PRECIOUS Review
Precious is an overweight, illiterate 16 year old, living in late 80s Harlem. Pregnant with a second child by her own absent father, she lives with her abusive mother (Mo'Nique) seeking respite from her daily grind in whimsical daydreams of a carefree life. When her teacher spots both a latent ability and the domestic trouble she's in, an alternative Each One/Teach One school gives Precious a chance to turn her life around as the understanding Ms Rain (Paula Patton) proves a willing mentor.
Avoiding many of the potential pitfalls associated with the seemingly conventional story arc, director Lee Daniels does an admirable job in creating a fresh take on the Dangerous Minds scenario, through a lead character whose plight is deeply distressing yet whose spirit is resoundingly strong. Rather than patronise or sanctify Precious, Daniels paints her as a flawed but lovable mother whose back story is vivid enough that, when her behaviour is less than exemplary, you feel understanding and not frustration. Though Sidibe is undoubtedly well cast, it's the way her character is treated (by the filmmakers) rather than her performance that impresses the most.
The rest of the cast form able support, with Mariah Carey surprisingly effective and almost unrecognisable as Precious' social worker. Lenny Kravitz too has a slight but nicely judged role as our heroine's hospital nurse. The issue I have with Precious is in the two distinct worlds it depicts, one in an (augmented) realist cinema mold, the other in a more conventional Hollywood sheen. The apartment Precious shares with her mother is shot, particularly in the earlier scenes, in a murky brown that evokes the lair of a serial killer. One viciously cruel scene in particular recalls the gluttony 'punishment' meted out to one unfortunate victim in Fincher's Seven. It's an effective and unnerving environment with the oppressive atmosphere erupting into verbal and physical violence with alarming speed. A couple of the most shocking moments are highly effective and the world of Precious in the early part of the film is as grim a life for a 16 year old as you could imagine.
Once she reaches the alternative school though, things take a dramatic and somewhat improbable turn. Ms Rain, her new teacher, is just too good to be true. Daniels' camera clearly has an eager predilection for Patton, who looks as though she's just come out of a fairly conservative fashion catalogue. Immaculately turned out and beautiful, her personality is a flawless blend of compassion and leadership, something borne out by the inevitable moment of self-doubt that simply compounds quite how perfect she is. Her presence clashes with the domestic trauma at the core of the story so much that you can't help wondering if she's dropped straight from one of Precious' hyperreal fantasies. So too the new fellow classmates who befriend Precious are familiar types, unified by how individually wonderful-yet-misguided they all are. There's a lack of balance, and tendency toward a saints and sinners outlook on the world.
These quibbles are mercifully overpowered by the warmth and charm emanating from the inarticulate but enquiring Precious, as she valiantly strives for a better future. In the end it's a deceptively conventional tale elevated by top drawer performances and a refusal to pigeon-hole its unlikely heroine.
Precious is at UK cinemas from 29th Jan.
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