Precious is a very good film, but by no stretch of the imagination a great one. It’s not an easy film to watch, but it is, thank god, rewarding.
Set in Harlem in 1987, it is the story of Claireece “Precious” Jones (Gabourey Sidibe), a sixteen-year-old African-American girl born into a life no one would want. She’s pregnant for the second time, raped by her absent father; at home, she must wait hand and foot on her mother (Mo’Nique), a poisonously angry woman who abuses her. Precious has reached the ninth grade with good marks and an awful secret: she can neither read nor write.
Threatened with expulsion, Precious is offered the chance to transfer to an alternative school, Each One/Teach One. In the literacy workshop taught by the patient yet firm Ms. Rain (Paula Patton), and, with support from her classmates Precious begins her slow crawl out.
Played by newcomer Gibourey Sidibe , her character is a bit hard to key off, mostly because she is downcast and sullen and the actress’s face is often obscured. But she shows there is a person with hopes and dreams buried under all of her own personal hell, lighting up with a huge smile and flashing eyes during her daydreams of silly tennage wannabe celebrity fantasies.
In the film's second act, Lenny Kravitiz and Mariah Carey pop-up in small roles that are little more than cameos. Mariah Carey is fine, in a tiny role, which has gotten more publicity because she appears without makeup than for acting chops. It’s a very limited role and she doesn’t destroy the film. Lenny Kravitz fares better, giving his character a quiet dignity, grace and humanity, hopefully hinting at a powerhouse actor of the future.
But in an actor's film, the clear winner is, amazingly, Mo'Nique in a performance as Gabby's mother that is nothing short of a revelation. Sweetheart, what on earth are you doing playing a stereotypical loud brash black big black woman on your silly talk show gig? Time to put all that to rest and become what you were born to be, a wildfire of an actress. I still have trouble believing it. Mo’Nique's character spews hate, venting the frustration she feels over her wasted life at the daughter she feels is mocking her. The actress is unrelenting in her attacks, she creates a truly a monstrous, damaged character.
With an Academy that misses the boat so many times, I hope they get this one right, this is the acting performance of the year, in any category.
There’s nothing earth-shattering in director Lee Daniel's film, the plot is pretty straight forward and predictable. But the strength of the story is it never offers easy answers or quick solutions, it is gritty and unflinching in a way rarely seen and deserves kudos for that.
Rating:
Presentation: 28 gritty and believable backdrops and
Plot: 26 predictable but effective
Character: 31- great acting throughout
