Precious

It’s like having someone kick you in the balls five times and then apologize. Unabashedly melodramatic with all the subtlety of a high-speed bus crash. Heart strings are pulled, tears are jerked, and at times it seems conspicuously premeditated. But through it all, there are excellent, heart-felt performances, especially from the lead Gabourey Sidibe. She’s a shoe-in for nominations. Otherwise, it’s a mixed bag. The entire ensemble is GREAT, but the director distracts from important dramatic moments with misplaced levity and clumsy foreshadowing. But see it to admire the performances.