Precious (based on the novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire)

Directed by Lee Daniels, Precious (based on the novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire) follows the title character (Gabourey Sidibe’s Clareece “Precious” Jones) as her ongoing efforts at creating a better life for herself and her mentally-handicapped son are consistently thwarted by her abusive, overbearing mother (Mo’Nique’s Mary). Daniels – working from a script written by Geoffrey Fletcher – effectively evokes the seemingly hopeless nature of Precious’ existence, with the filmmaker’s unflinching modus operandi ensuring that the movie is often quite difficult to watch. Sidibe’s downright jaw-dropping performance undoubtedly goes a long way towards creating and maintaining an atmosphere of raw authenticity, and there’s no denying that Precious quickly becomes a figure worthy of the viewer’s sympathy. It’s just as clear, however, that the plotless nature of Fletcher’s screenplay prevents the viewer from wholeheartedly connecting with either the central character or her downtrodden surroundings, as the film subsequently suffers from an atmosphere that’s only truly compelling in fits and starts. The movie’s emotional highlight – Precious breaks down while speaking to a social worker (Mariah Carey’s Mrs. Weiss) – is certainly quite impressive and moving, yet it’s an interlude that ultimately proves to be the exception rather than the rule (ie the viewer is primarily kept at arm’s length from the material for the duration of the film’s running time). It’s nevertheless impossible to deny the strength of both Daniels’ direction and the various performances, with the eye-opening work from an almost uniformly flawless cast often elevating Precious (based on the novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire) above its inherently uneven sensibilities.

**1/2 out of ****