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Precious

Precious (2009)

November. 06,2009
|
7.3
|
R
| Drama

Set in Harlem in 1987, Claireece "Precious" Jones is a 16-year-old African American girl born into a life no one would want. She's pregnant for the second time by her absent father; at home, she must wait hand and foot on her mother, an angry woman who abuses her emotionally and physically. School is chaotic and Precious has reached the ninth grade with good marks and a secret; She can't read.

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Spoonatects
2009/11/06

Am i the only one who thinks........Average?

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Chirphymium
2009/11/07

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

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Taraparain
2009/11/08

Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

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Fatma Suarez
2009/11/09

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

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adonis98-743-186503
2009/11/10

In New York City's Harlem circa 1987, an overweight, abused, illiterate teen who is pregnant with her second child is invited to enroll in an alternative school in hopes that her life can head in a new direction. My biggest issue with 'Precious' was the fact that it really missed the whole dynamic drama that it needed but also it didn't move me as much as i expected it to do. Plus the acting although good it was not anything sort of oscar either and i'm sorry but there's way better domestic violence and dramatic driven human films out there for sure. (5/10)

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classicsoncall
2009/11/11

I find it ironic with a film directed and produced by Lee Daniels, with Oprah Winfrey on board as executive producer, that some reviewers on this board would consider the film racist. What it says to me is that any treatment of an historical event or a real life situation would be considered racist if the person watching is uncomfortable with it. That's always bugged me, because how are creative artists supposed to get their message across if they can't show the way people are and the ways they strive to better themselves? As for the picture, I was in OMG! mode ten minutes in when Mother Mary (Mo'Nique) began her verbal assault against her daughter Precious (Gabourey Sidibe). That some people actually live in this kind of environment is more than an eye opener for those of us better advantaged. It was incredible that Precious maintained a sense of decency and humility by attempting to make life better for herself considering the enormous odds working against her.From a personal point of view, I don't know how teachers like Ms. Blu Rain (Paula Patton) are able to do what they do, showing the kind of patience and understanding needed to draw abused students out of their shell to foster learning. I don't think it's something I could do, and I have the utmost compassion and regard for those kinds of teachers and social workers who can go to work every day with the prospect of failure never far away. It has to make the positive results achieved somewhat triumphant.I'm glad I watched this picture but I thought there would be more of a resolution to the fate of Precious at the end of the story. Though there was some closure for her in disowning her abusive mother, one can't help but realize that there was no happy ending here for a single mother with two young children and no immediate prospects for improvement except for keeping a positive attitude and desire to succeed. It takes a special kind of person to maintain that drive without succumbing to dire circumstances surrounding them. I would have preferred more of a silver lining ending to the story, but in reality, life doesn't always work like that.

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ruby765
2009/11/12

This movie is the strongest and most serious movie I've ever watched. A young woman, a main character, has so many problems that I can't help covering my eyes with my hands. After watching it, we have to think about these problems like home problem or individual problem, race, skin color, and so on. There are actually a lot of people like her in the world. They're supposed to suffer, but they also must know there are some people supporting them around them. Not only them. Everyone in the world has to realize that we are living with each other's support. And a child can't choose his/her parents. I deeply think over that.

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celiadarlene
2009/11/13

The movie Precious is focused around characterization of a teenage girl and her many struggles. The central theme is the coming of age of developing character; Clarisse Precious Jones; played by Gabourey Sidibe. Precious; as she prefers to be called, is an obese, poor, black, girl. Illiterate at middle-school age, she lives with her abusive mother. The exposition reveals Precious is pregnant with her second child and being forced out of school. When the principle inquires about a home visit; it is then we are introduced to the violent and abusive relationship between Precious and her mother. The film portrays her mother Mary played by Mo'nique, as an angry, abusive woman living off welfare fraud. Mary compels Precious to stop going to school and go up to the welfare office. This is when Precious begins to be questioned by a social worker, Ms. Weiss played by Mariah Carey. Ms. Weiss inquires about her pregnancies and discovers that her mother is not only committing welfare fraud but has been a not-so-silent partner in her own daughters' sexual abuse by her boyfriend, Precious' dad. Mary not only allows Precious to be victimized from infancy by her boyfriend but also forces her daughter into sexual relations with herself.In one of the first scenes we are introduced to her vivid imagination as she seemingly day dreams in class. She is glamorous, adored and blissfully happy. As the film progresses, we see that she uses this as a coping mechanism throughout her many trials and tribulations, to say the least, somehow managing to keep a positive outlook. Encouraged to write by her teacher, her journal becomes almost symbolic as her transforming into a strong woman is recorded through her own words. Throughout the film multiple people are mean, degrading and outright cruel. She seems very tough and almost removed from the situation. As she was walking down the street, a group of boys began to mock her. One of the boys after taunting her without a reaction; violently shoves Precious causing her to lose balance and fall to the ground. She lays on the ground being ridiculed as she fades off into her fairytale, happy place. For a moment in time she can feel happiness. Only to be sometimes quite literally slapped back into reality; she continues and endures through the ciaos.The use of color in the film helps to emotionally guide the audience. Precious lives a pretty treacherous home life which is conveyed using dark colors and undertones. The gloomy feeling in her home was enhanced by their specific use of color. During a traumatic scene, she would drift off into her imagination, overtaken by vivid colors and smiling faces. The use of color intensified both scenes. The low-key lighting felt horribly depressing while the bright and vivid fairy tale brought us back to an optimistic hope of happiness. The film did this multiple times, conveying the true character of Clarisse Precious Jones. Even amidst the darkness; she chose to live in the light. When she had every reason to quit, she endured.The use of sound is also profound throughout the film. Mary seems to always be watching TV game shows and yelling over the sound. Typically the game show stars white characters, all the while Mary complains about white people as well as everything else. The noise of multiple people talking and laughing on the TV coupled with her mothers vulgar and violent outbursts; projected an anxious and somber tone in the home. The use of color and sound displayed the hate and tension Precious was surrounded with nearly at all times inside the home.This film reminded me of Gracie's Choice, which stars a young woman with a rocky upbringing, somewhat similar to Precious'. Gracie when faced with traumatic loss, remains optimistic and endures through what many people would allow to beat them down. As each movie progresses we begin to see a changes in the young females. Precious grows significantly as her dynamic personality and character develops; from an abused child into a brave and determined young mother. Plagued by a horrible and rocky upbringing, Precious is a bright and determined young woman.

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