by Michael Sullivan

You’ve probably seen the abusive parent film before. You’ve also probably seen the inner city inspirational teacher film before too. There are certain conventions of postmodern dramas that keep cycling back, the previous two among them. In fact, you’ve likely seen both of these tropes in the same film. But you haven’t seen Precious (2009). Precious is something else.

Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire is a difficult film to sit through. Probably the most difficult I’ve seen since Million Dollar Baby (2004). It follows Clareece “Precious” Jones, an illiterate Harlem teen pregnant with her second child. At the suggestion of her principal, she enrolls in an alternative school that helps students get their GEDs, but this alone is not the solution to all her problems as she hoped it might be.

Unlike what the film’s trailer may suggest, Precious is not all heavy. There are a decent amount of laughs peppered throughout the film, starting as early as the opening sequence. Like any well executed drama, these moments of comedy are used to pace the film and offset some of the feature’s heavier themes. However, in this film unlike in others, the comedic sequences are handled in a way that is, itself, rather saddening: Precious uses her imagination to get her mind off of her troubles. While her father rapes her, for example, she pictures herself on a red carpet in a flowing dress, gossiping with paparazzi. There is humor in Precious, but the humor is also an interrogation: it forces the audience to ask itself “Why am I laughing?” “Is this really funny?” and “What’s really going on here?” They’re tough questions.

There are numerous performances I’d like to highlight from the film, but in the interest of space, there’s one I will focus on in particular. Gabourey Sidibe is the perfect Precious (hard to imagine it’s her first film!), Paula Patton as her inspirational teacher is touching, and Mariah Carey as the hard-hearted social worker is pitch perfect; but none of these ladies stands out quite like Mo’Nique as Mary, Precious’s abusive mother. The role requires her to walk a fine line between love and hate, which she does with expertise. Mary is a loose cannon, sedate one minute and volatile the next, her words and actions barbed with the same maternal menace. Every scene in which she’s in the room, Precious--and the audience, for that matter--may as well be in a cage with a tiger.

I had the excellent fortune of seeing Mo’Nique speak at USC last fall and, let me tell you, this is one woman who has been beaten around by the Hollywood machine. She built her career from nothing, and has, until now, only had crappy jobs to show for it. Her work almost discredits her name. But as anyone who’s ever heard her speak can attest, Mo’Nique is a very inspiring individual. She has a wonderful grace and love that one wouldn’t expect from a half-rate comedienne. But in Precious, she finally has a role fit for her ability. Mo’Nique didn’t leave a dry eye in the whole audience at the screening I attended. There is no doubt in my mind she will be nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Oscars this spring. And in fact, I’ll be damned if she doesn’t win it too.

Seriously stop whatever you’re doing and go see this movie! You won’t want to be sitting on your couch dumbfounded come March 7, 2010 when this picture steals the Academy Awards and you missed it.

Precious Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire opens in select theaters this Friday, Nov. 6.