Movie Review: Precious
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Gabourey Sidibe as Precious looks out her window at the world beyond
Photo courtesy of Lionsgate Entertainment
Precious: Based on the Novel, Push By Sapphire is difficult on so many levels.
First, it is difficult to watch someone who seems to be a perfectly nice young woman horrifically abused in every possible way. Second, it is difficult to understand how this can happen; how someone can be so beaten down that she believes in her absolute worthlessness. Third, for those who wish to believe that there is help in our system for the people who need it, the difficulty lies in the abysmally unresponsive bureaucracy that allows itself to be fooled and, even when presented with the facts, is slow to act.
Claireece Jones, who goes by her middle name, Precious, lives in Harlem in the late 80s. She is morbidly obese, illiterate, has a child and is pregnant with a second. Her mother Mary heaps a daily regime of physical and verbal abuse on Precious that is almost beyond comprehension to the viewer. As the story unfolds and characters react to what is happening the audience — intentionally, one suspects — is shocked over and over again by what is happening.
Yet, the film is riveting. Director Lee Daniels draws us into Precious’ world, leads us into understanding what is happening and has happened before the start of the film and, as we watch, draws us into the action, forcing us to hope against all evidence to the contrary, that Precious will emerge on the other side of her horror a whole person.
Yes, it is difficult to watch, but at the same time, Precious is eminently absorbing. The answer to why this is so lies, first, in the direction.
The film takes place in the most physically drab of settings. Yet, in the totally unlikely moments we see how Precious herself survives —by employing brightly colored fantasies that are all hot pinks, reds and yellows — which allow her (and us) to escape. These brief moments of joy give us, as they give Precious, hope.
Then there is acting that by any standard, is astounding. Newcomer Gabourey Sidibe inhabits the character of Precious with the certainty and aplomb of an experienced actor. Mo’Nique, whom we have previously seen as a comedian, is terrifying here. She is Mary, Precious’ mother who, having lost control of everyone and everything in her life, is taking all her pain and anger out on her daughter.
Paula Patton and Sherri Sheperd play a teacher and school staff member, respectively, whom Precious encounters and who are understanding and helpful, in contrast to the other adults in her life.
Precious’ social worker is Mariah Carey, properly social work-y, maintaining distance, always asking reasonable questions but a process junkie who, much to our surprise, in the end serves to help Precious help herself.
Lenny Kravitz, a nurse assigned to Precious’ care, is the only man who clearly sees Precious as an individual human being. Precious’ father, the source of Mary’s anger, is but quickly glimpsed. He is a shadow figure.
The director and actors, along with producers Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry, present with a film that is though-provoking, serious and, in its way, beautiful. Precious fully engages us because it is both excellent filmmaking on every level and it succeeds in challenging us by bringing us into this very foreign world and helping us to appreciate those who survive in it.
This is a wonderful film that demands to be seen.
(5 votes, average: 4.60 out of 5)
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