PRECIOUS

THIS IS MARIAH CAREY CANNON -- SEE IF YOU SPOT HER IN "PRECIOUS,"

I DID NOT .

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"PRECIOUS" IS JUST A FLAT OUT TREMENDOUS MOVIE. IT IS PAINFUL TO WATCH, IT IS SUPPOSE TO BE PAINFUL TO WATCH.

THIS IS NOT ONE OF THOSE CHILDISHLY OPTIMISTIC MOVIES, WHERE YOU KNOW

EVERYTHING WILL WORK OUT AT THE END.

IT IS NOT ONE OF THOSE MOVIES WHERE THE MUSIC TELLS YOU HOW YOU SHOULD FEEL. I DON'T RECALL IF THERE WAS ANY SOUND TRACK THEME AT ALL.

THIS MOVIE IS ALL TOO CLOSE TO LIFE -- YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HELL WILL HAPPEN NEXT AND YOU HAVE NO REASON TO THINK IT WILL BE A GOOD THING WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN.

I AM NOT GOING TO SAY MUCH ABOUT "PRECIOUS," IF YOU FAIL TO ATTEMPT TO SEE THIS MOVIE, YOUR LIFE IS DIMINISHED. CIRCUMSTANCES MAY PREVENT YOUR

ATTENDING THE MOVIE, BUT IF YOU DON'T MAKE THE EFFORT, I HAVE TO QUESTION YOUR INTELLIGENCE - I HAVE TO WONDER WHAT YOU WOULD GO SEE

THAT IS MORE MEANINGFUL AND THOUGHT PREVOLKING THAN THIS FILM.

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MANY PEOPLE WILL ASSUME THAT GABOUREY SIDIBE, PLAYING THE ROLE OF PRECIOUS JONES IS THE STAR OF THE FILM --- THIS IS NOT THE CASE, "GABBY" IS WONDERFUL, BUT MO'NIQUE IS THE STAR OF THIS FILM - HER PERFORMANCE IS

INCREDIBLE - A ONCE IN A LIFETIME ROLE MEETS ONCE IN A LIFETIME PERFORMANCE.

AS WITH DOCTOR HANNIBAL LECTOR, THE VILLAIN IS THE STAR.

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I HAVE TO SALUTE BOTH MARIAH CAREY AND LENNY KRAVITZ FOR THEIR WORK.

I DID NOT RECOGNIZE MARIAH, I NEVER SAW HER WHEN SHE WAS NOT COVER GIRL GLAMOUROUS. HERE SHE IS NOT MRS. NICK CANNON, SHE IS MS. WEISS.

LENNY IS WONDERFUL IN HIS ROLE BECAUSE HE IS NOT ACTING, HE IS JUST A GUY IN THE FILM - IT IS AS IF HE IS MAKING A DOCUMENTARY - HE IS SO PLAIN, BASIC AND SIMPLE IN BEING "NURSE JOHN," THAT HE TRULY BECOMES "NURSE JOHN."

HIS PERFORMANCE PROVES THAT "LESS IS MORE."

OF COURSE MR. KRAVITZ CAN ATTRIBUTE SOME OF HIS NATURAL ACTING TALENT

TO GENETICS, HE IS THE SON OF THE LATE, GREAT ROXY ROKER, OF "THE JEFFERSON'S" TELEVISION SHOW.

I HAVE TO MENTION PAULA PATTON, AN ACTRESS I NEVER HEARD OF BEFORE AND I WILL LOOK FOR IN HER BRIGHT FUTURE. SHE IS THE DEDICATED TEACHER, GOING THE EXTRA MILE - BUT SHE DOES IT IN A REALISTIC AND LOW KEYED MANNER, WITHOUT THE CLICHE DRAMA THAT YOU FIND IN A BAD MOVIE. SHE IS NOT PLAYING A NOBLE PERSON, SHE IS PLAYING A CARING PERSON SANS THE HYPE THIS

ROLE NORMALLY CARRIES.

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WHEN YOU LIKE A MOVIE THIS MUCH AND THAT MOVIE IS NOT PLEASANT TO WATCH - YOU ARE IN THE PRESENCE OF A FINE DIRECTOR - LEE DANIELS IS THAT

MAN ( SEE HIS "SHADOWBOXER" FILM WITH CUBA GOODING AND HELEN MIRREN ).

OPRAH AND TYLER PERRY HAVE TO GET CREDIT FOR HELPING TO BRING ALL THIS

TALENT AND EXPERTISE TOGETHER IN A MOVIE THAT IS GREAT, BUT VERY DIFFICULT TO LOOK AT.

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PEOPLE COME TO THE THEATRE WITH YOUNG CHILDREN -- I WAS BORN DURING THE TRUMAN ADMINISTRATION AND I WAS NOT PREPARED TO HANDLE THE LANGUAGE AND SITUATIONS OF ABUSE IN THIS FILM - WHY WOULD ANYONE BRING PRE-TEENS

TO THIS FILM - WHAT THE HELL ARE THEY THINKING?

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COMMENTS:

*** U.S. ARMY LT.RICHARD R. MITCHELL ( RET.) OF BROOLYN AND WINGATE HIGH SCHOOL PROUDLY GIVES US THIS INFORMATION ABOUT HIS COUSIN LENNY'S MOM:

Roxy Roker, a Bahamian American, was born in Miami, Florida, and grew up in Brooklyn. She was a cousin of television news personality Al Roker. She attended Girl's High School in Brooklyn, with my sister, Goldie Conwell Benjamin, Howard University, where she was a member of the drama club and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. She began her professional career with the Negro Ensemble Company and became a successful stage actress. She won an Obie Award in 1974 and was nominated for a Tony Award for her portrayal of Mattie Williams in The River Niger.
Roker was a reporter on WNEW-TV in New York in the 1970s. She hosted a public affairs show for the station known as Inside Bed-Stuy, dealing with events in the Brooklyn neighborhood.
She appeared in guest starring roles on many United States television programs from the 1970s through the 1990s, including Punky Brewster, Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, A Different World, Murder, She Wrote, The Love Boat, Room 227, and Beat the Clock. She also had a role in the television miniseries Roots and in the movie Claudine.
Roxy was also a children’s advocate who was cited by the City of Los Angeles for her community work. Talent begets talent.

*** A SOULFUL SISTER -
I enjoy talking about "Precious." There is so much that can be said. I want to share this with you all. After seeing the movie, I also thought that preteens should not be taken to see it. My daughter told me that shortly after the movie aired, one of the students at her school in New Jersey, was thrown out of the house by her mother. She was having major problems with the mom's boyfriend. Because the children had seen the movie, they immediately bonded with this child and got help for her. She is currently living with the family of one of them. It made me realize that they are too young to watch the movie, but many of them are living it. That movie raised the awareness of her friends and that was a beautiful thing.
*** DAVE AGOSTO IN OHIO -
I always appreciate your insight, I agree on EVERY account. I couldn't say enough about Mo'nique. Your comparison to Dr. Lector is a great analogy. Wow, what a great piece of work. The movie being tough to watch is what made it great to watch.
My wife was quick to point our Ms. Carey or I would not have known her. An underplayed great job on her part.
*** JEAN CUMMINGS IN BROOKLYN -
Great review. I'm going to see it this weekend with my daughters. fyi - Paula Patton was in "Idlewild" with Andre 3000 from Outkast.
*** DONNA IN ORLANDO -
Yes, it was very powerful! FYI, Paula Patton is Robin Thicke's wife.
TEXAS LADY IN --- TEXAS
*** I HAVE HEARD THIS MOVIE DISCUSSED ON N.P.R. AND I DO WANT TO SEE IT. A PROBLEM IN THE BIBLE BELT IS THAT GOOD CINEMA IS NOT UNDERSTOOD AND REAL ISSUES IGNORED, BUT I WILL LOOK UNTIL I FIND IT, MAYBE THE ANGELICA THEATER IN DALLAS WILL PLAY IT.
DEBBIE ALLEN IN NEW JERSEY -
*** I was blown away by Monique's acting. She was superb. As you said, the movie is hard to watch, the reason for that is although this is a fictional account it's hard to believe that this kind of thing actually happens. Let's give Gabby her props, for a new actress she did extremely well. She did better than some that have been acting for years. I loved this movie even though it was hard to watch.
A. HENDERSON IN CARMEL CIRCLE, INDIANA -
***"Hard to watch" doesn't even come close. There were several times in the first 15 minutes when I thought that there was no way I could possibly endure what I was watching and that I would just have to leave, but I didn't. And I'm glad. Rough, yep, it was.
"It Took a Long Time" was right on the spot as the final musical selection. I sat, watched the credits, listened to that beautiful song..... and wept.
PLAY THE SONG --
http://www.last.fm/music/Labelle/_/It+Took+A+Long+Time?autostart
RANDY JAMES - CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA ---
*** Beth and I saw Precious last night and I agree with your assessment that it is a powerful must-see movie on more than one front.
The disturbing aspect of the film, however, is not because of a flaw in the film and its brutal honesty, but in our (society, in general), refusal to face reality. We tend to believe in things as we want them to be, rather than how they really are. We want to believe in the power of ourselves to make the significant differences in our lives, rather than the reality that says that most of the major decisions of our lives are controlled by forces upon which we have little control (country of our birth, educational and emotional stability and earning power of our parents, and the barriers or non-barriers society will place upon us based on our size, color and ethnicity).
Finally, and foremost, we like to believe that everyone has the capacity to overcome their personal circumstances, and make the world a better place for themselves and their children. And while the statistics say otherwise, we hold onto these misconceptions. We need to; otherwise we would be overcome by guilt and the feeling that we deserve our place in life, and the less fortunate deserve theirs;
Precious is a victim of her environment and her "family circumstances", just as much as I suspect that her mother (brilliantly played by Mo'Nique) was of hers. The fact that 80% of Welfare recipients are 2nd or 3rd generation welfare recipients remind us that although every now and then someone will break through to relative financial independence, the fact remains that the large majority will remain in their subservient status.
A large percent of our population still believe in the illogical perception that a person being fat, black and out of shape is not at a disadvantage to someone more pleasing to the eye, be it in school, the workplace or in social settings. And finally, if you think that Precious' own children stand an equal chance to succeed if they remain with their mother, then you are again living in that illusionary world that allows one to view such a movie "disturbing". We are a hopeful people. But much of that hope exists only because we turn a blind eye to reality. The financial, educational and emotional stability of one's parents still is the number one factor in determining one's status in life, many exceptions noted. But hose exceptions remain a drop in the bucket to the situation at large.
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RANE PARISH ( A FILMMAKER ) IN TORONTO, CANADA -
So I just saw Precious and I have to say I was a bit disappointed after hearing so many amazing reviews of the film. Don't get me wrong, it was a strong piece but I think most of its impact was due to the shock of Precious' horrific existence rather than the movie's narrative or character development... in other words, it ain't The Color Purple. Mo'nique was amazing, especially in the end scene. That was as real as it gets. She deserves all the accolades coming her way for sure. The film also left me wondering that why is it that when women are portrayed as tragic figures, their tragedies are compounded to the nth degree? Remember Million Dollar Baby? It wasn't enough that the protagonist had to be paralyzed, she had to get gangrene too. And then she had to bite her tongue off in an effort to bleed to death. Good grief! Wasn't the fact that Precious was fat, unattractive and dark skinned in America, illiterate, sexually abused, emotionally and physically abused by her parents, the young mother of two children by her own father; one of them a Downs Syndrome child enough? Did they really have to give her a death sentence as well? Not that this sh*t hasn't happened to somebody but come on! Still, I'm happy to see a weighty film about Black folks make it to the screen. Hopefully its success will make it possible to make films somewhere between the raw and relentless like Precious and the empty fodder from Tyler Perry and his ilk.