Review by Gary Tooze

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Description: Precious Jones, an inner-city high school girl, is illiterate, overweight, and pregnant…again. Naïve and abused, Precious responds to a glimmer of hope when a door is opened by an alternative-school teacher. She is faced with the choice to follow opportunity and test her own boundaries. Prepare for shock, revelation and celebration.

Set in Harlem in 1987, it is the story of Claireece "Precious" Jones, a sixteen-year-old African-American girl born into a life no one would want. She's pregnant for the second time by her absent father; at home, she must wait hand and foot on her mother, a poisonously angry woman who abuses her emotionally and physically. School is a place of chaos, and Precious has reached the ninth grade with good marks and an awful secret: she can neither read nor write. Beneath her impassive expression is a watchful, curious young woman with an inchoate but unshakeable sense that other possibilities exist for her. Threatened with expulsion, Precious is offered the chance to transfer to an alternative school, Each One/Teach One. Precious doesn't know the meaning of "alternative," but her instincts tell her this is the chance she has been waiting for. In the literacy workshop taught by the patient yet firm Ms. Rain, Precious begins a journey that will lead her from darkness, pain and powerlessness to light, love and self-determination.

 

 

The Film:

Excerpt from Roger Ebert at the Chicago Sun-Times located HERE

Image :    NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.
 

Like all films, the image is at the mercy of the limitations inwhich it was shot and Precious shows grit and occasional poor lighting that adds to its vérité effect. Colors display brilliance beyond the capabilities of SD and there is some notable depth but overall the visuals presentation is a more modest one. This is dual-layered with a strong bitrate suggesting that the rendition is a faithful one. Daylight scenes are more impressive but nothing is overly dark. This uncompromised Blu-ray has a nice realistic intent with decent support for the 'fantasy' sequences. The 'Indie' feel can only benefit the film's narrative and I have no reason to suggest it is not accurate to its source. It is exceptionally clean and unfettered with no extravagant effects in the film to compromise the look or pacing. This is most probably the best it will ever look for your home theater viewing.

CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 5.1 DTS-HD Master audio track at 3198 kbps is more than capable of handling all the film has to offer in terms of separations and range. It's not a demonstratively mixed work with limited action with the film not relying heavily on effects of any kind. There is sparingly utilized original music by Mario Grigorov and some other songs like Just a Closer Walk with Thee by Mahalia Jackson - that are memorable. It all sounds responsively crisp. There are optional English and Spanish subtitles and my Momitsu has identified it as being a region 'A'-locked Blu-ray.

Supplements are extensive including a fine director's commentary from Lee Daniels. There are about 45-minutes of featurettes dealing with production, casting, a deleted scene and Gabourey Sidibe's audition. A lot of information is covered with input from author Sapphire, Oprah and other producers, the cast including Mariah, more from director Daniels and many others involved. There is a fine line to skate for this marketing-wise with so much exposure initially especially with some larger names attached to the project. Luckily, these don't effect the final presentation but the extras do touch on those perceptions. These are strong extras for those willing to indulge.

 

 

BOTTOM LINE:
We are initially shown that there is not a lot that is particularly precious about the character 'Precious' - excepting she, like you and I, is a human being. To say she has received the short-end-of-the-stick in life is the world's greatest understatement. Perhaps her most endearing quality is that despite the horrors that have been thrown at her (incest, rape, physical and emotional abuse, fatal disease etc.) - she has not totally surrendered. A miracle indeed. The film is not to everyone's tastes - it is bold, unsentimental and unforgiving in it's bleak portrayal. It left me drained - even a day later. Performances are exceptional with special note to Mariah Carey shedding her Diva skin - adding another layer to her talents and whetting our appetites for more.

 

The Blu-ray? It seems to do a perfect job for the powerful film presentation with plenty of supplemental material to peruse after your viewing. This may be a hard film for some to sit through, but I can't deny it's impact. To those willing to venture there - this Blu-ray is absolutely recommended!    

Gary Tooze

March 3rd, 2010