Director Lee Daniels provides a stellar example of American independent filmmaking with his presentation of “Precious: Based on the novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire.” Armed with an exceptional ensemble cast and a powerful script by Geoffrey Fletcher, Daniels delivers with detailed authenticity a stunning drama laden with so much emotional upheaval that it is at once both fascinating and exhausting to view.
Daniels, who produced “Monster’s Ball” and “The Woodsman,” knows more than just a little about the importance of character development and how to apply the “slow burn” approach of revealing a series of circumstances and actions that punctuate the multi-layered aspects and eventual outcomes of the given characters.
Precious (Gabourey Sidibe) is an illiterate teen who is pregnant for the second time by her now absent father. After enduring a lifetime of sexual abuse along with emotional and physical abuse by her mother, Mary (Mo’Nique), Precious appears to have no hope of escaping the persistently violent turmoil of her home life.
After her pregnancy is discovered at school, Precious is encouraged to enroll in an alternative school where the motto is “Each One/Teach One.” With the help of a dedicated teacher, Ms. Rain (Paula Patton), Precious begins to uncover through reading and writing her years of hurt and bitterness, and she eventually gains the emotional strength to care for her newborn baby. Not long after leaving her mother’s home, Precious experiences another devastating blow that seems to leave her little choice but to contemplate giving up on her education.
Even though each step forward seems thwarted by setbacks, Precious remains in school and with improving test scores finds pride in the experience. When her social worker (Mariah Carey) arranges for a meeting with Mary, it pushes Precious into a confrontation that ultimately leads her to a life that, while difficult, contains the hope of her finding a level of happiness and self-respect.
Look for Sidibe to get an Oscar nod for best actress. She has more than a good chance to win, especially if her biggest competition turns out to Sandra Bullock. Mo’Nique (widely known for her comic turns) is also poised for a supporting actress win.
Additional performances by Lenny Kravitz, a nearly unrecognizable Carey and the very confident Patton are genuinely rendered and a tribute to Daniels’ ability to pull memorable characterizations from each member of his cast. This is a film that’s often difficult to watch, but it’s a must-see for avid filmgoers and one of the best pictures of the year.
No comments:
Post a Comment