Comments on: Review: Precious (2009) ** 1/2

By: Craig Kennedy

Craig Kennedy — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 07:37:56 +0000

lol. There’s no harm in reminding everyone of a beloved Oscar winner.

What I was getting at Sartre is that SM exposes us to the Slums of India, but never asks us to do anything about them and in fact sort of lets us off the hook in the end with a happy ending and a song and dance number.

There’s no real lesson learned beyond a basic reminder that life is hard elsewhere. It’s local color.

Perhaps my problem is not so much with the film as it is with the typical facile Westerner’s response to it. Present company excepted, naturally.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 21:18:44 +0000

Well said, sartre, and I know you’ve gone to bat for that movie extensively.

Saying it’s similar to Precious is I think a little unfair. Or at least it seems like those who are making the comparison (sorry Alison and WJ, not trying to call you out) may not have seen Precious yet. So I feel like it’s more a comparison that people are making between the popular reaction of the films, more so than between the films themselves, if that makes sense.

Sorry, didn’t mean to turn this into yet another SM thread.

By: sartre

sartre — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:45:20 +0000

I never got the sense in SM that the poverty and all its grim realities was simply a backdrop for entertainment. The first part of the film worked best for me and I was left with no doubt about the dire socioeconomic circumstances of the slums. But within such realities people, in particular children, continue to find adventure and excitement. The two are not mutually exclusive and the happier preoccupations of their lives doesn’t excuse the unacceptability of their hardships.

By: Craig Kennedy

Craig Kennedy — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 18:55:41 +0000

I liked SM then had a backlash to it when the hype really started mounting. It wasn’t anything like my favorite movie of the year, but I liked it a lot.

Precious. Not so much, though I kind of feel I’m being a little hard on it…in part because of the critical drooling it’s been getting.

“I think it oversteps the bounds of good taste and cultural common sense in abusing the audience into submission and, worse still, possibly furthering the stereotypes that have created the very problem it depicts.” Exactly

SM was a little dicey because I can’t help but feel it was using a very real problem as a backdrop for entertainment and it too easily let the audience off the hook, if that makes any sense. But at the same time, it wasn’t intended to be a socially conscious message movie.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 18:43:43 +0000

As you know I’m in a similar way of thinking about Precious, but unlike others, for whatever reason I don’t see it as similar to Slumdog (which you also know that I loved). For one thing it’s not nearly as light-hearted or as beautiful to watch, but on a deeper level I think it presents a character with a lot more pluck and positivity, and in general portrays a more well-balanced and even more respectful image of India. The ending is not necessarily any more “real” or “happy” than that of Precious, but then I also see Slumdog as much more of a fable or fairy tale in the first place. Precious is meant to be rooted in reality and maybe a kind of social indictment of sorts, but I think it oversteps the bounds of good taste and cultural common sense in abusing the audience into submission and, worse still, possibly furthering the stereotypes that have created the very problem it depicts.

I don’t know, that’s a kind of scattered defense of SM in this context, but I’m trying to explore why I loved it so much more than Precious.

By: Craig Kennedy

Craig Kennedy — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 04:39:06 +0000

To Precious’ credit, it doesn’t stoop to the same level as The Blind Side where privileged white people save the day.

I don’t want to say too much about the ending for those who haven’t seen it, but it’s debatable how “Happy” it is. Still it felt artificial somehow.

I was even more annoyed when I found out this wasn’t a true story. As I was watching it I was prepared to forgive some of its grosser exaggerations because I thought they were rooted in truth rather than in manipulation.

By: W.J.

W.J. — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 03:17:41 +0000

I get that disgusting Slumdog Millionaire/Oliver Twist vibe coming off this film, even though it’s been recommended by a few friends who I know to have good taste. But I don’t think I have the patience to sit through another of those manipulative stories that give you a false uplift, give you that happy ending when you know most real people in that situation would still be suffering. Call it the Dickens complex–rescued from on high by the earnest (rich) white folks.

By: Craig Kennedy

Craig Kennedy — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:02:04 +0000

I’m surprised by the general agreement here so far since everyone seems to love Precious. I don’t get it.

In some cases, I think people are afraid to hate it. Whether it’s because of the calcified critical consensus out of Sundance or fear of charges of racism, I don’t know, but even Jeff Wells who seems bound and determined to take the film down won’t outright admit he hated it.

I’ve been hearing more and more about S&D, Ryan. Thanks for the tip.

By: Sam Juliano

Sam Juliano — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 12:32:29 +0000

Yep, I completely agree Craig. The more I think of this film, the lower it gets in my estimation. It’s shameless.

By: Ryan Adams

Ryan Adams — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 11:46:47 +0000

“…if you’re not susceptible to heavy-handed emotional manipulation and prefer your underdog stories to be delivered with grace, subtlety and depth, look elsewhere.”

I’d suggest: Samson and Delilah.

By: Pierre de Plume

Pierre de Plume — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 05:26:59 +0000

I share your lack of regard for this thing, Craig. Sidibe made me want to like the film, but that’s not enough. Mind you, there are things I liked about it, but they didn’t add up to enough. I could barely sit still in my seat waiting for it to end.

By: sartre

sartre — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 03:36:47 +0000

This review expresses every anticipatory fear I had about the film. Your film eviscerations are as well written as the paens.

By: Alison Flynn

Alison Flynn — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 01:54:07 +0000

If you want to have your nose rubbed in the problems of the inner city and get your cry on before leaving the theater feeling that all is right with the world even as you are modestly chastened for your middle class comfort, Precious is just the film for you.

Ooh. And to be honest, this was exactly my reaction to Slumdog Millionaire.

I’ve heard great things about Gabourey Sidibe though. And she’s already filming like 2 or 3 other films.