'Precious' is anything but, gritty and a must see

    • 'Precious' is anything but, gritty and a must see


      Genre: Drama
      Running Time: 109 min
      MPAA rating: R (Adult Language, Adult Situations, Violence)
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      Trailer: Watch

      By Elizabeth Weitzman
      NY Daily News
      You don't have to be a teenager living in Harlem to appreciate “Precious.” You don't have to be illiterate, or obese. You don't even have to know how it feels to be repeatedly let down by the very people meant to protect you.
      But you do need an open mind, because without firsthand experience you'll have to trust that girls like Precious--lovable, but unloved--do exist.
      And you'll need an open heart, as well, to believe that beauty can survive in the face of so much ugliness.
      As imagined by novelist Sapphire and director Lee Daniels, Precious (Gabourey Sidibe) was born to be destroyed. Her mother (Mo'Nique) abuses her in every imaginable way. Her school ignores her. Her classmates taunt her. Her body, well over three hundred pounds, both protects and betrays her.
      She is sixteen, and about to give birth to her father's child for the second time.
      Into this bleak corner of New York, circa 1987, comes Ms. Rain (Paula Patton), a teacher determined to save lives others dismiss. In her class, Precious finds the slightest glimmers of hope.
      Believe me when I say “slightest.” Daniels digs obstinately downward, and the primary moments of relief come from Precious' fantasy life.
      So why is everyone talking about this movie? Well, it doesn't hurt to have Oprah and Tyler Perry, both executive producers, on your side. But the film's real strength is its cast, from an Oscars-bound Mo'Nique to a notably deglammed Mariah Carey (as an overwhelmed social worker).
      The actress who most deserves credit, however, is the one we don't already know: first-timer Sidibe. Daniels is not a subtle director, and he encourages Mo'Nique's powerful expansiveness. But it's much harder to act quietly than loudly, as Sidibe has to do, and her still grace should not be mistaken for blankness. She provides the faintly beating heart of this movie, muted enough to overlook, but strong enough to keep everything going.

      ---------- Post added at 05:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:17 PM ----------

      This movie looks awesome. Definitely in my list to see.