Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

Monster's Ball producer Lee Daniels follows up his 2005 directorial debut, Shadowboxer, with this adaptation of author Sapphire's best-selling novel about an overweight, illiterate African-American teen from Harlem who discovers an alternate path in life after she begins attending a new school. Clareece "Precious" Jones is only a teenager, yet she's about to give birth to her second child. Unable to read or write, Clareece shows little prospect for the future until discovering that she has been accepted into an alternative school. There, with a little help from a sympathetic teacher (Paula Patton) and a kindly nurse (Lenny Kravitiz), the young girl receives something that most teens never get -- a chance to start over. Mo'nique co-stars in an inspirational drama featuring the debut performance of screen newcomer Gabourey "Gabbie" Sidibe. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

DVD FEATURES:

• Number of Discs: 1
• Screen: Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 (Theatre Wide Screen)
• Audio: Dolby Digital Stereo
• Features:
  • Audio commentary with director Lee Daniels
  • "From Push to Precious" featurette
  • "A Precious Ensemble" featurette
  • "Oprah and Tyler: Project of Passion" featurette
  • A conversation with author Sapphire and director Lee Daniels
  • Deleted scene: "The Incest Survivor Meeting"
  • Audition: Gabourey Sidibe
  • Reflections on Precious

AWARDS

• Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

•     Won Best Adapted Screenplay - 2009 (Geoffrey Fletcher)
•     Won Best Supporting Actress - 2009 (Mo'Nique)
•     Nominated Best Actress - 2009 (Gabourey Sidibe)
•     Nominated Best Director - 2009 (Lee Daniels)
•     Nominated Best Editing - 2009 (Joe Klotz)
•     Nominated Best Picture - 2009 (Lee Daniels, Sarah Siegel-Magness, Gary Magness)

• Boston Society of Film Critics

•     Won Best Supporting Actress - 2009 (Mo'Nique)

• British Academy of Film and Television Arts

•     Won Best Supporting Actress - 2009 (Mo'Nique)
•     Nominated Best Actress - 2009 (Gabourey Sidibe)
•     Nominated Best Adapted Screenplay - 2009 (Geoffrey Fletcher)
•     Nominated Best Picture - 2009

• Cannes Film Festival

•     Film Presented - 2009

• Chicago Film Critics Association

•     Won Best Supporting Actress - 2009 (Mo'Nique)

• Chicago International Film Festival

•     Film Presented - 2009

• Detroit Film Critics Society

•     Won Best Breakthrough Performance - 2009 (Gabourey Sidibe)
•     Won Best Supporting Actress - 2009 (Mo'Nique)

• Directors Guild of America

•     Nominated Best Director - 2009 (Lee Daniels)

• Florida Film Critics

•     Won Best Actress - 2009 (Gabourey Sidibe)
•     Won Best Supporting Actress - 2009 (Mo'Nique)
•     Won Breakout Artist of the Year - 2009 (Gabourey Sidibe)

• Hollywood Foreign Press Association

•     Won Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Pic - 2009 (Mo'Nique)
•     Nominated Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama - 2009 (Gabourey Sidibe)
•     Nominated Best Picture - Drama - 2009

• Independent Spirit Awards

•     Won Best Director - 2009 (Lee Daniels)
•     Won Best Feature - 2009
•     Won Best Female Lead - 2009 (Gabourey Sidibe)
•     Won Best First Screenplay - 2009 (Geoffrey Fletcher)
•     Won Best Supporting Female - 2009 (Mo'Nique)

• London Film Festival

•     Film Presented - 2009

• National Board of Review

•     Won Breakthrough Performance by an Actress - 2009 (Gabourey Sidibe)

• National Society of Film Critics

•     Won Best Supporting Actress - 2009 (Mo'Nique)

• New York Film Critics Circle

•     Won Best Supporting Actress - 2009 (Mo'Nique)

• New York Film Festival

•     Film Presented - 2009

• Online Film Critics Association

•     Won Best Supporting Actress - 2009 (Mo'Nique)

• Producers Guild of America

•     Nominated Producer of the Year - 2009 (Lee Daniels, Sarah Siegel-Magness, Gary Magness)

• San Sebastián International Film Festival

•     Film Presented - 2009

• Screen Actors Guild

•     Won Best Supporting Actress - 2009 (Mo'Nique)
•     Nominated Best Actress - 2009 (Gabourey Sidibe)
•     Nominated Best Ensemble - 2009

• Sundance Film Festival

•     Won Audience Award - 2009
•     Won Grand Jury Prize - 2009

• Toronto International Film Festival

•     Film Presented - 2009

• Washington D.C. Film Critics Association

•     Won Best Breakthrough Performance - 2009 (Gabourey Sidibe)
•     Won Best Supporting Actress - 2009 (Mo'Nique)

• Writers Guild of America

•     Nominated Best Adapted Screenplay - 2009 (Geoffrey Fletcher)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Cast:

  
       Gabourey Sidibe - Clareece "Precious" Jones
       Lenny Kravitz - Nurse John
       Paula Patton - Ms. Rain
       Mo'Nique - Mary
       Mariah Carey - Mrs. Weiss
       Sherri Shepherd - Cornrows
       Stephanie Andujar - Rita
       Chyna Layne - Rhonda
       Amina Robinson - Jermaine
       Xosha Roquemore - Joann
       Angelic Zambrana - Consuelo
       Aunt Dot - Tootsie
       Nealla Gordon - Mrs. Lichenstein
       Grace Hightower - Social Worker
       Barret Mindell - Tom Cruise
       Kimberly Russell - Katherine
       Bill Sage - Mr. Wicher
       Susan Taylor - Fairy Godmother
       Kendall Toombs - Abdul (newborn)
       Alexander Toombs - Abdul (newborn)
       Cory Davis - Abdul (9 months)
       Rochelle McNaughton - AIDS Clerk
       Roy Anthony Tarell Harvey - Boy #1
       Abigail Savage - Bunny
       Rodney "Bear" Jackson - Carl
       Sapphire - Daycare Woman
       Linda Watson - Female Clerk
       Emani Reid - Girl #1
       Dashawn Robinson - Girl #2
       Ashley Livingston - Girl With Jermaine
       Maurizio Arseni - Italian Language Instructor
       Mugga - KFC Cashier
       Deborah Lohse - Lady #1
       Joye Davoren - Lady #2
       Chazz Menendez - Man #1
       Roy T. Anderson - Man #2
       Dewanda Wise - Miriam
       Quishay Peanan - Mongo
       Vivien Eng - Nurse
       Silje Vallevik - Pretty Blond Girl
       Matt Bralow - Reggie
       Shayla Stewart - Ruby
       Erica Faye Watson - Sheila
       Ephraim Benton - Skinny Boy #1
       Shortee Redd - Skinny Boy #2
       Timothy Allen - Skinny Boy #3
       Kola Ogundrian - Skinny Man
       Christopher Joseph - Unruly Boy #1
       Victor Woodley - Unruly Boy #2

• Director:

  Lee Daniels

• Producer:

  Lee Daniels, Gary Magness, Sarah Siegel-Magness

• Book Author:

  Sapphire

• Screenwriter:

  Geoffrey Fletcher

• Cinematographer:

  Andrew Dunn

• Composer (Music Score):

  Mario Grigorov

• Musical Direction/Supervision:

  Lynn Fainchtein

• Editor:

  Joe Klotz

• Production Designer:

  Roshelle Berliner

• Art Director:

  Matteo DeCosmo

• Co-producer:

  Mark G. Mathis

• Associate Producer:

  Asger Hussain

• Executive Producer:

  Oprah Winfrey, Lisa Cortes, Tyler Perry, Tom Heller

• Costume Designer:

  Marina Draghici

• Set Decorator:

  Paul Weathered, Kelley Burney

• Sound/Sound Designer:

  Ken Ishii

• First Assistant Director:

  Chip Signore

• Casting:

  Billy Hopkins, Jessica Kelly

• Visual Effects Supervisor:

  Henrik R. Fett

• Co-Executive Producer:

  Simone Sheffield

• Supervising Sound Editor:

  Robert Hein

• Stunts Coordinator:

  Gene Harris, Roy Farfel

• Second Assistant Director:

  Tracey Hinds

• Visual Effects:

  Inc. Look Effects

• Visual Effects Supervisor:

  Dan Schrecker

• Properties Master:

  Sabrina Wright

• Visual Effects Producer:

  Colleen Bachman

• Makeup Supervisor:

  Toy R. Van Lierop

• Unit Production Manager:

  Tony Hernandez

• Key Make-up:

  Tomasina Smith, Tobe West

REVIEW:

• For a film that touches on so many challenging and controversial topics -- including sexual and mental/emotional abuse, teen pregnancy, HIV, and illiteracy -- Precious is told with such energy, style, and conviction that it's impossible not to be awed by the artistry of the film even when we're shrinking away from the devastation taking place on the screen. Even when things get so grim that all hope seems lost, director Lee Daniels keeps us emotionally involved by merging documentary-style filmmaking with urban surrealism in a way that's genuinely captivating and original. While some may argue that Daniels' stylistic flourishes have no place in a story like Precious, it's precisely his bold artistic choices that set the film apart from any number of inner-city underdog stories, and take us into the mind of a young woman whose devastating circumstances are preventing her from reaching her true potential.
  
  Clareece "Precious" Jones (Gabourey "Gabby" Sidibe) doesn't have an easy life; poor, illiterate, and the victim of severe sexual and emotional abuse, she's just gotten pregnant by her father a second time. She is about to be kicked out of school when her principal recommends that she seek out an alternative form of education. Upon enrolling in the "Each One Teach One" program, Precious encounters benevolent teacher Ms. Rain (Paula Patton). Unlike Precious' distracted teachers back at public school, Ms. Rain recognizes that the emotionally fragile young student isn't defined by her shortcomings, and has an unusual gift for writing. But every time Precious experiences any form of trauma, she mentally withdraws to a place where all of her wildest dreams come true. After giving birth to her second child, Precious strives to make a break from her abusive mother, Mary (Mo'Nique), and become a responsible parent. With a little help from Ms. Rain and her classmates, she might find the strength to do just that, and break the cycle of abuse that began when her father started molesting her at the tender age of three.
  
  Though Daniels' unique portrayal of Precious' sporadic flights of fancy do succeed in elevating the proceedings to something far more profound than your typical inspirational drama, Precious really is an actor's film, and with it the director has established himself as a filmmaker who knows how to coax a memorable performance from his players. In her first starring role, young Sidibe displays a believable blend of fear and self-doubt that perfectly contrasts the cornered confidence just beneath the surface. She may not have the advantage of a good education, but her insight into her own situation is unusually perceptive and acutely observant. Everything about the character of Precious speaks to her condition -- from her manner of speaking to her body language -- and Sidibe hits every note wonderfully.
  
  As effective as Sidibe is at embodying her deeply troubled character, however, it's the villain who makes or breaks the protagonist's struggle, and as Precious' monster of a mother, popular comic Mo'Nique proves that making us laugh isn't the only thing she does well. Her portrayal of the mother who has allowed her daughter to be abused -- and then condemned her for being a victim -- is harrowing and horrifying, and the monologue in which she attempts to come clean is simply shattering in the way it reveals the inner workings of a damaged mind. Mariah Carey and Lenny Kravitz also get kudos for shedding their glamorous public personas to portray a concerned social worker and a compassionate male nurse, respectively, though it's ultimately Mo'Nique who steals the show as the kind of mother you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy. She's the dark crowning jewel of a film that's at once horrifying, challenging, and bleakly beautiful. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi