Another awards season...another miserable drama with a 'heartwarming' ending. The long titled "Precious - Based On The Novel Push By Sapphire" is a gritty urban drama about a long suffering teenage, New York girl (Precious). She's over-weight, is physically and mentally abused by her mother, bullied by schoolmates, is friendless and is expecting her second child...impregnated by her own father. Things start looking up when a concerned teacher suggests she enrol at a special needs school.
It's dark stuff, but it is given energy from some glossy photography, some surreal fantasy sequences (which Precious retreats to when the physical abuse gets too much to bear...saving the audience from the brunt of it too) and a defiant performance from actress Gabourey Sidibe, in the title role. The other performances are strong too with both Lenny Kravitz and Mariah Carey delivering decent work (Carey in particular has an acting future if she continues to pursue 'character' roles like this.) Deja Vu and Mirrors, Paula Patton, is wonderful too...adding a balance of true class, sternness and a soft side as the teacher that picks up the pieces when things really start falling apart. The stand out is comedienne Monique, as Precious's Mum Mary. She's a monster. A lazy, selfish, abusive monster...and it's all credit to Monique for making us hate her...and for allowing us to glimpse inside to see how such a foul person got this fucked up.
It's one of those watch once movies. Incredibly worthy, extremely well made...but so grim in story and in tone that once is enough...thank you very much.
No comments:
Post a Comment