'Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire' Film Review

Finally, after months of applause, festivals awards, and early Oscar buzz, director Lee Daniels' most bodacious film, 'Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire,' is being released in limited theaters before expanding nationwide in the weeks to come.

Featuring amazing performances from an ensemble that includes comedian/ actress Mo'Nique, Paula Patton, Mariah Carey, Sherri Shepherd, and newcomer Gabourey "Gabby" Sidibe, 'Precious,' is a gritty and disturbing drama, but becomes more and more an uplifting, educational and powerful tale that folks will discuss once the impact sets in.

Set in Harlem around 1987, Claireece 'Precious' Jones is an overweight 16-year old African American who gets by in school until her administrators discover she can't read or write. Not only is her education lacking, but she is currently pregnant with her second child. Only her immediate family, which includes her mother and grandmother knows the truth. Her first child, a daughter with down syndrome's and her second, on the way, are the products of incest with her father, who's been abusing her with mommy dearest fully aware of the unlawful acts.

Speaking of her mother, Mary (Mo'Nique) constantly berates Precious for her stupidity, verbally and physically abuses her and takes her welfare checks while never leaving the house. Mary would rather watch television shows (like '227') and pet her cat while commanding Precious to cook and clean the house while pregnant.

Living in a fantasy world where she's white, has a light skinned boyfriend, and is seen walking down a red carpet while gaining fame in the fashion world (as Queen Latifah's music plays in the background) are what Precious imagines to escape her nightmare of a life. Things takes a new turn for the better when she's enrolled in an alternative school called 'Each One Teach One' at Harlem's legendary Hotel Teresa. The class is filled other students whose education level needs improvement and taught by Ms. Rain (Patton), who has the fortitude to stand up to these unruly kids and actually educate them.

With the help of social worker Ms. Weiss (an unrecognizable Mariah Carey), Precious is able to talk about and work through the demons that have haunted her for so many years.

With films like 'Monster's Ball,' in which Halle Berry won the Oscar for Best Actress, 'The Woodsman,' where Kevin Bacon played a reformed pedophile, and 'Shadowboxer,' featuring Oscar winners Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Helen Mirren, Daniels manages to get his actors to give him the best they have to fill a role that's not appealing on paper. This film is a step in the right direction for him as a director. He showed no bounds when it came to pushing the envelope. Mo'Nique, who was also in 'Shadowboxer' but in a smaller role, rose her status in the acting community. Her performance as an unrelenting dominant child abuser will never be forgotten. After this film, leading actresses everywhere will be on alert; Mo'Nique is a player whose game has stepped up big time.

After appearing in the little seen 'Tennessee,' in which Daniels also produced, and shedding her beauty for a small but key role, one can simply say that Carey reinvented herself as an actress. Patton is wonderful as the teacher/ surrogate mother/ angel who guides Precious towards a life of happiness with strength and pride. Aside from Mo'Nique and Carey, the one that stood toe-to-toe with them in her film debut was the new discovery Sidibe.

The other newcomers who are the Each One Teach One students (Chyna Layne, Xosha Roquemore, Angelic Zambrana, Stephanie Andujar and Amina Robinson),provide the comic relief that lessens the deep degradation that movie goers can feel for Precious.

The film was produced independently so that the 1996 bestselling novel by Sapphire would stay true without interference from Hollywood. Normally, one would hear about a story like 'Precious' on a talk show or television shows like 'Law and Order: SVU', but with the help of executive producers Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry, the film is getting the exposure it deserves and hopefully will bring out the pain of many who have faced the same emotional and physically abuse as its lead.

The film is dark and depressing, but also uplifting and instrumental to the social problems that are rarely discussed. Incest is a heavy subject and many need to realize that 'Precious' is a testament that it does exist in society and it needs to be dealt with.

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Precious Movie Premiere

Singer Mary J. Blige arrives at the premiere of the film "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" at AFI Fest 2009 in Los Angeles, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

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Black Filmmakers

Spike Lee
Besides Woody Allen, no other filmmaker has had more films on the big screen in the last 20 years than Lee. From 'She's Gotta Have It' to 'Jungle Fever' to the critically acclaimed and Oscar-nominated 'Do The Right Thing,' Lee's production company, 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks, has produced more than 35 films since 1983. In 2008, the Atlanta native released his latest film, 'Miracle at St. Anna,' a story about blacks fighting in WWII that stars Derek Luke and Michael Ealy.

Oscar Micheaux
As the pioneer of African American filmmakers, this Metropolis, Illinois, native revolutionized the film industry when he formed his own movie production company and, in 1919, became the first African American to make a film. He wrote, directed and produced the silent motion picture 'The Homesteader' and then introduced the film world to Paul Robeson in 'Body and Soul.' In 1986, the Directors Guild of America honored Micheaux with a Golden Jubilee Special Award, and today the Oscar Micheaux Award is presented each year by the Producers Guild.

Robert Townsend
Primarily known as a comedian, this Chicago native established himself when he wrote, directed, produced and starred in the comedy 'Hollywood Shuffle,' his 1987 film about struggling black actors. He also created and produced the CableACE award–winning 'Robert Townsend and His Partners in Crime' for HBO. His best film to date is the 1991 musical 'The Five Heartbeats.' Townsend recently directed the documentary 'Why We Laugh,' a story on black comedians and their impact in America.

Bill Duke
Known for his imposing 6-foot-6-inch figure and action films such as 1987's 'Predator,' the Poughkeepsie, New York, native began directing feature-length films in the 1990s with the crime dramas 'A Rage in Harlem,' 'Deep Cover' and 'Hoodlum.' In 2007, Duke directed 'Cover,' which starred Vivica A. Fox, and most recently 'Not Easily Broken,' which is based on a T.D Jakes novel and stars Morris Chestnut and Taraji P. Henson.

Ossie Davis
As a pioneer in the film business and a legend in the African American community, Davis was an actor, director, poet, playwright, writer and social activist whose career spanned nearly 50 years. Davis directed numerous films during the blaxploitation era, including 1970's 'Cotton Comes to Harlem' and 1973's 'Gordon's War.' Along with wife Ruby Dee, the Georgia native starred in many movies, including several of director Spike Lee's films such as 'Do The Right Thing,' 'Jungle Fever' and 'She Hate Me.'

Melvin Van Peebles
This Chicago actor, director, screenwriter, playwright, novelist and composer is most famously known for his contribution to the blaxploitation era with the independently financed and critically acclaimed film 'Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song.' The 1971 film was written, produced, scored, directed by and starred Van Peebles and tells the story of a deprived African American man on his escape from the white authority. The father of actor/ director Mario, in 2008, Melvin completed the film 'Confessionsofa Ex-Doofus-ItchyFooted Mutha,' which played at various film festivals.

Julie Dash
In 1991, this Queens, New York, native's film 'Daughters of the Dust,' which tells the story of three generations of Gullah women at the turn of the 20th century, was the first full-length film with general theatrical release in the United States by an African American woman. In 2004, the film was included in the National Film Registry.

F. Gary Gray
Having directed more than 30 music videos for artists such as Ice Cube, Queen Latifah, TLC, Dr. Dre and Mary J. Blige, and winning several awards for his work, the New York native moved into the film world with the cult favorite 'Friday,' starring Ice Cube and Chris Tucker. He then followed that film with another fan favorite, 'Set It Off,' with Queen Latifah, Vivica A. Fox and Jada Pinkett Smith, before moving on to big budgeted films such as 'The Negotiator,' 'The Italian Job' and 'Be Cool.' His next feature is slated to be 'Marvin: The Life Story of Marvin Gaye.'

Forest Whitaker
An Academy Award winner for his performance as Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in the 2006 film 'The Last King of Scotland', the Longview, Texas, native has directed many films, including the fan favorite 1995's 'Waiting to Exhale,' based on the Terry McMillan novel of the same name. Other directorial films from Whitaker include 'Hope Floats' and 'First Daughter.'

Lee Daniels
Beginning his career in entertainment as a casting director and manager, the Philadelphia native worked on projects such as 'Under the Cherry Moon' and 'Purple Rain,' both of which starred Prince, before hitting the jackpot with his production of 'Monster's Ball' in 2001. That film garnered Halle Berry a best actress Oscar, making her the first African American woman to do so. In 2006, Daniels made his directorial debut with 'Shadowboxer,' which starred Oscar winners Cuba Gooding, Jr., and Helen Mirren. Just recently, in January 2009, his latest directing gig, 'Push,' won three awards at the Sundance Film Festival, including best film.