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…by Sapphire. This mouthful is apparently to avoid confusion with the 2009 action film Push (Paul McGuigan), I don’t know what was wrong with just ‘Precious’ either. Nominated for 6 Oscars this is the first serious outing for Lee Daniels and it’s star Gabourey Sidibe.

plot

Claireece Precious Jones (Sidibe); abused by her mother, raped by her father, fat, illiterate, unloved and unnoticed. After getting pregnant for a second time she is expelled from school and sent to ‘Each One Teach One’ where she meets a new teacher Blue Rain (Paula Patton).

impressions

Sidibe held her own but my overriding connection with Precious was frustration, not for her situation but through her inactivity. The story and the actress needed to do more to convince us of the shackles which incapacitate those confronted with such extreme abuse. Conversely the supporting cast was outstanding; Patton was perfectly understated, Mo’Nique (her mother, Mary) had me gripping the arm rests and searching for something to launch at the screen and Carey (her councillor, Mrs. Weiss) managed to selflessly allow Sidibe to occasionally shine.

Visually the film was OK, its muted tone perhaps cleverly designed to avoid distraction from the stories weighty themes, but more could have been done to help. I wouldn’t have gone to see this if I wasn’t working my way around the 2010 best picture nominations, and after viewing a few others in the same category I’m convinced they need to re-name the award ‘Most Difficult Subject Matter’, it hasn’t been nominated because it’s a great film with a great lead but it does effectively illuminate a dark corner of our society.

verdict: 5 / 10 – powerful content, lacking style

View the Trailer  |  Look This Film Up on IMDb (Pro)  |  Official Site

$10 (£6.4), Lee Daniels/Smokewood distributed by Icon, 85 min., 1.85:1, 35mm (Arriflex, Fuji Eterna, Digi. Int.).

previewing; The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (indifferent), Blind Side (I’m a sucker for any kind of sports movie, I nearly cried at the trailer) and Crazy Heart (great cast, definitely got legs).