PRECIOUS trailer will make you cry all by itself. by COOP

Posted on June 16th, 2009

Okay, all you tough guys out there. Try to hold it together for this one. I wasn’t prepared when I took a peek at the trailer for “Precious” (formerly known as “Push” but the name change ensure’s it’s not confused with the sci-fi film “Push” released earlier this year). Sounded like another urban drama about how tough life is out on the streets. After viewing the trailer I now understand the early Oscar buzz already surrounding the title. Wait, is that Mariah Carey in the trailer??? Yes it is…

The story concerns a very large 16 year-old African American girl, Claireese (Gabourey “Gabby” Sidibe) who’s morbidly obese, illiterate, pregnant with her 2nd child by her father and mercilessly abused by her mother (Mo’Nique). She has no hope in her life except for a welfare caseworker (Carey) and a teacher (Paula Patton) who desperately want to help her. And apparently Lenny Kravitz is thrown in there somewhere. With Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry backing this one, you know it’s got to have some juice. Mariah Carey looks absolutely unrecognizable and (surprise!) it appears she can actually act.

“Precious” got raves at the Sundance Film Festival and after viewing the trailer I can see why. It alone is devastatingly sad and moving. It definitely has shades of “The Color Purple” and in some aspecets almost appears to be a modern retelling of the same story. Expect this one to be a sleeper hit in 2009.