Precious: Based on the novel Push by Sapphire - 2010

Precious is a film which fails as much as it succeeds. The film has a annoyingly high level of self awareness. Every character that encounters Precious, seems to well up and look as if they are about to cry, sometimes even before she has revealed anything about her plight - as if the filmmakers felt compelled to leave cues to the audiences as to when they should begin to weep. That the film failed to conjure any overwhelming emotional reaction within me might have been a direct result of this attempt to imbue the film with a heightened empathy. Yet the film rarely depicts anything completely shocking, and you feel, as bad a life as Precious has, there are children out there in much similar and even worse scenarios - so what makes Precious so different.

Raped twice by her father, with one child called Mongo - after Mongoloid; the child has down's syndrome, and another on the way, Precious find herself being kicked out of school, and having to attend an alternative school, reserved for a group of cliche-ridden poorly developed characters who predictably grow to become close friends. At home, her mother is a lazy bitch. There is literally no better way to describe her, and she also physically and verbally abuses her daughter, in much the same way everytime. There are at least three scenes which feel as if the dialogue has been lifted and replayed, and so we never really get a deep understanding of the relationship between mother and daughter.

The style of the film is also a bit jarring. The film tries to feel fresh and original, stylish but gritty and ultimately feels like a mishmash of both. The acting is ok, Gabourey Sidibe is very good as Precious as is Mo'nique as her mother, especially in the films denouement, but the rest of the cast, including a supporting role from Mariah Carey spend far too much time playing cutout cliches or looking as though they are a beat away from the sniffles. As a result many of the scenes scupper any real emotional weight, and the performances feel as though they have been misdirected.

Having said that Precious's heart is in the right place, and its contains a character who is difficult not to like, or develop empathy for her. When the films climax arrives, although it may be tinged with a sappy undertone, you do still feel the catharsis of a young girl who has strived to make her life better and might just achieve it.

Overall then, Precious feels too similar and cliched to change your life, but has at its core a uniquely endearing character and enough poignant moments and humour to carry what feels like an exploitation of your emotions when it didn't need to be.