“Front Row Seat Movie Review “Precious”

“I give this movie five barbeque bones”. The movie “Precious” does not fit my review system very well- because my reviews are based on entertainment value. I can’t tell you that this is a very entertaining movie but you will feel and learn something.  “Precious has the look of a documentary but be forewarned of the language?  What I will say is that this is a “very raw” movie. You will look into the life of a very sad family.  This is not a “date movie”; take a friend!  It is a shocking movie about life. After viewing you’ll feel like going somewhere to get “a shot of whiskey with no ice”-even if you don’t drink!  The movie was filmed in a manner that makes you feel like a fly on the wall. As that fly, look out for Mo’Nique who plays Mary, Precious’ “mean and abusive mother.” This is not a movie for the faint of heart- my wife had to cover her eyes for some of the scenes!  “Precious” is award winning material. I hope it wins the big one- Oscar! Watching this movie you will keep saying, “What else is going to happen to that girl?”  “Precious” is a raw movie but worth seeing!

The name of my movie review is “Front Row Seat Movie Review”.

Clarification of the rating levels are as follows:

My rating system starts with the lowest level of: 

¤ One Chicken Bone: Lowest level “pretty bad”!

If a movie receives this rating you should avoid it during your lifetime! ‘You shouldn’t even see a “bootleg” copy of this movie! 

¤ Poor: One Barbeque Bone

 ¤ Fair: Two Barbeque Bones

 ¤ OK: Three Barbeque Bones

 ¤ Good: Four Barbeque Bones

¤ Excellent: Five Barbeque. Bones   

¤ Outstanding: In additional upper level rating of “Five Barbeque Bones with Barbeque Sauce”. If a movie receives this rating, you need to stop whatever you are doing and go to see it now!  

Jimmy Sr.

Copyright © 2009 Front Row Seat Movie Review

Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire

Cast and Crew

Director

Lee Daniels

Producer

Lee Daniels, Gary Magness, Sarah Siegel-Magness

Screenwriter

Damien Paul

Starring

·         Gabourey Sidibe as Precious

·         Mo’Nique as Mary

·         Paula Patton as Ms. Rain

·         Mariah Carey as Mrs. Weiss

·         Lenny Kravitz as John

·         Sherri Shepherd as Cornrows

·         Nealla Gordon

Movie Story

Lee Daniels’s “Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire” is a vibrant, honest and resoundingly hopeful film about the human capacity to grow and overcome.

Set in Harlem in 1987, it is the story of Claireece “Precious” Jones (Gabourey Sidibe), a sixteen-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 (Mo’Nique), a poisonously angry woman who abuses her emotionally and physically. School is a place of chaos, and Precious has reached the ninth grade with good marks and an awful secret: she can neither read nor write.

Precious may sometimes be down, but she is never out. Beneath her impassive expression is a watchful, curious young woman with an inchoate but unshakeable sense that other possibilities exist for her. Threatened with expulsion, Precious is offered the chance to transfer to an alternative school, Each One/Teach One. Precious doesn’t know the meaning of “alternative,” but her instincts tell her this is the chance she has been waiting for. In the literacy workshop taught by the patient yet firm Ms. Rain (Paula Patton), Precious begins a journey that will lead her from darkness, pain and powerlessness to light, love and self-determination.