"Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" is a painfully realistic portrait of a girl trapped by circumstance and eventually freed by her own discovery of independence.
Precious (Gabourey "Gabby" Sidibe) is 16 years old, fat, essentially mute in school and society, and pregnant with her second child — both conceptions brought about by being raped by her own father. Her mother (Mo'Nique) is as abusive through words and violence as Precious's father was sexually. Cutting her daughter down to the point of utter worthlessness, she blames not the father for raping her, but Precious for taking him away from her.
The story is indubitably compelling, and the performances enhance the realism to the point where one must be reminded that they are, indeed, only watching a movie. Both Sidibe and Mo'Nique deliver extraordinary performances, the former being a complete fledgling to the screen, yet delivering like she's been a professional for decades.
Mo'Nique, typically found doing light-hearted comedy, transforms completely for the role of Precious's mother. Both her physical and mental makeover to craft this role to the point of painful perfection are near equivalent to that of Charlize Theron in "Monster," and come awards season, Mo'Nique will be recognized. At once she creates a villain and a mother with whom we feel we should sympathize with. Are her tears during a captivating final monologue sincere? That's for the audience to decide.
There is no doubt that the performances are the most prominent part of the appeal of "Precious," Actually, appeal may not be the correct word to use, because if a film like this "appeals" to anyone, there's something wrong with them. This is a film that breaks your heart, and doesn't glue it back together again before the credits start to roll. That specific repair must be done at one's own pace, and it all depends on how "Precious" manages to individually affect each of its audience members.
As we watch Precious journey from nothing to something, her expedition to a better life is able to produce even the slightest bit of hope. Yet even that hope is drowned by drama. From a lasting scene involving a verbal-turned-violent battle between Precious and her mother, haunting scenes of frightening flashbacks, and moving revelations, the film piles on the heavy material with gratuitous generosity.
The movie has its dry areas, stretches of time where nothing really seems to happen, but when the film unleashes its power plays, it grabs hold of your heart and soul. It's not necessarily a movie you enjoy, but rather, understand. It concludes with a heading that dedicates the film to "All The Precious Girls," a simple message stating that everyone in this world, regardless of race, weight, or social situation, is beautiful.
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Greg Vellante is a graduate of North Andover High School who is currently attending UMass-Lowell. He has been reviewing and writing about movies for The Eagle-Tribune since 2007.
