Precious

There are some daringly crazy guts behind the 2009 film “Precious,” based on the novel Push by Sapphire, and that’s not counting its irrationally awkward title. Patty Jones said in her review, “Next to the pubescent wizards and vampires mooning and swooning on-screen these days, the obese, abused black teenager in inner-city hell here—with her second child about to pop out and her mother flinging frying pans at her head—might feel just a tad disconcerting, like getting on the wrong subway.”

“You’re a dummy. Don’t nobody want you,” mother Mary tells the 16-year-old daughter she named Claireece Jones. Played with bragging cruelty by comedian-actor Mo’Nique (who you might remember from the UPN show, “The Parkers”), Mary isn’t a woman to whom you’d point out the irony of her child’s nickname, Precious. Trapped in filth with this abuser in 1987 Harlem, the illiterate Precious (Gabourey Sidibe), whose pregnancies were the result of rape by her otherwise AWOL father (Rodney ‘Bear’ Jackson), could use some help. Jones notes, “Her daydreams of music-video stardom—seen in flamboyant fantasy sequences that could go so wrong but somehow work, largely due to Sidibe's go-for-it playfulness—aren't going to cut it.”

Transferring to an alternative school, Precious ends up being cared for by a teacher, played by a lovingly sympathetic Paula Patton, and there’s a ray of hope in this near-dark nightmare. Among the film’s curious but inspired casting choices, rocker Lenny Kravitz appears as a sweet hospital nurse, and Mariah Carey, unrecognizably plain with a Bronx-and-cigarettes accent, is spot-on as a sensitive welfare worker.

Jones mentions, “Despite moments of levity, director Lee Daniels and screenwriter Geoffrey Fletcher, who adapted the source novel, aren't guys who shrink from jaw-droppingly harrowing stuff visited upon a child, even a really large child. But Daniels's kamikaze style succeeds with help from some pretty fearless performers, including poised newcomer Sidibe.” It’s a deeply heart-breaking story about finding self-realization – and, on occasion, stealing a bucket of fried chicken.

I first heard about this movie when Nostalgia Critic mentioned it in his “Mr. Nanny” review. Some time ago, I thought of checking this out, and it was available on Peacock and I saw it while I was exercising. Currently, you can stream this on Max. I seriously think everyone should check this out because this type of household does exist. This level of abuse that Precious goes through in the movie happens in real life. I guarantee a lot of people can relate to Precious. See this and make sure to have a box of Kleenex next to you.

Now we have come to the end of “Child Abuse Awareness Month.” Sorry for the late posting as my computer froze as I was typing up this review. I hope that everyone enjoyed this month and that I helped raise awareness through the films I reviewed. Stay tuned next month to see what I will review next.