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Precious: Based on the Novel by Sapphire

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Precious: Based on the Novel by Sapphire reviews
57
N/A User Score:

Mixed or average reviews

Based on 8 critic reviews
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Based on 0 votes
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Movie Info

Genre(s): Drama

Written by: Geoffrey Fletcher

Directed by: Lee Daniels

Release Date:
Theatrical: November 6, 2009

Running Time: 109 minutes, Color

Origin: USA

Summary

RATING: R for child abuse including sexual assault, and pervasive language

Starring Gabourey "Gabby" Sidibe, Paula Patton, Mo'Nique, Mariah Carey, Sherri Shepherd, and Lenny Kravitz

Set in Harlem in 1987, it is the story of Claireece “Precious” Jones, a sixteen-year-old African-American girl born into a life no one would want. She’s pregnant for the second time by her absent father; at home, she must wait hand and foot on her mother, a poisonously angry woman who abuses her emotionally and physically. School is a place of chaos, and Precious has reached the ninth grade with good marks and an awful secret: she can neither read nor write. Precious may sometimes be down, but she is never out. Beneath her impassive expression is a watchful, curious young woman with an inchoate but unshakeable sense that other possibilities exist for her. Threatened with expulsion, Precious is offered the chance to transfer to an alternative school, Each One/Teach One. Precious doesn’t know the meaning of “alternative,” but her instincts tell her this is the chance she has been waiting for. Precious begins a journey that will lead her from darkness, pain and powerlessness to light, love and self-determination. (Lionsgate)

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

88

ReelViews James Berardinelli

Manages the task of being both heartbreaking and heart-warming.

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80

Film Threat Nick Antosca

Shot in the manner of a grueling horror picture, with jittery edits to half-remembered traumas and glistening close-ups on the faces of monsters.

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80

The Hollywood Reporter Duane Byrge

As Precious, Sidibe is superb, allowing us to see the inner warmth and beauty of a young woman who, to her world's cruel eyes, might seem monstrous.

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80

Variety John Anderson

An urban nightmare with a surfeit of soul, Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire is like a diamond -- clear, bright, but oh so hard.

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70

Village Voice Scott Foundas

Yet even when the movie is at its most schizoid, Precious still packs a wallop.

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50

New York Magazine David Edelstein

The elements of Precious are powerful and shocking, but the movie is programmed. It is its own study guide.

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40

The New Yorker Anthony Lane

What we have here is a fouled-up fairy tale of oppression and empowerment, and it’s hard not to be ensnared by its mixture of rank maleficence and easy reverie. The gap between being genuinely stirred and having your arm twisted, however, is narrower than we care to admit.

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40

Time Out New York Keith Uhlich

Given the months-long hype, what’s most bewildering about Sundance sensation Precious is its overall shrug-worthiness.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this movie is 0.0 (out of 10) based on 0 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

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