A film which has slumped somewhat in award-season hype since earning stellar reviews at this year’s Sundance Film Festival is Lee Daniel’s “Precious: Based on the Novel by Sapphire,” formerly known as “Push.”
MTV has some new shots from the film which centers on an overweight and illiterate African-American teen (Gabourey Sidibe) who is pregnant with her second child, but invited to enroll in an alternative school in hopes that her life can head in a new direction. However, she has to deal with her ridiculing peers in 1980s Harlem, plus a super-abusive mother who is played by comedian Mo’Nique. Paula Patton, Mariah Carey and Lenny Kravitz co-star.
Sidibe was hyped early on for her role as the overweight teen but has since seen the likes of Carey Mulligan and Meryl Streep overtake her in the race. Mo’Nique also sparked interest in her performance as the teen’s mother and has been eyed as a potential player in the Supporting Actress category.
The film will serve an interesting case study though. With Tyler Perry and Oprah on board as the film’s pimps partner, you can bet ‘Precious’ will be a box-office hit. Winfrey will no doubt promote the film like wildfire on her show and, if her book club can make a book top the New York Best Sellers List 51 years after it’s first print, one can only imagine what the Oprah seal of approval can do for ‘Precious.’
Her box office influence has already been seen in Perry who has proven to be box office gold regardless of critical reception. Perry has amassed just under $320 million for his six films of which the highest rating on RottenTomatoes is his 2008 effort “The Family That Preys” with an abysmal 51%. Now with a critical darling under the monikers of Oprah and Perry, the film will surely do good business when it sees a general release and will potentially reignite award-season interest for Sidibe and Mo’Nique.
And if that wasn’t enough, the film also has the music angle covered with co-star Mariah Carey set to record a song for the film; fellow co-star Lenny Kravitz will probably contribute his talents somehow; as well as Patton’s husband, Robin Thicke who wrote and sang the film’s theme song.
‘Precious’ will be playing at the Toronto International Film Festival as well as the New York Film Festival before it’s November 6th release.