PRECIOUS/LEE DANIELS

REVIEW Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire/ (Link to IMDB.com)

Last night I had the opportunity to see PRECIOUS with a Q&A after with director Lee Daniels by John Singleton at the Director’s Guild of America in Los Angeles, CA.  PRECIOUS is based on a novel called PUSH, but I prefer the name PRECIOUS for the film.  Daniels produced MONSTER’S BALL, THE WOODSMEN, and SHADOWBOXER.  He’s a very talented filmmaker in many ways, but PRECIOUS left me with the most incredible unsettled feeling that has lingered throughout this entire day.

PRECIOUS is a 355-pound teenage girl living in the most horrendous circumstances.  As the film unravels, we see the horrors she has faced in her life.  The film is amazing and awful all at once not due to poor filmmaking, but because the content is so disturbing.  I think it is a MUST WATCH film and don’t want to make my words “awful” make it seem like the filmmaking is awful – far from it.  I do have issues with several aspects of the film’s plot, but all of this is insignificant compared to the outrageously outstanding performances from the lead unknown actress playing Precious (Gabourey ‘Gabby’ Sidibe).  Additionally, Mariah Carey shocked me with her moving portrayal of a New York City social worker.  Without makeup for the role, I often questioned myself about whether it was really Mariah since I did not know she was such an excellent actress.  Finally, the uber-talented Mo’Nique delivers a tour-de-force show as her abusive mother.  These are all Oscar-winning performances and each actress should be able to be awarded one of her own.

Lee Daniels took a risk making this film and he should be applauded for making such a moving and disturbing movie.  This is real-life and it’s incredible that this is not a documentary.  In the Q&A, John Singleton mentioned that te film reminded him of the Italian neo-realist style.  I agree that it is along those lines, but it takes life much deeper and more frightening than any Italian neo-realist film I’ve ever seen.

I do want to warn anyone that has had an abusive past since this movie could easily shake up many memories and emotions for anyone with PTSD.  I also want to say that the type of horrors that Precious faced are not just experienced in the African-American community – this is a universal story which is likely why its success confounded the director who had originally only planned it to play well with black audiences.  I do have some fundamental issues with the film, but if I allow myself to be lost in the story and characters then the great debates in my mind are quieted.

The one nagging question I have about this project is this – would the film be equally accepted and successful if a female filmmaker had made it?  Sadly, I don’t think it would.  I believe that it would not have received as much press or accolades.  But that said, I am glad that someone told this story.