Has anyone seen the movie, Precious yet?

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by Idioteque...

My favorite user is not interested in the movie but I'd argue it's not intended to be an Academy type of film, I think the intent came in once Oprah & Tyler Perry got involved. In addition to the material, from those 2 minutes it seems like the film will have a cool visual style, like for one example that shot of the TV coming down was really cool from a film-making perspective. I won't be able to fully judge the movie until I see it and I hope it's a great film.

First, one of the above posters I think made a good point about Mo'nique in that the acclaim probably stems in large part due to the deplorable nature of her character and not her acting talent. This may be completely unfair, which is why I am not making any conclusions. However, if you read the reviews, including Ebert, he mentions how her character is one of the most deplorable villains on screen in recent memory. This does not guarantee a win though, so I think those who are saying she is a shoe in are speaking too soon. Remember that Ralph Fiennes did not win an Oscar for his portrayal of one of the most deplorable screen villains in recent memory, in Schindler's List. However, I think Mo'nique will undoubtedly benefit from a weak year, as will many other actors, actressess, and films.

I am not interested in seeing the film predominately because its attention and critical acclaim seems to be (key word is "seems"--I cannot make a definite statement here without haven seen it) in large part due to the media mogul Oprah and Tyler Perry. Oprah is undoubtedly one of the top three most important and influential media members in the US and Tyler Perry has major influence as well.

I have a bit of a problem with the fact that the film is gaining so much attention because it involves an obese African-American girl from the city who undergoes extreme mental, physical and emotional abuse. What I mean by this statement is that the promotion and acclaim of the film has centered mainly on the unusual conglomeration of the aforementioned characteristics, which have not truly been seen on screen before. The film is being promoted as an integral film for those of the African-American race and for those who are not African-American, to gain an understanding of the extreme difficulties that some people unfortunately have to undergo.

This bothers me. I don't see why race should matter here at all. I think the film should be promoted for what it is--an uncommon and poignant exploration of the pain and suffering of an uncharacteristic protagonist, and her ability to overcome these troubles. It annoys me when films come out and are promoted based on race instead of the merits of the film. There have been many examples of that.

So, it seems as though my reasons for not wanting to see it stem mainly from the promotion of the film, it is also in large part due to my disinterest with the subject matter and story. It just does not appeal to me. That being said, I prob will give in and see it at some point next year, simply so that I can discuss film on this site with the requisite credibility.