Precious
Movie Summary of Precious by Michael the Moviegoer.
PRECIOUS = ***
“Glitter-Less And Glorious”
Based on the novel “Push” by Sapphire, Lee Daniels’ film “Precious” is a tough drama that requires a thick skin. This is mostly due to the gritty hard-as-nails performance of Mo’Nique as a single mother who hates and blames her daughter for the lack of love in her life. The daughter, nick-named Precious, is played by newcomer Gabourey Sidibe in one of the year’s strongest performances as an overweight pregnant teen trying to have an education despite every social obstacle imaginable.
Mo’Nique’s searing performance may steal some of the awards thunder from Sidibe. Because they’ve never seen her before, many Academy members may feel that Sidibe is not acting and that she was just cast in the role because she’s this type. So it’s important that Sidibe start hitting the talk-show circuit because in real life she is nothing like this character, and that’s what makes it such an astonishing performance. In interviews, Sidibe is quite intelligent and articulate with a speaking voice that sounds like a southern California valley girl! But in character, she becomes this troubled teenager in 1987 Harlem.
An odd choice of musical artists rounds out the rest of the cast. Lenny Kravitz plays a male nurse, and a glitter-less Mariah Carey plays a welfare worker.
Daniels balances the hard-to-take realities with Precious’ imaginary dreamlife in an inspired effort that gives the film a uniquely stylized look. This is a special film filled with a winning spirit.
DVD Double Feature: “Finding Forrester” is a rare, mainstream, formulaic film from director Gus Van Sant. It stars Sean Connery as a reclusive novelist discovered in his Bronx apartment by a young inner-city college student. Reluctantly, Connery eventually becomes the kid’s mentor. For those of us who don’t live in New York, it’s difficult to distinguish between Harlem and The Bronx. But these two films seem to have a shared spirit.
Michael The Moviegoer
PRECIOUS = ***
“Glitter-Less And Glorious”
Based on the novel “Push” by Sapphire, Lee Daniels’ film “Precious” is a tough drama that requires a thick skin. This is mostly due to the gritty hard-as-nails performance of Mo’Nique as a single mother who hates and blames her daughter for the lack of love in her life. The daughter, nick-named Precious, is played by newcomer Gabourey Sidibe in one of the year’s strongest performances as an overweight pregnant teen trying to have an education despite every social obstacle imaginable.
Mo’Nique’s searing performance may steal some of the awards thunder from Sidibe. Because they’ve never seen her before, many Academy members may feel that Sidibe is not acting and that she was just cast in the role because she’s this type. So it’s important that Sidibe start hitting the talk-show circuit because in real life she is nothing like this character, and that’s what makes it such an astonishing performance. In interviews, Sidibe is quite intelligent and articulate with a speaking voice that sounds like a southern California valley girl! But in character, she becomes this troubled teenager in 1987 Harlem.
An odd choice of musical artists rounds out the rest of the cast. Lenny Kravitz plays a male nurse, and a glitter-less Mariah Carey plays a welfare worker.
Daniels balances the hard-to-take realities with Precious’ imaginary dreamlife in an inspired effort that gives the film a uniquely stylized look. This is a special film filled with a winning spirit.
DVD Double Feature: “Finding Forrester” is a rare, mainstream, formulaic film from director Gus Van Sant. It stars Sean Connery as a reclusive novelist discovered in his Bronx apartment by a young inner-city college student. Reluctantly, Connery eventually becomes the kid’s mentor. For those of us who don’t live in New York, it’s difficult to distinguish between Harlem and The Bronx. But these two films seem to have a shared spirit.
Michael The Moviegoer