Precious - Lesson in Film Making  
| Relatively new director (although experienced producer) Lee Daniels could teach a lot of things to his peers out there. He could teach Lars Van Trier how to tell a story of desperation. He could teach Tyler Perry how to tell a story of a strong, black woman. He could teach Nora Ephron how to tell a story that empowers women of any colour. He could teach John Lee Hancock how to tell an uplifting story without getting close to sappy. He could teach Nick Cassavetes how to make a low budget film that is more than worth its cost. He could pretty much teach any director working today how to make an exceptionally good movie.
Precious is a remarkable achievement. It skates the edge of where after-school-special and misanthropic diatribe meet but never succumbs to either cliche. Instead it remains a powerful story of human accomplishment, a tragic portrait of human frailty, and an inspiring epic of survival. He films his story beautifully, balancing the terror that his protagonist faces with the common beauty around and inside her. He crafts an honest journey for Precious which doesn't betray the reality she struggles with but doesn't wallow in it either.
Also making Precious so strong are the remarkable performances of most of the leads. Gabourey Sidibe gives a performance that feels like she is simply being. In her you see both the devastated psyche and the strength to survive which is necessary to sell the movie Precious. Also outstanding is the gorgeous Paula Patton who disappears into her role as Precious' teacher. Why this actress is not on the A-list yet is beyond me.
And even though she has so little screen time, Mo'Nique rips up the screen each time she is on it. Her layered and complicated performance of Precious' abusive mother is terrifying yet remains completely human. Although she is a monster, Mo'Nique never allows you to forget the wounded human being inside the beast. This is not justification but honesty. It is amazing.
I do think that Mariah Carey gets more credit than she deserves for such a brief and fairly standard performance. Still, she is competent and that's more than I expected.
Precious is just that. A film of this quality is a precious thing. And it pushes Daniels to the forefront of interesting directors. I hope that his peers are paying attention.
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