PRECIOUS*****

As the credits rolled on the telecast of the 2009 Academy Awards, I went to my computer to write an email to friends who were part of my Oscar contest. The closing line said this, “Precious is the movie to watch this coming year, mark my words.” Eleven months later I sit wondering why I assumed Precious would be such a force before I even saw it?

Precious: Based on the book Push by Saphire, is director Lee Daniels extrodinary adaptation of a book that has left readers speechless for years. Clareece “Precious” Jones (Gabourey Sidbe) is an overweight, illiterate, African-American teenager in Harlem. Having given birth to her first child, she is again pregnant from the same man, her father. With the abuse she receives from her mother, Mary (MoNique), Precious must try to continue getting her welfare if she has any hope of leaving her abusive home life. Also, she will need to know how to read and write.

Precious goes on to attend an alternative school. While there, she encounters Miss Blu Rain (Paula Patton) a teacher who will help her see herself as a beautiful girl who is loved. Precious also talks with a social worker, Miss Weiss (Mariah Carey) who helps give Precious a better perspective of the damage her mother has brought into her life and what Precious can do to grow above and beyond it.

The drama, the realism, and the heart wrenching scenes that unfold within this story are unlike anything you have seen on film. With the perfect balance of shock and humor, you are able to understand not only the deep stomach turning events, but also the kind hearted, beautiful person Precious is and always has been.

Director Lee Daniels has done some great movies in the past, Monster’s Ball and The Woodsman to name a few. What Lee has done this time however, is creating an existence that is so real and so touching that finally all the Precious’s in the world are given a voice, given hope that someone out there is hearing their story.

To even try and explain the phenomenon of what this cast brings to Precious is hard to put in words. Let’s start with newcomer and the fabulous, Gabourey Sidbe! When I read the novel "Push", I envisioned an actress like Gabourey and what she was able to bring to the character of Precious. The magnitude of hope that flows through her, is Oscar worthy without a doubt. MoNique is a force to be reckoned with and probably the best performance by an Actress in the past ten years.

Mariah Carey and Paula Patton are great in their respected roles. Mariah shines in a role that could not have come at a better time for her. Forget Glitter, her turn as a dowdy social worker is Mariah’s career changing role, one that deserves every bit of accolades she receives. Sherri Shepard and Lenny Kravitz also do marvelous in their smaller roles, ones that definitely can’t go overlooked.

Precious is everything an Oscar winning movie should be. A great ensemble cast, a story that rips you apart and leaves you with an open mind and direction by Lee Daniels that is flawless. As Miss Rain says, “People do love you, Precious”. Here’s hoping that Oscar does too!