Several reviewers have criticized this movie as manipulative. If a director or a screenwriter's work causes an emotional reaction, can't any such movie be considered manipulative. If this had been a documentary, would you have embraced it because the facts would speak for themselves. It would seem that we should only have movies about sunshine and light when it comes to people who were born into poverty. We should have a happy ending but not show the sad facts leading up to it. I found the portrayal devastating. I found the performances to be outstanding, upsetting as they were. This is no movie for children or the faint of heart. Nevertheless, those who have the open-mindedness to look at the depth of this film should see it. Movies may have themes and ideas, but agendas? I'm not so sure.

I find it ironic with a film directed and produced by Lee Daniels, with Oprah Winfrey on board as executive producer, that some reviewers on this board would consider the film racist. What it says to me is that any treatment of an historical event or a real life situation would be considered racist if the person watching is uncomfortable with it. That's always bugged me, because how are creative artists supposed to get their message across if they can't show the way people are and the ways they strive to better themselves?

As for the picture, I was in OMG! mode ten minutes in when Mother Mary (Mo'Nique) began her verbal assault against her daughter Precious (Gabourey Sidibe). That some people actually live in this kind of environment is more than an eye opener for those of us better advantaged. It was incredible that Precious maintained a sense of decency and humility by attempting to make life better for herself considering the enormous odds working against her.

From a personal point of view, I don't know how teachers like Ms. Blu Rain (Paula Patton) are able to do what they do, showing the kind of patience and understanding needed to draw abused students out of their shell to foster learning. I don't think it's something I could do, and I have the utmost compassion and regard for those kinds of teachers and social workers who can go to work every day with the prospect of failure never far away. It has to make the positive results achieved somewhat triumphant.

I'm glad I watched this picture but I thought there would be more of a resolution to the fate of Precious at the end of the story. Though there was some closure for her in disowning her abusive mother, one can't help but realize that there was no happy ending here for a single mother with two young children and no immediate prospects for improvement except for keeping a positive attitude and desire to succeed. It takes a special kind of person to maintain that drive without succumbing to dire circumstances surrounding them. I would have preferred more of a silver lining ending to the story, but in reality, life doesn't always work like that.

This is a film that might make some people a little uneasy. It deals with family abuse in the form of rape, physical and verbal violence. The one character it follows is Precious, an overweight illiterate teenage girl who is pregnant with her second child from her biological father. She is kicked out of her school because of her pregnancy and is enrolled in another educational institution called each one teach one. She wants to do better things, but doesn't have the will or motivation because of the constant abuse at the hands of her mother. She day dreams about being a big star and getting out of the hellish life she lives.

The film is raw with the material and doesn't really hold any punches. Lee Daniels second feature film shows vast improvement over the messy Shadowboxer starring Cuba good Jr. His grasp of the material and dedication to have the story be told is evident in his attention to translate the novel to screen. Daniels has put together a cast that care about the subject matter and the story as much as he does and is surrounded by the talent that is needed to pull it off.

Gabourey Sidibe is Precious, the troubled teen wanting more out of life. She shines in her first starring role and it's no walk in the park for her. The role demanded talent and Sidibe delivers what is needed. Of course the one who stands out the most is Mo'Nique earning herself a much deserved Oscar for her role as the abusive and sloth ridden mother. Her confrontation with her daughter after the birth of the second child is intense and will have you holding your breath in fear for the safety of the child.

Precious is a film that is driven by a strong story and an emotional cast that cares about the work they are doing. It's a glimmer of hope that keeps the story moving in a world that is hard edged and usually leads nowhere. It's not a relatively long film, but I did find myself checking my watch every now and then and some bits in the film happen without much clarification. Where did that one white boy come from in her Each One Teach One class? In any event, the final product is a good film with a message about hope and Tyler Perry finally has his name attached to something good in his career (Star Trek not included).