to deal with the abuse she's suffering.
While a less elegantly done movie could have fallen into several syrupy clichés about underprivileged kids learning to love themselves with the help of an attentive mentor, critics say the film avoids these pitfalls. The story is inspirational and (as Latoya writes) surprisingly hopeful, but it doesn't gloss over the ugliness of Precious' life and she doesn't overcome a lifetime of abuse in two hours.
Critics mention all the main leads as Oscar contenders, particularly Sidibe and Mo'Nique. Happily, most of the reviews focus on Sidibe's incredible performance rather than her size, with the notable exception of David Edelstein's New York Magazine review, which some found infuriating. A few critics question why all of the positive protagonists are portrayed by light-skinned actors and Slate's review calls the depiction of Precious' reality "poverty porn".
Precious, which opened Friday in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Atlanta, is based on the novel Push by Sapphire and executive-produced by Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry, who came on board after its screening at Sundance. The film is set in late 80s Harlem, where 16-year-old Claireece Precious Jones (Gabourey "Gabby" Sidibe) is facing more hardships than it seems one person should ever endure. Her mother Mary (Mo'Nique) physically and emotionally abuses her and she's pregnant by her drug addict father for the second time. She's illiterate and mostly quiet (at first), but has an elaborate inner life the film portrays in fantasy sequences. When Precious is threatened with expulsion because she's pregnant she's offered the chance to transfer to an alternative school. Her new teacher, Blu Rain (Paula Patton), and Mrs. Weiss (Mariah Carey), a social worker, help Precious begin to deal with the abuse she's suffering.
While a less elegantly done movie could have fallen into several syrupy clichés about underprivileged kids learning to love themselves with the help of an attentive mentor, critics say the film avoids these pitfalls. The story is inspirational and (as Latoya writes) surprisingly hopeful, but it doesn't gloss over the ugliness of Precious' life and she doesn't overcome a lifetime of abuse in two hours.
Critics mention all the main leads as Oscar contenders, particularly Sidibe and Mo'Nique. Happily, most of the reviews focus on Sidibe's incredible performance rather than her size, with the notable exception of David Edelstein's New York Magazine review, which some found infuriating. A few critics question why all of the positive protagonists are portrayed by light-skinned actors and Slate's review calls the depiction of Precious' reality "poverty porn".
A roundup of countrywide reviews here.
From Jezebel.com
12 comments:
Saw it last night. Powerful.
I'm looking forward to seeing this movie.
Will I be able to enjoy it over all the people talking at the screen?
This show sucks , some pretty good acting , but , it's old stuff about BS stuff. I don't want to see biased based shows. Plenty of whites have gone through the same.
I see it live everyday at work. Nothing Like a wealthy Oprah trying to make more money off of the Black exsp. Try setting up more scholorships and youth programs.
No one has to tell me about 17 year old girls having two babies. I see it. Crack heads for mothers. Brothers thugging it up for the local gang.
Dont spend 15 bucks just do a freaking ride along with the local cops.
The County Council should have to work security at the Cimemas for this one.
Blame Pollitt for everything? This county got in the shape it is in long before he showed up.
The movie should be called "Just How Precious Is Wicomico".
This county is a prime example of discriminatory realestate practices. I guess all A/A. just decided to move to Burnt Branch.
Realators in this county are guilty race based target sales. This is a Federal Crime.
No one else finds it funny that a developement of that size had "1" white couple buy in the early stages.
There are two words to describe the primary two types of people in the county. I am not allowed to use either.
Have a Delmarvalous Day !!
Joe stop covering your butt and being one sided on the Revenue Cap issue. Way to tranparent even for you.
Want to see a good movie, go see The Blind Side.... Best movie out there in a long time.....
2:30 anon it is still going on in watts,harlem and any minority slums of the cities
That's why I wait until movies come out on DVD or On Demand with Comcast.
I refuse to pay the prices they want to go to the theater and you can't enjoy the movie because of people talking all the way through and those who just are there to play around.
The movie theaters lost my business many years ago because of this stuff and I absolutely refuse to give them another chance.
I can rent the movie, pop some popcorn, grab a soda or even a mixed drink and watch it at home. If I need to go to the restroom or get a refill during the movie, I can pause it and resume when I get back to my chair.
2:45 You're right that you probably see "17 year old girls having two babies, crack heads for mothers and brothers thugging it up for the local gang."
What you DON'T SEE is the happy ending that people make movies about. Sadly babies being raised by babies end up having more babies, crack heads just screw up their kids, and thugs go to Salisbury where they can run rampant in the local gangs.
7:51pm- I see it everyday too. Sometimes I have to adjust my definition of "success", but nevertheless, there are success stories out there. The problem is, most people would rather hear about all the negative stuff out there. Maybe you should take some time out to mentor some at risk kids- get to know their families and see firsthand that there are some out there that are making it- by a string perhaps, but making it nonetheless.
Maybe this movie will cause people to step back and think about things in a new light-even for a minute would be good.
And one more thing, 7:51- we are all responsible for our community. What are you doing to help?
As the poster let me say this. I have mentored to many many kids and adults. The sytem has created distrust among the races. The new President has done nothong and I mean nothing to help.
In this day ans time one has to ask 'Am I willing to die for a child that does not care about themselves. Even less about a prson of color that is not thier own. The thugs own and control that segmnent of society. They are the heros of the hood.
It is plain and simple keep your legs closed or use birth control. The days of society paying for a 21year olds fives kids should be over with. The health dept offers free conterceptives. Soap is a dollor a bar.
I grew up on food stamps and free lunch. I walked to school daily called "Cracker" "Honkey". I was stabbed twice by age fifteen. Fought in, out and on my way to school. Daily because I was white. I could have easily bore a swaztika or joined another cowardly group. I chose to be me.
The Black man does not want to hear a word the white man says. The white man has become less tolerant of afrocentric bull shit.
This Country is in real trouble if we dont do something soon.
Maybe I will write my movie growing up White in a Black man's world.
Dont get me wrong this world is a beautiful place when we allow to be.
You know what they say teach a man to fish, feed him for life, give him a fish, feed him for a day.
One thing Hilary was right about....it does take a village.
So many people turn a blind eye
to these situations going on today
because they are too busy in their lifes to intervene or they are too selfish to care.
There are people out there crying for help and they have noone to listen. So before you complain and
judge, put yourself in their shoes.
You just got lucky if you were not born into this.
Be a role model, not an ass. Many of these people only know what they see.
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