Movie Review – Precious
Precious is an amazing movie. It’s also a heavy movie, very heavy. I was shaken even as I walked out of the theater to my car, and the movie lingered with me the rest of the night. I love movies like that.
Precious (full name – Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire) is the story of 16-year-old Precious. She’s pregnant, failing school, and all alone. To say her mother abuses her would be an understatement. Her mother hates her. Precious escapes by imagining herself in fantasy situations, as a movie star, or a celebrity far away from the ghetto where she lives. Precious gets an opportunity to change things when her current principal refers her to an alternative school. She enrolls, and slowly starts to break out of her shell and realize there can be more to life.
If only it were that easy. Precious already has a child and is pressured by her mom to help her stay on welfare. That’s just the beginning of the uphill battle she faces. I don’t want to give too many of the plot points away, but she endures a whole lot. Fortunately, she has support from her new teacher, Ms. Rain, and her new classmates.
Gabby Sidibe does an amazing job in her first role. At times, you forget you’re watching a movie, her character feels so real. Your heart breaks for her over and over. Mariah Carey was so convincing not dolled up in makeup that I didn’t even recognize her. Mo’Nique blew me away. I read in an interview with Lee Daniels that he told her she had to be a monster, but one that we felt sorry for her, and she was. It was interesting, because I felt bad for her, but I felt no sympathy for her the way I did for Precious.
The entire movie builds for a final scene that is unforgettable. The performances were so raw and so real and that is exactly why the movie stayed with me as I left the theater. This movie will touch you. It’ll leave you exhausted, but it will be worth it.