Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire

As the title so blatantly tells it, Precious is based on the novel Push by Sapphire.  From the summaries, the movie seems to follow the novel very closely, though apparently did leave out a few aspects of the story near the end.

Newcomer Gabourey Sidibe is Claireece "Precious" Jones, a 16 year old black girl living in Harlem with her vocally and physically abusive mother (an award winning Mo'Nique) who only keeps Precious around for the welfare money.  Pregnant with her second child, both times the product of her father (Rodney 'Bear' Jackson) raping her, she finds herself kicked out of school, her only other option being Each One Teach One, an alternative school where she meets her teacher Blu Rain (Paula Patton) who is the first person she's ever known who actually seems to care about her.  Sapphire, Lenny Kravitz, and Mariah Carey appear as well.

Precious is not based on a true story but it still rings true as I'm sure there are more than one Precious out there.  It may be a work of fiction but its base in reality is what makes this film really work.  It employs multiple cinematographic techniques that are not usually seen together.  On one hand it is filmed docu-style.  Not quite Cloverfield, but the hand-held work is similar to something like Modern Family or The Office.  There are certain stylized shots in slow motion though, there are flashbacks as well as daydreams that are far flung from reality.  It's rather bizarre when you think about it, yet makes sense.  Life is not so straightforward as a documentary.  It has parts that feel like they're going at different speeds than others, and people drift into their imaginations all the time.  The unrealistic aspects actually make this a more realistic experience.

The acting, no surprise given the attention that has been brought to it, is admirable.  The performances given by Sidibe and Mo'Nique are raw, cutting, and powerful.  These are not actors, they are these people.  The chillingly emotional scenes and harsh language define their lives and are enough to make even the least compassionate person wish they could at least do something for these people whose lives seem like an impassable thing.

I'm not sure what was missing from the end, but it felt slightly unfulfilled.  Other than that, superb.

**** (4/5 stars)