Precious: Based on the novel Push by Sapphire (2009)

Main Cast: Gabourey Sidibe, Mo'Nique, Paula Patton, Mariah Carey

Plot Summary: An illiterate, abused, over-weight, pregnant teen narrates her story as she tries to make a better life for herself.

The Good: - The cast. Every one of them was captivating; even Mariah Carey. But without a doubt Mo'Nique stood out. No wonder she won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. Her portrayal of the physically, verbally and emotionally abusive mother left me in awe. I don't ever remember hating a character so intensely whilst at the same time wanting to see more and more of her! She was, by far, my favourite element of the whole film, despite wanting to violently push her off her own tower block on more than one occasion. 

-Precious' way of escaping her horrific life is through her imagination, and her daydreams are handled brilliantly by the editing team. Integrated into the story seamlessly, the sparks of imagination appear when Precious is at her lowest. Whether it's a white woman's reflection in the mirror instead of her own, or a photograph of her mother saying loving things, these insights into Precious' psyche (as well as her own moving and heartbreaking narration) gives another emotional dimension to an already drastically sad story.

The Bad: - Certain moments drag out for a little too long, and therefore I was left with the feeling that the 109 minute film was perhaps a bit lengthy- I was ready for it to end half an hour before it did. 

-Although Gabourey Sidibe was excellent as Precious, it was sometimes quite hard to understand her. She is perfectly understood in the TV Series 'The Big C' (also brilliant by the way- check it out) and although I understand why she spoke the way she did for this character, I was constantly wanting her to speak up; I'm sure a lot of what she said was supposed to be profound and moving, but I didn't catch a lot of it!

Memorable Moment: -Precious' mother's speech in the Welfare office. Surprisingly touching.

Score: 7/10

Verdict: If for no other reason than to learn and be aware of how some people are forced to live, Precious should be seen by everyone. It's a real eye opener, and a teenager's life of abuse interwoven with her dreams of a better life is painfully sad and hard hitting. At it's most basic, Precious is a comment on people's capabilities for bad and good, and more than that it manages to comment on society as a whole without ever seeming preachy. Definitely worth a watch.