Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire

My catch up with the 2010 Oscar winners begins this week with Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire. My first question is why such a long name? My second question is how did Gabourey Sidibe not win for best actress? People who did win Oscars include Mo'Nique for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role and Geoffrey Fletcher for Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published.

Now back to Gabourey Sidibe, she plays Precious, a very overweight fourteen year-old girl who is about to have her second baby. Her mother lives on public assistance and is the worst stereotype of a welfare mother you could ever imagine. Her father is gone, but not before impregnating Precious twice. This causes her mother a lot of jealousy (not the appropriate emotion you say?) which she manifests as physical abuse towards Precious. Precious' only chance at a life is an alternative school, taught by the Ms. Rain, played to perfection by Paula Patton, and the friends she makes there.

This is a very dark and gritty movie, filled with early comic relief in the form of dream sequences of Precious imagining herself as a movie or pop star. This element is a welcome break that helps you ease into the ugliness that is Precious' life. Director Lee Daniels is no stranger to challenging movies, this is the same guy who brought us Monsters Ball. He is a very interesting person and you should search out his interview on the Daily Show with John Stewart, well worth a look. Finally as if you need another reason to see this movie, you have to check out Mariah Carey as Precious' social worker, almost makes you forget Glitter ever happened.