Since it'll be a while since The Spill Crew will get to see it, I figured to come out and spread out some word of mouth about this film to everyone. Every so often there comes a film out of nowhere. A film that becomes a hit and award worthy based on word of mouth. Look at Slumdog Millionaire, last year it was a movie that became a hit because of the great word of mouth. And I have a feeling that this movie will do the same. And if you look at both movies they both have the same type of appeal to them. They both are movies about a person living a shitty life and trying to make their life better. The difference of course, one being a fairy tale and this one being VERY REALISTIC.

Just listen to a story about this, a sixteen year old obese girl, living in Harlem, Pregnant with her second baby from her own father that rapes her, living with a mother that abuses her and blames her for her boyfriend raping her and leaving her, and can't read. When you hear about a story about a girl like that, you can only HOPE that she can make it even though it seems very unlikely. And that's what this movie is about, watching someone who seems like they will be nothing and slowly becoming something. The Girl is named Clarice "Precious" Jones, who is played by an unknown actress, Gabourey "Gabby" Sidibe, who gives a very strong and convincing performance. Her Abusive mother played by Mo'Nique, gives probably the MOST surprising performance of the year. The performances are truly the strongest points of what makes this movie great, everyone here plays their character so convincing that they seem like real people, even the side characters.

As far as the plot to the movie, you can kind of predict how this movie will play out but it is so interesting to watch it happen. The narrative of the movie is told from the perspective of Precious.You can tell off the bat that she is a woman that dreams of living a better life, by showing us in and out cuts of fantasies of her living the Hollywood life. Her dream to be a model, to be rich, to have a handsome boyfriend, etc. Only to come back in the real world to being pushed around by her mother and forced to cook her nasty ass food.

After being kicked out of school for being pregnant again, she is enrolled to an alternative school, even though her mom tells her it would be pointless and she'd be better off living on wel fare. Though knowing that she can't read and knowing that her mom thinks it'd be pointless, she goes anyway. Which shows you that she truly does want to learn and not be called a dummy anymore. And the person who comes in to help push her to learn is a teacher Ms. Rain, played by Paula Patton (Aka Halle Berry #2).

I have to give it up to the director who really is great at showing the ugly side of Harlem and is not afraid to GO THERE, like there is a scene where Precious comes home after giving birth to her baby and her mom wants to hold the child and that scene had me nervous as what she would do to that baby, that she might hurt the baby or who knows. And the director is also good at making sure this movie doesn't stay one note and be a long depressing movie. There are moments that are fun and entertaining. Like her classmates at her alternative school. When they come on, they bring light to everything and bring some smiles to the audience as far as showing that being at this school is so much better for Precious.

This movie does have moments that lift you up and then bring you back down as far as feelings. And like I said about Mo'Nique giving a breakthrough performance of her life. Near the end, there is a scene where you see her as a vulnerable human being and learn why she abuses her daughter and lets her boyfriend rape her. And watching that scene alone was not only convincing but should without a doubt give her an Oscar nomination. In fact if there's no one better, I think she should win. This movie will get most of it's nominations from the performances alone, because everyone to even Mariah Carey, gives their all and makes us believe these characters. This director can make the girl from Glitter/famous R@B singer make us believe she's a social worker without any second guess.

Overall this is a movie that will be talked about non stop until Oscar season, and well some people might not be too crazy about it, this is one that you should see as soon as possible before the "OVERRATED" talk comes in. If you want to see a movie with great acting, this is the movie you MUST SEE. All the actors are great in it. It's a movie that helps us cheer for the person with possibly the worst life that seems like she has no chance at all. And ends on the right note.

OVERALL RATING:

FULL PRICE!!!