Today: Precious: based on a novel by Sapphire. Jesus, I loved this movie. Let me forewarn anyone that's thinking about seeing this film: it's very difficult to watch. There are some very visceral, disturbing images in the film that could really stir up some emotion, but hey, that's why this movie is so great. If movies don't push you, they're not really doing much at all to you, and that's 10 bucks and two hours of your life wasted.
Precious is based on a novel written by Sapphire, and it tells the story of a young, overweight, and illiterate teen in Harlem who struggles with an abusive home life and is pregnant with her second child. She is then kicked out of school, and is invited to enroll in an alternative school, where she hopes to turn her life around. When she first enters the school, she is afraid to speak, and cannot read. Her mother disapproves of her education, and physically and emotionally abuses her daily. This movie has some bleak and incredibly heartbreaking moments, but director Lee Daniels juxtaposes Precious' hardships with daydreams of flashing cameras and spotlights. Whenever something unimaginably horrible happens, Precious retreats into her own world, where she is surrounded by a man who loves her, and people who want to take her picture. This is the story of a young girl who has been constantly beat down, wrecked by the people who were supposed to love her, but yet still manages to maintain some kind of lightness in her life.I won't even lie. This movie made me cry like a little baby. It really broke my heart into so many pieces. You know going into this movie that it isn't based on a true story, but the movie experience is so special, that you feel like everything really is happening right before your eyes. What makes the experience even more real is that I know that there are young women like this who do exist, and who have similar stories to tell. That's the most heartbreaking part, and that's what really hurt. I hope everyone goes to see this movie to understand why it's so important to respect each other. There's an important story to tell here, and I'm glad Lee Daniels fought so hard to make this movie, and I really hope more people see it.
This movie had a fantastically great cast. Gabourey Sidibe, who plays Precious, and is the exact opposite of her character in real life as a happy, peppy, self confident woman, is incredibly convincing. She was just so achingly heartbreaking in this movie. I was physically hurting by the end because you just feel for her. Mo'Nique, who plays Precious' mother, absolutely blew me away. She was just incredible. Incredible. Jesus. Her Golden Globe, CCA, SAG, and I'm sure, come March 7th, her Oscar are very well deserved. She has a speech at the end of the film that will totally change your view of her as a comedy actress. More very notable mentions: Mariah Carey as Precious' social worker/counselor, Lenny Kravitz as her nurse, and Paula Patton as her teacher.
My final thoughts on Precious: No doubt about it. Go see this movie, but be forewarned that it's hard to stomach at times. Bring tissues. Witness Mo'Nique's and Gabby Sidibe's incredible performances. Both actresses are my Oscar picks: Mo'Nique for best supporting actress, Gabby for best actress.
Five down, five to go. My previous best picture reviews:
Avatar
An Education
The Hurt Locker
Up in the Air
What's left:
A Serious Man
District 9
Inglorious Basterds
The Blind Side
Up
No comments:
Post a Comment