Starring: Gabourey Sidibe, Paula Patton, Mo’Nique, Mariah Carey
Director: Lee Daniels (Shadowboxer)
Running Time: 1 hr 49 min
Release Date: Nov. 6, 2009 (Limited Release)
Budget: $10 million
Critics’ Thumbs Up: 82%
“A great American film.” Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
“…what’s most bewildering… is its overall shrug-worthiness.” Keith Uhlich, Time Out New York
For an Oscar bait film brimming with potential – not to mention executive produced by powerhouses Oprah and Tyler Perry, Precious isn’t such a gem. Set in 1987 Harlem, this ultimately overrated tale follows the harrowing journey of 16-year-old illiterate Claireece “Precious” Jones (newcomer Sidibe) who is emotionally and physically abused by her mother (Mo’Nique) and pregnant for the second time by her otherwise absent father (Rodney “Bear” Jackson). Glum but feisty, Precious enrolls in alternative school where she is guided by the prototypical inspirational teacher (Patton). Her name may be Blu Rain, but her tough-love attitude and supposed unique teaching methods – responding to students’ assigned daily diary entries – is as stereotypical as giving a teacher an apple. Moreover, the depictions of Precious’ abuse don’t offer poignancy but instead come off like a melodramatic soap opera or a shocking segment on Jerry Springer. Director Daniels, who was initially rejected by novelist Sapphire, however, livens up the mundane film with his brilliant and humorous cutaways to vibrant depictions of Precious’ daydreams. Patton gives a strong performance, as well as Mo’Nique who makes Mommie Dearest look like a sweetheart, but in the end Precious provides neither catharsis nor an uplifting feeling.
