My wife and I finally caught up with Precious. Wow, what a great little movie!

First off, let me just say that Mo’nique’s performance is so fucking amazing it took my breath away. I’m always a little skeptical when I hear about flashy roles that the Academy gets taken with, but this here is the real deal! I was literally on the edge of my seat every time she came on screen. It’s not often that you see acting that comes across with that kind of natural spontaneity and honesty. Coupled with the fact that the role is brilliantly written to capture the unpredictability of the mother’s behavior, it makes for a riveting movie experience.

People talked about this film is if it was nothing but horrifying abuse scenes. Yes, the abuse scenes are not pleasant, but they do not dominate the film, are very well done, and not glamorized at all. The film is really about Precious herself, and there is more going on for her than her mother’s abuse. It’s a grim tale, to be sure, but one that is very rewarding to experience. You bond with Precious in a very interesting way during the movie. I’m not sure I would call the film an “upper,” but it wasn’t a “downer” either.

The dialog in the film is strong, and this sets up all the performances. Gabourey Sidibe is really good in the title role, as are Paula Patton as the teacher and Mariah Carey (yes, the singer) as the social worker. All of Precious’ classmates give good performances. The direction is outstanding to get all these performances to come across so naturally. I might also add that the narration in the film is written and performed quite well, and it is not used as a crutch – It adds a nice dimension to the film.

Precious is a film about a girl living a tough life, made with skill and tenderness. If you have not seen it yet, rent it and enjoy!