Precious

2009 "We are all precious"
7.3| 1h50m| R| en| More Info
Released: 06 November 2009 Released
Producted By: Smokewood Entertainment Group
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website: http://www.weareallprecious.com/
Info

Set in Harlem in 1987, Claireece "Precious" Jones is a 16-year-old African American girl born into a life no one would want. She's pregnant for the second time by her absent father; at home, she must wait hand and foot on her mother, an angry woman who abuses her emotionally and physically. School is chaotic and Precious has reached the ninth grade with good marks and a secret; She can't read.

Genre

Drama

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Director

Lee Daniels

Production Companies

Smokewood Entertainment Group

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Precious Audience Reviews

Exoticalot People are voting emotionally.
ShangLuda Admirable film.
BallWubba Wow! What a bizarre film! Unfortunately the few funny moments there were were quite overshadowed by it's completely weird and random vibe throughout.
Philippa All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.
eric262003 Precious' life has not been all that compromising. She turns away from other people out fear, not misanthropy. She is quite introverted with people in her lives. She's not very strong in terms of literacy, To see she walks around with this pain surrounding her would be the ultimate understatement. In addition, she she has a child due to rape, she's morbidly obese, her clothes don't fit through the bulk that she carries. Going to school is like walking into a snake-pit in which the venom inflicted upon her stems from the verbal abuse drawn from her peers. If the poison injected from her classmates was hard to bear, home isn't any better, in fact it's a lot worst. Her mother who has given up on home seems to take the leasure of making Precious' living a real nightmare. Precious was badly raped by her own father, but by contrary, her mother isn't ticked off by her bastard husband, she blames her daughter for allegedly "stealing " him. Like a hard candy with a creamy centre, "Precious" might make you very uncomfortable while watching it, but underneath every hardship, there is one element that saves this film from perpetual lament., the message that if we work hard enough, we can pull through all obstacles in our way. Though we want Precious to pull through in the end, the signal of hope comes from the two women in her lives who can provide for her the quest for her to strive through and become a better,more confident person who is in desperate need to be rectified."Precious" is a truly great American film that reflects issues that sparks realism in every dark corner backed by characters that are both easy to grasp at because these are the same people we've experienced in our lives before. Their names and physical identity might be different, but can be easy to relate to. Even by scrounging through the rough patches this movie endures, at the end it turns out to have an underrated moment of feel-good vibrations that will linger on even as the end credits roll. Gabourey Sidibe in her debut film isn't just acting this role as Precious, she's actually living the character.Sidibe really gives everything we need to now about this heartbroken soul through heart,soul and heartbreak. It's hard being an outcast, and Sidibe was just flawless. Sidibe isn't alone in this painful journey. Mo'Nique in an Oscar-winning performance was spot-on as a cruel, chain-smoking loveless mother who treats Precious like a free servant while oblivious to many years of hardcore abuse. Paula Patton was breath-taking as Ms. Rain, an instructor who could see a bright light masquerading within the inner reaches of Precious' mind. In a surprise turn, singer Mariah Carey is also very good as social worker Ms. Weiss.Sure it may have cynical overtones within Geoffrey Fetcher's script, reflecting back in the old days of Hollywood as performers had to play off character roles. Under the helm of Lee Daniels, the film lacked in star quality to give the atmosphere a more real look without the glitz and glamour. By way of reverse, Daniels demanded his cast to act and to capture the emotions and hardships they had to endure and everything had to look ad feel as real as possible. It worked as he did wonder when he produced "Monster's Ball" and led Halle Berry to perform with a emotional grip which led her to an Academy Award. His method must have a lingering impact on his stars.Carey and Patton can provide great depth to their performances which are equally on the same length as Sidibe's role. After all, why would an instructor and a social worker go through tumultuous lengths to save this fat, social outcast and to show her she's special and that her future is right.? My guess is they've seen it all and there are a myriad of other people walking in the same direction as Precious.Though she may hit viewers in the wrong direction with her staggering verbal quips towards her daughter, it's wrong to classify Mary as an evil person, her venomous cruelty stems from her self-anger to which she lays upon her daughter. Mo'Nique is quite convincing in her role.Though naysayers might have the negative belief that this performance could be manipulative, Sidibe embodies the duration of the move to yearn for our sympathy. Her work in her debut is very curious in that is shows that her fewer words and actions can generate in ways that tug at the strings of the heart. Her role is so natural you hardly know she's even acting.Though she's a decade older than the role she plays, you still could find it hard to believe. She never actually lived the hardship of Precious, but Sidibe has given this character a lease of life's lessons and that we learn about her and the way to make us understand more about what it's like to be human an that we're all different, but we are all the same as we must endure life day to day through the good and the bad. After the film ends we must all give Precious a big hug.
Screen_Blitz Some people are lucky and grow up in healthy, prosperous families with good jobs, good education, and a life filled with love. Then there are some who are not so lucky, living near of the bottom of the barrel with poor income and trudging through harrowing lifestyles with parents who have seemingly nothing but darkness in their heart. That is the basis of this heartbreaking, yet unusually uplifting drama directed by Lee Daniels. Following the story of an underage with a home style that can only be described as unpleasant and with an unfair future in sight, this film strikes at your heart with gruelingly powerful storytelling with strong emotional resonance. And Daniels accomplishes the story without diving into the pratfalls of emotionally contrived clichés. Part of this is thanks to the rewarding performances by Gabourey Sidibe, who is making her feature film debut, and Mo'Nique who is firing with a performance that simply cannot be ignored. Set in the poor neighborhood of Harlem in 1987, this film follows Clareece "Precious" Jones (played by Gabourey Sidibe), an overweight sixteen- year old girl who is pregnant with her second child after being raped by her father. She is attending school while living a poor home life with her extremely poor excuse of a mother Mary (played by Mon'Nique) who beats her, calls her horrible names, and yells at her to quit school because she is too "dumb". If that's not bad enough, she doesn't even have a job, she just collects welfare checks. When she is transferred to an alternative school and enrolls in an English class taught by Mrs. Rain (played by Paula Patton), she is opened to a glimmer of hope for her future. That is if she manage to balance being a mother and excelling in school, which she manages to ask advice for by her social worker Ms. Weiss (played by Mariah Carey). Lee Daniels knows the heart of its source material, and he breathes life into triumphant results. Based on the acclaimed novel 'Push' by Sapphire, this somber, yet deeply moving drama offers a realistic and heart-stirring account of an underprivileged girl trapped in the shackles of an unfortunate home life in the uprooted by her mother who does nothing but sits in front of the television, smokes, and treats her daughter like garbage for reasons that are revealed late in the story. Her life captured partially through a series of both happy dream sequences of her being a Hollywood star and harrowing flashbacks of her and her father. Both of which paint a picture of her a psychological state. The relationship between her and her mother functions as part of the emotional crux of the story, followed by her life-changing journey of mothering a second child while facing the ramifications of her past. It is a deeply powerful story that almost never holds back on pulling at your heart strings. Yes, there are some moments of levity, but they come few and far in between. And the performances placed some icing on the cake. Gabourey Sidibe is incredible as the eponymous character, channeling her depression and confusion in a role that doesn't understand her. It is Mo'Nique however, that supplies the acting gold here. This actress scarfs down her role with overwhelming ferocity without feeling overly manipulative or exploitative with anger. Each scene she is present is difficult to watch, particularly in during the final scene with Sidibe and Mariah Carey, who also plays the scene quite well. Paula Patton is also very charming in her role, full of humanity and heartfulness. And let's not the forget singer Lenny Kravitz in the role of a nurse who the title character fantasizes about in a few scenes. At the end, viewers are blessed with a message that in the midst of living an unholy lifestyle, there is always a silver lining and light at the end of the tunnel whether you see it or not. Precious is a heartbreaking, yet triumphant picture soaring with powerful emotional swing uprooted by uncompromising performances by an inspiring cast. It is a movie that will grab your heart and never let go, even after it reaches the end credits. Do not feel remotely embarrassed if you find yourself reaching for the tissues. There is a true heart and soul to witnessed here.
James Bowman (jbowman-16) First off, for those who haven't seen or plan on seeing the film, Precious, this post may be a spoiler for you. With that said, if you want to see a film about a morbidly obese 16 year old black girl, who is already a mother of a down syndrome child, with another on the way, with both fathered by her own father, and is beaten and verbally abused by her welfare cheating mother, and ultimately finds out that she and her newborn child have AIDS, please go see Precious. I stated this to frame the disgust and anger that I felt after I viewed this film. I did not come out of the movie theater feeling "Hopeful" as many critics have written in their reviews. I saw this film, not as a film critic, but as a person of African decent who is tired of seeing Black people as a segment of society to be pitied and perpetually looked down upon. Don't get me wrong, the acting was tremendous by the primary and supporting cast, and the story was well put together. But for me, I see this film as a reiteration of the vile images that have been glorified within our mainstream music, television, and films that continue to degrade American society.The triumph of this film comes when the lead character, Precious fights back against her abusive mother and pushes to gain control over her life and her children. Sadly to say, that is the highest the film goes in terms of a positive outlook on the life of Precious. She still remains a morbidly obese 16 year old black girl, who still must attain her GED, while taking care of a child with down syndrome and one with AIDS, along with having AIDS herself. Where is the bright spot in this equation? What does this girl have to look forward to in her life? And how is she going to make it?I know that some people reading this may be angry at my pessimistic view. But since I have lived and worked in and around New York City for over 9 years, I've seen far too many Precious Jones. I've seen the morbidly obese teenagers walking around with strollers without the ability to speak with good diction. I know that in New York City, you are lucky to have 50% of the African Americans and Latinos graduate high school within 4 years. These numbers aren't much better in other cities and metropolitan areas around the US either. African Americans are considered the poorest people in the richest nation of the world. African Americans are considered the most illiterate in the wealthiest country of the world. African Americans are the most unemployed in the United States. And there are more African Americans in prison, than any other race or ethnicity in this country. African Americans are viewed, stereotypically as being on welfare, lazy, and criminal. Images of African Americans as drug dealers, gang bangers, and having a multitude of children with different parents out of wedlock, are the normal representation within mainstream media.Why aren't the majority of the images portrayed of Whites or Asians, of the most violent and derelict of them? Why are Whites automatically viewed as the leaders or heroes? Why are Asians automatically viewed as the most intelligent or hard working? Such stereotypes make it easier for Whites or Asians to navigate within society, whether it be through the job market, education, or simply walking down the street. When most media perceptions of a people are positive, many individuals have a positive perception that particular group of people. This can also be said for the self- perceptions of that ethnic or racial group. Seeing positive images of your own people allow you to to also feel good about yourself.In the late 1980's and early 90's, the Cosby Show, and the spin off, A different World were a part of a pervasive and influential part of mainstream media that promoted African American life in a positive direction. Having been a teenager during this time period, I can say from experience that these images had a progressively positive effect on my personal outlook on life. To see Black man as a doctor and Black woman as a lawyer, together as husband and wife on television, changed perceptions of what Black people were supposed to be. And to have a show showing Black people successfully matriculating through college was another milestone for advancement. These, along with the hip hop of the time promoting education, self reliance, and pride in being of African decent pushed the expectation of being great.I want to see optimism and true hope represented again within mainstream entertainment. I don't want to see the glorification of poverty, obesity, violence, and lack of responsibility. I want to see the successes emulated on TV and in the films that have surrounded me throughout my adulthood. I want to see the stories of my African American high school friends, who have become doctors and lawyers. The stories of my African American college friends who are business owners, executives, professors, architects, doctors, artists and so much more. To know African Americans who have come out of poverty, defied racism, and succeeded without becoming today's stereotypes. These are the stories of HOPE that need to be seen and felt! We all must take the responsibility to demand and create works that uplift and progress the existence of a people that have been portrayed at the bottom for far too long! We cannot bear anymore stories about Precious. Our society cannot survive anymore degradation.
vbost-33243 One of the best comedy movies I've ever seen, hands down! I think one of the greatest and funniest scenes is when Ms. Rain, played by Paula Patton, and Ms. Weiss, played by none other than Mariah Carey, enroll Precious in the exclusive diet club/school for girls. When she gets there she wonders why she keeps gaining weight, not knowing that she is pregnant! LMAO!!!!! Being larger-than-life herself already, she didn't notice her belly growing! All the while, being at a "diet school", she was wondering why she kept gaining weight! LOL! Her mother, Mary, is played by Mo'Nique, who really plays the role to a T. Being her usual witty self, she fills the role with sometimes dry and sometimes "in your face" jokes and verbal sleight-of-hand. Mo'Nique just being Mo'Nique, I guess! I hear they are making a squeal, er, I mean, sequel: Precious 2, Light As A Feather. I can't wait!!!!!!!