‘Precious’ delivers a powerful promise
Unstoppable, unfiltered energy fulfills a resolve to succeed
The first 20 minutes of Precious, the full title of which is Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire, are so intense and pitched so high, you may not feel like sticking it out.
My advice: Stick it out. This is an exceptional film about nearly unendurable circumstances, endured. You will come out the other side of it a markedly enriched filmgoer.
The story of Claireece “Precious” Jones tells of a New York City teenager living in 1980s Harlem, raped by her barely glimpsed father, abused by her unfathomably cruel mother. Precious is illiterate but bright, and against her mother’s wishes she switches to an alternative school where, in a literacy workshop, she comes under the life-saving tutelage of Ms. Rain.
The 16-year-old Precious has one child and another on the way, both by her own father. Her life (and director Lee Daniels’ wrenching film) becomes a mosaic of pain and promise, sunny skies and grief, with enough of an emotional impact to put a dent in the most jaded audience.
The novel was published in 1996. Screenwriter Geoffrey Fletcher has toned down some of the miseries inflicted on Precious, but this is no whitewash on the order of the film version of The Color Purple (a book referenced directly in Sapphire’s original). The film is rough around the edges but fantastically well-acted, and truly alive.
The miracle of the ensemble is that it does, in fact, feel like an ensemble. Newcomer Gabourey Sidibe plays Precious, and she is phenomenally expressive in her portrayal of a huge young woman shouldering a massive amount of adversity. Mo’Nique plays the pivotal role of Precious’ vicious mother — Ronald Reagan’s nightmare vision of a “welfare queen” come to life. Some have claimed this portrayal comes too close to minstrelsy for comfort. God knows Mo’Nique is asked to do some pretty horrible things, but Precious keeps this character just this side of cardboard monstrosity. There’ll be an Oscar nomination or two in this film’s near future.
And Mariah Carey — who knew the pop diva had such a good, honest, clean performance in her? She plays a social worker, and in a couple of lengthy interactions, Carey and Sidibe find common performance ground where you wouldn’t think any existed.
Still, Precious is at its best when it spends time in the classroom, and when we get to know a host of tough, smart characters on their own terms.
We root for these survivors, not because they’re being set up as rooting interests by the filmmakers, but because their back-and-forth is so sharp and vivid and dynamic. These supporting characters keep the movie hopping.
It’s not an easy film to watch. But neither, for many reasons, is Precious easy to forget.
Rated R for child abuse including sexual assault and pervasive language. Running time: 109 mins.
