Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire

ByVictoria Alexander

I abandoned the book early on. It was unreadable and written in ebonics. With every page my IQ dropped 10 points. The film, however, is astonishing and simply brilliant.

Who is Sapphire’s Machiavellian agent? How did Sapphire get the name of her novel and her name in the title? It is so outrageously egotistical and offensive that I am amazed Sapphire allowed Lee Daniels to direct and Geoffrey Fletcher  to write the screenplay.

I bet Sapphire had to be talked out of her demand to play Precious.

The brilliance of PRECIOUS belongs to director Lee Daniels. He got fantastic performances out of newcomer Gabourey Sidibe (who plays “Precious”), Mo’Nique (as her mother, Mary), Paula Patton and even Lenny Kravitz and Mariah Carey.

Mariah Carey desperately wants to be an actress. Misguided and humiliated early on (GLITTER), she is now on the right track. She makes a terrific impression in her low-key, small but important role. Why do singers and models (Cindy Crawford jumps to mind) think their first movie role should be as the star?

As for Mo’Nique, she had me leaving the theater shaking. This is the fearless performance impossible to beat in the Best Supporting Actress category (though gossip sites said Mo’Nique was already a high-strung diva, demanding money for interviews. We know (but apparently not Mo’Nique) that nominees and potential nominees have to wine, dine, and pick up Academy voter’s dry cleaning.)

Mo’Nique, get with the program. Voters expect personal appearances at screenings and lunches. George Clooney probably made house calls – not that he didn’t deserve to win Best Supporting Actor for SYRIANA, but you know he wasn’t about to leave it to chance.)

Carey will take her great reviews and jump into a silly romantic comedy with Gerard Butler; Mo’Nique will star in anything that shows her off as a glamorous and desirable woman. They will both get top billing and lots of screen time. They will care more about their wardrobe budget than the screenplay.

PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL PUSH BY SAPPHIRE is the story of 16-year-old Clarice (“Precious”) who must have once been “precious” but is now pregnant for the second time from her father. Precious has a Down’s Syndrome daughter (Precious calls her “Mongo”) who is cared for by her grandmother and an unhappy, resentful mother. Mary beats her and treats Precious like a house slave.

Precious is obese and, after continued humiliation at school, is offered a chance to join an alternative educational program. The few students in the program must write in a journal every day. Even though Precious cannot read, she can write!

Precious comes under the care of teacher Ms. Rain (Paula Patton) and social worker Mrs. Weiss (Carey). Director Daniels gives us an intimate look into inner life of Precious, showing that in her fantasies, she is a blond, blue-eyed girl. Her rich fantasy life – her marriage to her math teacher, her career as a famous rap star – helps her survive the abject cruelty of her life.

I loved the small touches that Daniels gave this harrowing story. There is not one moment that looks manufactured.

Sidibe is sensational and perfect. While I gave away the book, I am nominating PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL PUSH BY SAPPHIRE for Best Picture of 2009 and Lee Daniels for Best Director. Mo’Nique has given the best performance of 2009.

 Victoria Alexander lives in Las Vegas, Nevada and answers every email. You can contact Victoria directly at masauu@aol.com.

Member of Las Vegas Film Critics Society: www.lvfcs.org/ Member of Broadcast Film Critics Association: www.bfca.org/