Review of Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire (2009) by Marie W — 21 Aug 2011
The story of the indescribably bleak upbringing of an overweight and illiterate American teenager set in the mid-1980s. It isn't an easy watch at times as inhumanity is layered upon inhumanity in this abused teen's life.
She is thrown a lifeline by Paula Patton who plays a literacy skills teacher at the special school she becomes enrolled in. It is this that stops this movie from becoming unbearably down beat and there are moments of real humour to lighten the mood, although there is little effort to show how Precious, the central character, develops her writing skills.
It just sort of miraculously happens. This is a story that treads fairly familiar territory but it is well acted and better written than most in this genre. Mariah Carey is surprisingly good in the role of the social worker but the movie really belongs to Gabourey Sidibe as Precious and Mo'Nique as her truly hateful mother.
The scenes between these two are shockingly brutal and unrelenting and only in the final scenes, do we actually see any human frailty in their relationship. Be warned, however, that the thick New York accents and mumbling delivery can make sections of the dialogue frustratingly difficult to follow.
This review of Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire (2009) was written by Marie W on 21 Aug 2011.
Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire has generally received positive reviews.
Was this review helpful?
