Mariah Carey, Lee Daniels, Gabourey Sidibe & Paula Patton – Cannes Film Festival, May 15
“Nothing quite prepares you for the rough-cut diamond that is Precious. A rare blend of pure entertainment and dark social commentary, this shockingly raw, surprisingly irreverent and absolutely unforgettable story.” — LA Times, Betsy Sharkey
Climbing 21 points from yesterday’s low, currently looking very strong with a metascore of 78.
100 – Entertainment Weekly, Owen Gleiberman
100 – Chicago Sun-Times, Roger Ebert
100 – Chicago Reader, J.R. Jones
100 – Wall Street Journal, Joe Morgenstern
90 – The New York Times, A.O. Scott
90 – NPR, Bob Mondello
90 – Los Angeles Times, Betsy Sharkey
88 – Chicago Tribune, Michael Phillips
88 – ReelViews, James Berardinelli
88 – Rolling Stone, Peter Travers
Numbers like this from publications like those pretty much make any score lower than 50 irrelevant.
59 Responses for "Precious achieves critical mass"
Okay, looking much better. Now I just have to await anxiously to see it myself this weekend. Hopefully it’s as good as ^these^ guys say it is.
Okay. So I’m just going to assume it’ll win BP and just not talk about it anymore. It’s clearly going to be this years’ Slumdog. *yawns*
By Friday night it will be at 83-85 on Metacritic and in the mid to low 90’s on rotten tomatoes.
78. Right up/down there with The Reader.
Antoinette, you’re right. double yawn, but if it’s actually good, and not overrated like Slumdog, than I’ll be pleased.
I assure you, it will be nominated, but it will not win.
Right Now Precious has an 78 on Metacritic with 19 reviews and by Friday it will be in the mid 80,s with 30 reviews. It has an 87 on rotten tomatoes with over 50 reviews. By Friday is should be in the 90,s. It has a 87 on BFCA. Welcome to the the oscars precious. So happy to see all the raves. Some of you hit the Panic button way to early.
Michael, The Reader has a 58 on Metacritic.
this feels more like a real contender than anything previously released.
fwiw, I would not call Slumdog overrated, but, rather, over-honored.
Saw the film at AFI – liked it a whole lot better than Slumdog. As a whole perhaps there are moments that dont work or are too artificial, but for the moments that take your breath away it is a must see. Remarkable acting across the board – including a powerful piece of non acting and just listening and reacting by Mariah Carey…
Bruce Davis, AMPAS executive director:
BD: The 10 nominees allows a broadening of the playing field. It seems reasonable that we ought to get the best of the action films, the best animated films, maybe even a doc will sneak in there. Maybe you will begin to see a more representative spectrum of the good work being done.
Q: Are you genuinely confident that will happen, rather than those extra nominations going to the kind of movies that usually get the first five slots?
BD: [laughs] Well, let’s say that I have certainly thought about what you just suggested. If we get ten small, angry movies, then this didn’t work.
^
that quote could haunt him.
I dont really see the story as I wasn’t buying the hysterics over the initial low numbers. Regardless if Precious had a 55 on MC or a 85, it’s getting nominated.
Will it win? Probably not. But that’s another discussion.
Didn’t Brokeback Moutain start in the 50s too?
Never mind Meryl Streep! Mariah Carey! From Glitter to Gold! Who would have thunk it! I love Hollywood (it makes no sense).
Didn’t Brokeback Moutain start in the 50s too?
*******
I seriously doubt that.
It’s not all about the quality of reviews. It’s also partially about the order they come in. Brokeback has quite a few 100s but I remember it being in the mid-50s in it’s first week. It has quite a few unenthusiatic reviews on Metacritic.
So is this the first lock for the season? A nomination for Best Picture is assured at this point, yes?
Dave, yes
I’m cautious about calling any locks yet, Dave.
Lock means never having to say you’re sorry.
But with a metascore of 94 and year-long acclaim, I’d say The Hurt Locker was looking solid before Precious. If not locked, they’re both securely latched.
Where are all the haters? show yourselves.
Now! all Precious needs is a solid opening at the box office and a decent accumulation of $$$$ over the weeks. Nothing too extravagant but something solid, solid enough to back up the rave reviews.
TELL YO MAMA, YO MAMA’S MAMA, YO MAMA’S MAMA’S MAMA, YO UNCLE,AUTIES, GIRLFRIENDS, BOYFRIENDS, ENEMIES, FRIENDS, CLASSMATES, WORKMATES, ANYONE AND EVERYONE TO GO AND WATCH PRECIOUS. PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE. IT WILL CHANGE YO LIVES. Thank u
GO GABS. Shaking and crying because MOMO is going to be an ACADEMY AWARD NOMINEE. This is huge; shaking and crying…and slightly tipsy.
Actually, Up in the Air is the first and major lock, I’d say.
“Lock means never having to say your sorry”
Ryan, that’s brilliant.
ah, I thought we meant first by calendar release date…
(and, I dunno, maybe as in, first that anybody besides bloggers has seen ?)
Precious has certainly come a long way. I remember when it seemed like Mo’Nique was a long shot at best. We’ve been talking about this film since before the Slumdog won…so it’s very weird that it’s finally being released and being touted as a potential Best Picture winner.
Wow
You are right, Jilda. Anticipation builds. What felt like a token nomination for Mo’Nique is turning into one of the frontrunners. I am most happy that Gaby Sidibe is also getting raves. I would love to see her in the actress race.
Yeah, dela
It seems that even though people have been anticpating Precious and have been predicting it for BP since about June, Gabby Sidibe wasn’t seen as anything more than a long shot until early October. I find that odd because she is the reason we stick with the film and continue to watch the foul things Mo’Nique does to this girl. She’s the heart of the story and the film would have fell apart without her.
Locked and ready to go in best picture, best actress in a leading and in a supporting role (maybe a double nom here), best director, best editing, best adapted screenplay and maybe even best original song.
Can’t wait to finally see the film soon so I can actually make up my own mind about this film instead of reading about all the raves (or non-raves).
I’m hoping for the best. Then again do you ever go into watching a film and hope for the worst?
I decided to see how this stacked up so far critically. So out of only the released films that appear to be decent contenders in some category this year, I found the ones that were at least 87 (arguably a B+…at least in school it is) on RT via my formula of (% + CC % + avg plus ten + CC avg plus ten)/4. Using % alone is too simple, while using avg rating disregards the purpose of RT in the first place. And the 5% boost on RT democratically extends equally to all films (i.e. +10 & +10 divided by 4 = +5) and matters because of the visible upper bound of RT’s avg ratings. So:
Current RT, BFCA, MC scores, in order of highest to lowest avg
Up 95.5, 100, 88
Hurt 95.25, 93, 94
An Education 91, 95, 85
Anvil 92.5, 95, 82
Star Trek 91.75, 93, 83
Food Inc 92.5, 92, 80
Ponyo 87.25, 88, 86
Cove 92, 85, 82
Damned 88.25, 87, 82
Bright Star 87.5, 77, 81
+Precious 86.5, 76, 89
i know i keep on quotin roger ebert but this is exactly how i feel about mariah carey when i first didnt recognize her in that clip (of precious) she was so unbelievably effective and convincin:
‘Sidibe is heartbreaking as Precious, that poor girl. Three other actresses perform so powerfully in the film that academy voters will be hard-pressed to choose among them. Audiences may be hard-pressed to recognize them. The comedian Mo’Nique plays Mary, Precious’ chain-smoking couch potato of a mother, treating her daughter like a domestic servant and turning a blind eye on years of abuse. Paula Patton is Ms. Rain, Precious’ teacher, who is able to see through the girl’s sullen withdrawal and her vulgarities, and wonder what pain it may be masking. Mariah Carey is Ms. Weiss, a social worker.
This casting looks almost cynical on paper, as if reflecting old Hollywood days when stars were slipped into “character roles” with a wink. But Lee Daniels, the director, didn’t cast them for their names, and actually doesn’t use any of their star qualities. He requires them to act. Somehow he was able to see beneath the surface and trust that they had within the emotional resources to play these women, and he was right. Daniels began his career by producing “Monster’s Ball,” in which Halle Berry shed her glamour and found such depths that she won an Oscar. Daniels must have an instinct for performances waiting to flower.’
awardsdaily.com, push for Mariah Carey as Best Supporting Actress
‘the character’ broke my attention away in just that one quick scene, i swear
it was so powerfully effective
i was like, ‘whoa, who was this marisa-tomei-accented-like counselor?’
i honestly fuckin didnt recognize it was none other than MARIAH CAREY
redeem her from GLITTER with PRECIOUS
I would not call Slumdog overrated, but, rather, over-honored.
Good clarification, Bob Burns.
Looks like Precious is one of the year’s “It” films.
“Precious” chances depend on it´s box office. I supüpoise this is not the kind of movie that captures the hearts of the Critics Circle Groups.
But if the buzz continues, Globe and Academy nominations are possible.
But a lock? “An Education” and “Up in the Air” are locks, the rest is covered in the mist of agitated speculations.
Besides that, does anyone agree that it kind of kills your anticipation if you read all those metacritic-reviews before seeing a film?
“Precious” chances depend on it´s box office. I suppose this is not the kind of movie that captures the hearts of the Critics Circle Groups.
But if the buzz continues, Globe and Academy nominations are possible.
But a lock? “An Education” and “Up in the Air” are locks, the rest is covered in the mist of agitated speculations.
Besides that, does anyone agree that it kind of kills your anticipation if you read all those metacritic-reviews before seeing a film?
I did not mean to post the entirety of that Armond White review, but I found it an amusing corrective to the assumption that Precious is loved across the board.
Hunter, hardly any film is loved across the board. I do not think anyone is assuming that.
“But a lock? “An Education” and “Up in the Air” are locks, the rest is covered in the mist of agitated speculations.”
I…disagree. I actually think there are no locks. But if one chooses to believe certain movies are locks, I would say Hurt Locker>An Education. I would say Precious>An Education too, except that I’m pretty sure this is the one that the Baftas/British in general will do everything they can to muscle onto the nominee list. Out of other movies that have been seen by people…Bright/Single are borderline right now. Up may get the shaft for being animated, and A Serious Man has the no-star, comedy, Coens only get recognized for movies that are across-the-board loved factors against it.
“Besides that, does anyone agree that it kind of kills your anticipation if you read all those metacritic-reviews before seeing a film?”
Not even a little bit. Their glow convinced me to see Bright Star opening weekend in a theatre, which was the first time I paid to see a movie since Harry Potter & OotP 2 years ago.
I deleted the Armond White review, Hunter – quite aware of it – it is idiotic, in my opinion. But thanks anyway.
I still think this is will be the most overrated film of the year, just like Slumdog. Ugh.
J, I wouldn´t underestimate the status of “An Education”, cause it looks much more academy-friendly than “Hurt Locker” or “Precious”, I guess.
And regarding the other topic: Of course I do check the metacritic-score to get a feeling about the critical consensus, but to read all this stuff BEFORE seeing the movie by myself and get my own impression would make me prejudice – so I usually avoid getting too much information.
What do you mean by “idiotic” Sasha? If it’s that he shouldn’t have pasted the review here, fine. If you just don’t like Armond’s review because it runs contrary to the “Precious”-is-great narrative, then, well…sigh. You know, I’m a really big fan of this site and I haven’t seen “Precious,” which may be great, but when you have one non-white critic after another calling out the film for its salient representation of black life, I take notice. When the best review for this film comes from a white man born into privilege who claims that the film’s depiction of ghetto life is authentic, and the worst comes from a man born into the ghettos of Detroit, I take notice. Armond’s review has me worried about what “Precious” being essentially being crack for white people, but what worries me more is this refusal by whites to simply confront/acknowledge/whateva the idea that there is a gross, condescending manner in which they react and embrace films about non-white experience. It’s like they’re watching porn, but I gotta admit that I took that last idea from Dana Stevens. I don’t like a lot of the films Armond champions in lieu of the ones he’s really reviewing, but I understand what he’s getting at, because as a woman of color I’ve grappled with my sense of identity for a lifetime, like him, and almost never see my life, or the life of my men, reflected back at me in films like “Precious”…but sometimes do in films like “Mr. 3000″….hell, even some Tyler Perry movies.
I still think the nomination depends in BO power fot this one.
Sorry but I loved Slumdog over Precious. I had “feelings” when I left Slumdog, but I didn’t when I left Precious. I kept thinking — there goes another welfare mom who’s going to struggle to raise her kids, be off and on assistance, and probably turn into an abusive mom herself when the stress hits….
Sorry folks, but I see it all the time in Urban communities….I see young women struggle (you have no idea) to raise 2-3 kids, no support, little education, they’re depressed, and they’re on and off welfare…
They are angry, hostile, and they have “dissassociative” behavior too, but they don’t dream about having a light-skinned boyfriend, but how the hell they can escape their violent poverty ridden neighborhood, and they turn to “illegal” activity; if they’re trying to make it on their own. Illegal meaning, boosting in retail shops, trading stuff….
Not saying this is across the board, but when you grow up in impoverished ghetto surroundings and you find yourself “stuck” that’s what you face and they start surviving the best they know how.
The movie just didn’t move me, sorry. The acting moved me, yes, but I wanted something to really tear my heart out and it didn’t.
It was a shrug…”so what?” and “I’m sorry for her, but”….she had a downs syndrome child — strike #1, she had an abusive background – strike #2; she had a second child – strike #3; she was illiterate trying to catch up to her grade level – strike 4; she lived in Harlem-strike 5….need I go on.
I understand that Daniels’ purpose was for us to look at these young girls “differently” but I ask how many of you will go out tomorrow and see something different when you look at them?
It was well acted. Give it five stars for that, in fact the female actresses carried the story. But when Precious got HIV, I threw my hands up….like, what else is going to happen to her!???
Whereas in Slumdog, there was truly hope and love at the end.
And I rejoiced in the end.
Sally – ‘Precious’ is nothing like ‘Slumdog’ at all. ‘Slumdog’ was made to be an audience pleasing film, ‘Precious’ is not.
I think the only comparisons are coming because both were possible ’straight to DVD’ movies that found audience support and both won the Toronto audience award and now may go on to even greater things.
nancy – I do not think ‘Precious’ is supposed to represent people en mass. Perhaps you will change your mind when you see the film.
The movie would not exist had Sapphire not taught girls like ‘Precious’ in Harlem, so for some it will be a moving representation based on a similar past/present.
The fact that the director, the novel writer and Mo’Nique all came from a similar class and/or background to the one depicted in ‘Precious’ leads to some authenticity. Will people like how it is represented (especially Mo’Nique’s Mary)? No, but these people also need to realise that there are people like Mary out there, in all races, in all sizes and in all classes.
I never thought “All poor black people are like this” while watching the film, but of course some people will. I also feel the film transcends race. But for some people, it is all they can see.
After watching ‘The Silence of the Lambs’ how many of you thought all gay men were size 14 women skinning, poodle owning serial killers?
Hunter
Considering your gross distaste for fat women I’m sure Armand White’s review of Precious made your day. By the way who quotes Armand White? only the desperate in my opinion. He is well known as a self-hating pseudo-intellectual and someone who contradicts for the sake of contradicting. I stopped reading that piece of crap when he used his review as an opportunity to take cheap shots at Oprah and Tyler Perry. Sasha was smart enough to delete that rambling mess of a review.
“Whereas in Slumdog, there was truly hope and love at the end.
And I rejoiced in the end” – Sally in Chicago
you are kidding me right? well, you know what? some people’s lives don’t end with hope so why should Daniels shove hope into such a realist piece for the sake of pleasing happy go lucky audience like yourself? and did you seriously say that Slumdog millionaire evoked more “feelings” in you than Precious did? now that’s a kicker. Your persistent “numbness” to Precious might stem from a dark place but I won’t go there, not on awardsdaily, not on the internet.
Is anyone noticing a trend with the new reviews. Even the bad reviews give props to the performances, and is it me or is Sidibe getting some bloody explosive raves, even over Mo’Nique.
Why are we even comparing Precious to a Bollywood extravaganza like SLumdog. As Michael Parsons said their only similarity is the fact that “both were possible ’straight to DVD’ movies that found audience support and both won the Toronto audience award and now may go on to even greater things.” Apart from that, there is nothing else to compare.
I am honestly getting sick of people trying to make Precious into a “black film for a black audience”. Sally in Chicago even said in one of her posts that AMPAS will show no love to Precious because black people (the target audience) will not like the movie. She even went on to say that black people won’t like Precious because the movie is exposing the secrets of the black community. One of the most ignorant things I have read since Hunter’s comment about fat women making him want to hurl.
If anything Precious appeals to a wide range of races and people. A lot of people know a thing or two about child abuse, a lot of people know a thing or two about being raised by an abusive mother and a lot of people have either heard about or have encountered people like Mary and Precious in their lives. Some people like Michael Parsons have more understanding of this movie than I do and he’s not black.
Is it really true that the reality of Precious is bringing out the worst in people. People are confronting their own prejudices and lashing out in the oddest ways. Just for that, I say congrats to Daniels and his team of wonderful artists and actors. The History books will definitely remember this movie and the reaction it evoked from the masses. Kudos again.
Well, a bunch of Jewish AMPAS voters certainly don’t care what the black audience thinks. lol. Even though I saw the film with a prediminately black audience and they cheered at the end. If Precious keeps sparking up these debates, it could become the big contender to win simply because of awareness and old school controversy. Something the race hasn’t had in awhile.
Precious is the first film with a predominately black cast to receive this much mainstream media coverage in years. Including Dremagirls. It’’s seems to be eeverywhere now
Jilda
I partially agree with some of what you have said but if Precious is a big contender, it is because Precious is superior filmmaking. To credit “old school controversy” for her formidable buzz is a disservice to the sweat and success of Daniels and his cast.
I don’t mean it in that way. I just mean it increases awareness which pushes people to see the film and judge it on it’s own terms. Basically, Precious is getting very mainstream coverage and it seems like it’s the first predominately black cast film to do that in years. And I’m including Dreamgirls.
The film is produced by Oprah. Of course it’s going to hyped to nth degree. And she will do everything in her power to get the Best Picture win. It’s going to be interesting to see how it plays out.
Afrika I don’t think Precious is “superior” filmmaking….what’s “superior”??? To me it’s nothing more than a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie…However, as stated above, the actresses are what pull that movie together. Daniels was right in choosing the actresses, they all excel.
It will be interesting to see how the general “black” audience accepts it. Has anyone visited imdb’s boards?
The movie just sounds more Book of Job-ish than the explicit take on it A Serious Man.
Sally in Chicago
I am glad to see that imdb is the barometer you are using to determine black people’s reaction towards Precious. I have said enough on this topic so I won’t repeat myself. I will repeat this though, your persistent “numbness” towards Precious seems to stem from a much darker place but I won’t go there, not on awards daily. Good-bye
Afrika, what do you have against the blacks who use IMDB?
85% of all posts about a movie on IMDB tend to be negative, regardless of the supposed skin color of the IMDB posters. Every damned movie on that site that has gotten good reviews or is considered a classic is “overrated.”
Afrika, sorry I used the word numb. I’ve been watching the interviews by Daniels, Paula, et al and they’re doing a better job of explaining the movie than I found watching it. I’m not saying it’s a BAD movie, it’s just not a GREAT movie. Is it Oscar worthy? No, but the actresses need to get awards. I was also put-out by the lack of a music score. That’s what would have helped in my opinion….what do others think? I can’t understand why there wasn’t a score.
Now about the subject (not incest or abuse, but about accepting yourself, as Paula stated)….but it’s being sold as an incest and abuse story….and that’s what people are going to walk away with….I would have loved if that last scene wasn’t her walking out of the welfare office with the two kids strapped to her hips….
What’s more distressing to me is the lack of “serious” all-black cast movies that are being produced. At one time we could depend on Singleton or Spike to have something in the mix, but this year there are only two (Tyler Perry’s and Precious).
Doesn’t that strike anyone as odd?
Again, this film will be ignored. It’s nothing special and a typical Lifetime movie. I don’t see many Academy members identifying with this, and the characters are a big turn off.
WOW. Haven’t watched Lifetime in ages. Has it changed that much?
Sasha, can you include a discussion thread about the weekend boxo, like MCN?
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