Review of Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire (2009) by Eduardo C — 04 Feb 2011

As one of the best reviewed films of 2009, it might be tempting to assume that "Precious" is a great work of art. Watching it once the hype has quieted down, however, made me wonder what all the fuss was about. This was certainly not the subtle, realistic character study I had been led to believe it would be but a grotesque freak show of epic proportions with each scene trying to be even more outrageous than the one before it.

Our lead and titular character is Precious, a teenage girl. Precious can't read, is morbidly obese, has been twice impregnated by her father, lives with a physically and psychologically abusive mother, has never had a boyfriend (or even so much as a friend) and by the end of the film will discover she has been infected with a very particular disease. In short, she is the combination every single stereotype about poor urban teenagers imaginable. Her mother, played by Mo'nique, is even worse. The film's style and editing, reminiscent of a particularly unsubtle music video, beats it into our heads that we should feel sorry for Precious because of everything she has been through, even though nobody in the movie is particularly believable as an actual human being.

I must admit that the two lead performances (Gabourey Sidibe as Precious and Mo'nique as her mother) are the best part of the film. They almost make the characters come to life even if the writing and more ridiculous scene (pork's feet, anyone?) betrays them. Still, two decent performances are not enough to overcome what is, at its core, little more than a circus sideshow.