Precious (Based On The Novel "Push" By Sapphire)

Set in Harlem in 1987, this is the story of Claireece Precious Jones (Sidibe), 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 (Mo'Nique), 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 unshakable 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. Based on the book "Push," a novel by Sapphire. (Gary Reber)

Special features include commentary with Director Lee Daniels; three featurettes: From Push To Precious (HD 15:22), A Precious Ensemble (HD 18:32), and Oprah And Tyler: A Project Of Passion (HD 09:31); a conversation with Author Sapphire and Director Daniels (HD 08:27); Audition: Gabourey Sidibe (HD 02:33); a deleted scene (HD 01:45); Reflections On Precious by Director Daniels, Actress Sidibe, and Paula Patton (HD 0:45); the theatrical trailer; and up-front previews.

The 1.85:1 1080p AVC picture appears to be filtered slightly, yet exhibits a natural appearance, with rich and vibrant colors and warm hues. The color palette is fully saturated and colors often pop. At times, though, the saturation is extreme and colors appear unnatural. Contrast can be well balanced, with deep, solid blacks and revealing shadow delineation, but at times pushed to extremes in which the imagery looks plugged up. Resolution is pleasing, with sharp imagery and especially finely detailed close-ups of facial features and object textures. The cinematography is terrific, with an art film flair with noticeable but non-objectional grain. This is both an interesting photograph and satisfying picture, with at times, the feel of a documentary that expresses the emotional swings in real people's lives. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is conventional, with a forward-sounding narrative, and at times, forward dialogue. At times the dialogue is unintelligible, no doubt attributable to the character development. The soundtrack is frontal-soundstage-focused, due predominately to production sound, but occasionally the music opens up the sound with effective surround envelopment. Overall, the soundtrack is undistinguished but serviceable. (Gary Reber)