Movie Review: "Precious"

Per http://movies.yahoo.com/-

"Clareece "Precious" Jones is an overweight, illiterate African-American teen in Harlem. Just as she's about to give birth to her second child, Jones is accepted into an alternative school where a teacher helps her find a new path in her life. "

I'm going to attempt to write up my opinion of this movie without giving the movie itself away as this is my first "movie review".

On a scale of 1 to 10, I'd give this movie a 7.5.

The plot, as explained above, was finally something I hadn't really seen as of yet unlike so many others. But perhaps more catching than the plot was the acting. The characters felt "real" to the point of emotional attachment. The players in this film achieved what I think all actors strive for; connection, rather, the ability to make the audience forget they were actors and assign them labels as if watching true situations rather than a movie screen. Perhaps the best display in this movie to me was that of Mo'Nique as "Mary", the physically, emotionally, and verbally abusive mother of 'Precious'. From her very first scene she gave me a sense of utter disgust. Not just with the way Mary treated Precious, but also at the fact that people like the character actually exist. But what took me over the edge with her portrayal was that though the first hour and forty minutes of hatred I'd bred for her character, she managed to evoke a sense of pity in the last minutes of the movie. I have to be honest, anyone that knows me knows that I don't think the highest of Mo'Niques' brand of comedy/acting. A "Meet the Parker's" marathon to me is a chance to thank God for the 'off' button on a television, or power outages. And I'm not opposed to a vulgar joke or a little cursing here and there but her comedy specials make me feel like I should be in somebody's church. So needless to say, I was shocked at how real the character was.

Though there were a few cameos here and there (Lenny Kravitz, Mariah Carey, etc), I also appreciate that the cast didn't consist of a group of big named actors. I feel that also gave it a sense of 'realness'.

Illiteracy, abuse, dreams, and self-image. This movie, in my opinion, is a must-see...

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