Precious Will Break Your Heart and Build It Back Up

The story of Precious is one that you don't often see in the movies. Or if you do see something like it, it won't affect you as much as this film will.

Claireece Precious Jones, or Precious, is a 16-year-old girl living in Harlem in 1987. She is over weight, illiterate, and pregnant with her second child. Precious lives with her slave driving like mother Mary (Mo'Nique) in an old run down apartment where she is to clean, make dinner, and take care of her physically abusive mother. Precious's principal comes to her house one night and tells Precious that she should really consider going to an alternative school. She signs up for the school and there is where she makes friends and gains a real teacher, Ms. Rain (Paula Patton) who helps Precious learn to read and write and is there for her in her time of need when no one else is.

I don't say this too often, but this is a very heavy movie. it deals with a lot of serious issues that are definitely still around in today's society. Precious has to deal with physical abuse, emotional abuse, and sexual abuse and all on a regular basis. The reason she is pregnant for the second time is because of her drug addicted father who rapes her repeatedly. And just when things start to look better for Precious, they get worse and worse.

Newcomer Gabourey Sidibe, who plays Precious, is as real as actresses come these days. While watching her play the part, it almost felt like a documentary it felt so real. Comedian Mo'Nique portrays Mary in her drama film debut and is shockingly amazing at it. Mary is such a broken down character and Mo'Nique really nailed the emotion that she wanted the audience to feel. Other well known names play the smaller parts of the movie like Mariah Carey (who has stepped it up since the whole Glitter fiasco) and rocker Lenny Kravitz who, in his acting debut, did a pretty good job.

With Executive Producer Oprah Winfrey. obviously this movie would not be a let down. I'm pretty sure that everything Oprah touches turns to gold, and I'm pretty sure that gold has a name and its name is Oscar. I am certain there is an Oscar in the future for Precious. It was really one of the best movies of 2009.

Overall Grade- A