PRECIOUS

BASED ON THE NOVEL "PUSH" BY SAPPHIRE (R)

Once in a while a movie comes by that is absolutely unforgettable, provocative, troubling..and quite brilliant in its ability to illuminate. Precious is a story about a teenage girl with everything against her: a nightmarishly vicious mother, an abusive father, teen parenthood, obesity, illiteracy..it goes down from there. But this is also a movie about the human spirit..this girl named Precious is going to survive and maybe even thrive no matter what the odds. What takes this sad story and makes it fly? The performances. After testing hundreds of actresses, Director Lee Daniels found the perfect Precious in newcomer Gabby Sidibe. The film is set in 1987 Harlem, and Sidibe is pitch perfect as this girl filled with secrets and suffering. Every performance in the film is immediate and authentic, including an almost unrecognizible Mariah Carey, Sherry Shepherd, Paula Patton, Lenny Kravitz. But it is Mo'Nique who has me rooting for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. What she does in this film as the world's worst mother is remarkable, especially a final scene. Four hats to Precious..a movie that teaches us about ourselves by experiencing the lives of others.