No tears. Nothing in my hands at the start of the credits running at the end but the feeling that I'd been duped. Was this really the film that I'd heard so much good about? Clearly not. Oprah Winfrey is the executive producer of this mess, which says more than should be allowed, on the base of the synopsis: poor, abused, obese girl from the ghetto growing up in the mid-80s tries to live some sort of life with some kind of dignity amidst horrors and a family life in complete chaos. Voilá. The hype around this film enthralled me and I was genuinely looking forward to something interesting. To me, this film makes the English 1960s kitchen sink "genre" look even more grim than it otherwise does. While Precious is pinballed through society, hounded at home, her ways apathetic (possibly to abate/stand living) by all means, she finds school to be her oxygen. I found this very Oprah/Hollywood by all means, mainly because it's so dense; there is simply no air in the script, and little explanation. One is simply left to accept her fate and courses of action; the film doesn't question the viewer at all, doesn't even question Precious' actions, but serves a simple tale that makes many an epic tale seem fresh. In short, I found little more here than good cinematography - loads of contrasts, which I liked - and Mo'Nique's acting, which was great during the last scene. Otherwise there is very little to cling to.
