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When Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry team up to produce a film, people perk up and pay attention�or at least that�s been the case with director Lee Daniels�s urban drama, Precious. But if there�s one thing I�ve learned in my years of movie watching, it�s that hype does not a great movie make�and while Precious is a captivating film, it�s not necessarily a great one.
Set in �80s Harlem, Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire tells the story of struggling teen Claireece �Precious� Jones (Gabourey Sidibe), a 16-year-old girl who�s been pushed through every system there is. She�s never learned to read, yet she�s somehow made it to junior high. She�s suffered every kind of abuse imaginable, yet the social workers never seem to notice. They just keep sending the checks that keep her violent, manipulative mother (Mo�Nique) sitting in front of the TV, waiting for Precious to bring home her lottery tickets and cigarettes.
Now, Precious is pregnant with her father�s child for the second time. She�s been thrown out of school, and the welfare agency is threatening to cut her mother off. So when her principal suggests that she attend an alternative school, Precious doesn�t really have much of a choice. But there, in a small classroom of kids like her, she finally finds a place where she fits�and a teacher, Ms. Rain (Paula Patton), who encourages her to strive for a better life.
Just when you think things might start to get better for poor Precious, they just keep getting worse�and that makes Precious an emotionally exhausting film. From the very beginning, you�ll feel for the character�not just because of the abuse she�s been forced to endure but also because she�s different. She�s a victim of the system, yet she doesn�t want to settle for a life on the streets. She wants more for herself and her children. She�s just waiting for someone to reach out to her�and maybe even care about her. Sidibe generally underplays the role�sometimes to a fault�yet you�ll care. So, with each new blow that she suffers, you�ll feel it, too.
But Precious isn�t all doom and gloom. Sure, it�s pretty heavy stuff�but it�s not nearly as heavy as it could have been. And there�s plenty to enjoy: the lighter moments, the occasional feeling of hope, and, especially, the surprising performances.
When I first heard rumblings about a possible Oscar nomination for Mo�Nique, I was admittedly pretty skeptical�but she deserves the buzz. Though she plays a completely hateful character, her performance is still utterly compelling�and when she speaks, you�ll definitely listen (and you�ll be absolutely horrified). And she�s just one part of a generally noteworthy cast�including a shockingly understated Mariah Carey, whose small role as a social worker goes a long way toward making up for Glitter.
Of course, the story behind Precious isn�t entirely new or original. In fact, it�s been done over and over again. Although it has a certain gritty authenticity to it, it�s not entirely surprising�and, perhaps for that reason, it isn�t a knockout. It�s eye-opening and often emotional, yet it�s missing that a-ha moment that would make it a truly exceptional drama. The gripping performances make it worth checking out�but (despite the hype) it isn�t a must-see.
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