Not since John Singleton blazed on to the screen with his urban-crime epic drama Boyz N the Hood has a film been so honest, raw, and genuine in its delivery.  Lee Daniels, who has had more success on his producing credit (The Woodsman, Monster’s Ball) rather than his directing (Shadowboxer), has achieved a cinematic experience of epic proportions with his film Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire.  Daniels’ artistic liberties taken here are some of the finest seen in quite some time.   The film is filled with tension, high strung drama, and painfully stricken images.  

The film tells the story of Clairece ‘Precious’ Jones, a sixteen-year old young black girl from Harlem who is still in Junior High School and is pregnant with her second child.  Her abusive lifestyle has taken a toll on her life leaving an ignorant young woman with no sense of self-worth. When she is forced to attend an alternative school for underachievers, her outlook of life starts to change.

Gabourey Sidibe, who plays ‘Precious’ gives the most outstanding breakthrough performance seen this year so far.  Sidibe is completely committed to the agony and anguish that is worn all over Precious.  Her role requires more responses with silence but don’t let that fool you, that is the brilliance of the performance.  Long stares at her mother destroying any remains of self-esteem she had in the first place, or speaking with her social worker speak about life with her mother and father.  What I have witnessed with Sidibe should place front and center with Oscar this season.  She’s so accessible to your heart and capturing it from moment one on the screen.  

The ensemble cast particularly Mariah Carey, finally showing some admirable acting chops, Xosha Roquemore, who takes the charismatic student with an edge to a new level, and Paula Patton, who looks like Alicia Keys but giving more of a Michelle Pfeiffer in Dangerous Minds take on a teacher-student relationship.  But by now, you’ve all heard about the revelation that comes from comedian turned dramatic superstar Mo’Nique.  Mo’Nique plays Mary, Precious’ vicious and ruthless mother, who takes her disciplinary role one hundred steps too far.  Who would ever think Mo’Nique had it in her?  Stamping fear into the audience throughout the picture, her words punch their way through the screen and demand the viewer’s undivided attention.  She has locked herself into the Best Supporting Actress race with an almost assured win come March 2010.

Geoffrey Fletcher’s infusive script comes into serious question of being possibly one of the best adaptations in the past ten years.  The narrative here is so strong and so well told that there are no blank spots to lose your thoughts.  Some may argue that things come off overdramatic rather than a natural crisis, I myself find it necessary and innate to get the point across effectively.  Daniels’ direction is also in need of praise and could find himself as the second African-American director nominated in Academy history.  His choices here are artistically luminous and will be a benchmark for all future aspiring directors.

The hype for Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire has been huge the past months and it succeeded all the expectations I had for it.  I admit the expectations weren’t high at all, I never believe any high hype from out in January.  It was all worth it.  This is the best film of the year.