Precious Trailer: A Thing Of Terrible Beauty

@Trulymadlyme: same here, glad i left work before i watched this.

i can't believe i have to wait until november to see this..

@RisaPlata: When I taught in a high school in a very troubled neighborhood, ALL of my students--male and female--loved this book. I remember the girls crying over it and writing poems addressed to Precious to inspire her to keep fighting for herself and her kids.

I love how Precious, despite every imaginable odd being against her, genuinely loves her kids and tries so hard to do right by them. It really is a gorgeous book, although I agree that it's very difficult to read and talk about. I was never sure if my race and class privileges really allowed (although maybe that isn't the right word) me to enter a discussion on it.

@Plum-Pie: what a KIND thing you did...thank you.

HurricaneEyes

@Trulymadlyme: To each there own, but 'Glitter' is like a big ol' cheese party platter with Cheez-Whiz on top and I can only go so far in the cheddar domain.

BUT the music of 'Glitter' is fantastic, especially her remake of "I Didn't Mean To Turn You On". I love that CD for its semi-80's charm.

Yes, I'm excited for the women, not only Mo'nique and MC but Paula Patton, she's been in some questioning movies but she always stood out to me as a good actress.

@China Blue: It's a faint mustache (real hair)!

@HistoricUpstart:

this is the TRUTH!!! lets spend our money wisely and watch this instead of he's just not that into you. badass women of color need to be supported!!

sugarpea

@mariamariamaria: Yay! You must know of the "Heartbreaker" music video. She played two characters and got to dump a drink on Jerry O'Connell, now that's ACTING!

+ Watch video

Love Mimi! :)

Mo'Nique's got a lot of power behind her, a real presence. But I've yet to see her in anything that hadn't sucked overall. Such is her charisma, she's usually the best thing in whatever she's in, and judging by the trailer she's got some stiff competition for that honour because this looks AWESOME.

And well done, Mariah; credit where it's due. Usually her lack of acting ability irks me, but she looks good here. Question: what has she done to her face? Is that makeup? She looks somewhat puffy. Anyone else notice that?

Amazing amazing movie, best film at Sundance hands down. And every actor did an amazing job including Mariah Carey the butterfly queen herself. I was blown away by her performance and I can't usually find anything good to say about Mariah.

robotsattack

@HoneyBoom: In defense of Oprah she did do The Colour Purple, Beloved, and The Wedding Story(?)- that Halle Barry One. And I read TCP And B and saw the film adaptations and felt that the tone and message were right on and loved both films (of course the books better). So I think there is a good chance for this film (I don't think Tyler will have a chance against O at the end of the day). Though I'm getting the book anyway.

@westvillagegirl (exiled in chicago): Real talk: Push is one of my top 20 books. I remember reading it on the subway one afternoon and just bawling in front of total strangers.

TR_Double

:( I just started crying in my school library and this was a 3 minute trailer.

i have a tendency to wail uncontrollably in sad movies (Black Beauty) but seeing this movie might be the end of me.

gracie1117

@♥Anti-Social Socialite♥: Good catch! I LOL'd at that, too.

katcarl

@CollegeBookworm: Actually, I have never read the book, I was just commenting on the discussion over there at Feministing about it bringing up good points. Although now that it's been explained I understand . This wasn't the only point they brought up of concern with this movie. There are more points.

Sweet G*d, that trailer made me cry. I'm presently hiding in my office avoiding my coworkers as I depuff and reapply.

I have to see this. Cripes, here I go again...

Samantha Hallisy Cattaneo

@Interrobanging: wow. i wish i'd had a community of girls my age recommend a book to me! -i just didn't have many friends in school, so- yeah.

i was just discussing with my boss the bizarre difference in required/recommended reading in black and white communities. i, for one, feel a bit left out of the loop. why wasn't the color purple on any of my required reading lists? why haven't i heard of push? wtf? why was it assumed that i wouldn't be interested?

jezebel has opened my eyes to a whole host of issues that i never knew existed, and this highlights one of them. i will probably see Precious, even though it will make me bawl, -because as it's been noted on here, if we don't support movies like these, those won't make any more.

birminghamdrunk

wow. this is why people should make movies.. to tell compelling stories and bring to light things most people want to ignore. i really hope it does well commercially.

jenalicious

while this trailer looks sad, I adore the clips where she's playing with her baby boy. Goes to show no matter what shit you're dealing with, your baby can always cheer you up.

RidleyCornicen

@CollegeBookworm: I thought it was a bit of a sidetrack. Her weight, in the book, is an issue but it's the least of her problems and she actually explicitly says that she stops caring about appearance so much towards the end, doesn't she?

@HereComesMyBaby: Yes, it is! I just moved right across the street & it's better than ever. I'm sure the Magnolia will be showing it, as well.

Jaffa Cakes

@Plum-Pie: Maybe it's just me, but all that says to me is that these people haven't read the book this movie is based on. The issues of Precious's weight, dark skin, and so on are dealt with in the novel, and very well in my opinion. We have no reason to think that the film won't match the novel's handling of these issues.

@EKane: I feel the same way about tyler perry but after seeing him in star trek am willing to give him a chance, plus this movie looks amazing

xuatastic

I cannot believe I am looking forward to a Tyler Perry movie.
I'm getting drunk at lunch, any one with me?

@CollegeBookworm: Yes, I find it more than a bit idiotic that people are trying to find some great injustice here... based only on an advertisement. It's a reasonable conversation to have, but wait til you've seen that actual product!

MyNameIsChris

I cried watching the trailer, on a sidenote the bar i hang out at is right next to mariah carey's building (the one on cribs), and the director of this movie was in the bar in pjs drinking martinis with a friend. He had a cigarette with me and my friend and talked about directing Mariah and how amazing she is in the movie and how this is going to change peoples perception of her. He seemed really nice and genuine Nick cannon came in later to meet him and drank a ginger ale. I thought that was cute.

xuatastic

@Evie Havok: Did you see the discussion they had on Racialicious? The commenters discussed the character's weight as perpetuating the stereotype of Black women as...insensitive (I think?), like able to 'handle' pain.

As a white person, I just assumed it was to do with poverty-induced malnutrition and the fact that her mother is over-weight and we usually learn from our parents. So that was me told.

A few years ago I worked at a rape crisis center and we bought this book in bulk for the young women in our childhood sexual assault survivors group. The members were mostly in middle school, all young women of color from working-class or just stright-up broke backgrounds. For many of them, it CHANGED THEIR LIVES, I swear to God. For many young people I've worked with over the years, and me too, I feel like we have a stake in this book that goes miles beyond other books we all liked to read growing up ('member the The Coldest Winter Ever?)
The story that Sapphire wrote is not only heart-breaking, it is deeply political. She does what a lot of authors don't... she holds Precious accountable for the ways in which she is oppressive (and doesn't turn her into some noble poor one-dimensional caricature of Black poverty) but she doesn't straight up dismiss her as ignorant for holding the prejudices that Precious holds either. So Precious can begin to understand the ways in which her growth and freedom is tied into the growth and freedom of other people who are different from her. I gotta say that I'm a freaking terrified that Tyler Perry and Oprah (particularly Tyler Perry) are gonna ruin it. From what I've seen, Perry's movies tend to be deeply Christianocentric and heteronormative, and I wanted to punch mothafuckas when I saw "Why Did I Get Married" with it's bs assertions that part of the reason that Black straight couples fail is that the women are failing to make themselves vulnerable enough to their men.
Fingers crossed, fingers crossed!

HoneyBoom

@RisaPlata: Yes! I tried to read the book at 17 and not being able to finish because I found it too painful.

I then read it a couple of years ago and was able to put a lot more of it into context (because I had a greater understanding of urban poverty and abuse) and really enjoyed it. The moment when she stops showing her diary to her teacher because she writes well enough to make it her private space is really moving.

Typically I don't go see indie stuff or dramas in the theatre, but if this gets great reviews on rottentomatoes (I only trust RT), I may see it.

@Fizzy77: Me too. But I have to go see it.

@thequeenofstartingover: No, I actually found Glitter to be basically as good as Honey which I loved. Cheesy but fun.

I am excited about all of the women in this movie though. Compared to the musical trailer, I really wonder how this movie is going to do.

I hope everyone sees this and it does more than make us cry. I hope it makes us think and feel and remember that everyone has a story we don't know about, one we should contemplate before judging or forgetting.

If just the trailer is that powerful, I'm really eager for the film.

@MizJenkins: I had an unsettling experience a few weeks ago. I was travelling home at about 10.30pm and in my local train station there was a Black girl,aged about 8 who appeared to be by herself. I walked past her thinking 'This doesn't feel right but she looks well cared for. Probably one of these adults around here is her parent/relative/carer' (There were a few other people standing round, waiting). It was the fact that I'm white meant that I was wary of my actions being misinterpreted as interfering or patronising.

Then I remembered someone saying on Jez that the most dangerous thing you can be (I think I'm remembering correctly)is a little Black girl. So I went back and asked her if she was OK and if she was waiting for someone. She said yes and pointed at a woman standing a few feet away, talking on the phone who was now watching me. I walked away and as I did, mouthed to the woman 'I'm sorry' and she smiled and touched my arm as I walked past.

The girl actually looked a bit embarrassed when I spoke to her and it occurred to me that the older woman might have been giving her a time out for misbehaving. The station isn't in a dangerous area; it wasn't unsafe for the woman to be standing 8 ft away from the girl.

I'm not asking for a cookie for doing what any sensible adult would do but it made me think a lot about the vulnerability of children who are already oppressed.

@Trulymadlyme: oh my, the tears! after only two minutes! i even tried to steel myself, and i'm sitting here crying. As melodramatically as the film seems to be cut, I think the acting looks amazing.

effingminnow

@RisaPlata: It's an incredible book and I really hope this adaptation does it justice. It's not a long novel, so hopefully they don't have to remove much in order to fit it within a movie.

@Trulymadlyme: Ditto, to your every word.

"My favorite color is fluorescent beige."

I LIVE FOR THAT QUOTE!

since everyone else is getting caught up in the sentiments - and rightfully so - I figured I'd comment on something funny, light.

@trikota: Rip off of what? Of a true story, of an amazing novel?

@annejumps: If you've read the book or seen the film at Sundance you'd know that this very issue IS part of the movie and the lead character struggles with it.

MyNameIsChris

@Evie Havok: I saw that discussion, but the one thing I think everyone ignored- in the book, it's very clear how dark or light skinned the characters are. The book is all first person from Precious's POV, and she emphasizes people's skin tones. So while the authority figures are all lighter skinned, that's how the story was written in the first place, and it would do a disservice to the novel to change that kind of detail.

In addition, I don't want to say too much because of the MAJOR spoiler potential, but there is an aspect of the teacher character that comes out that Precious just doesn't know how to accept. So while the teacher is light skinned, she has some other characteristics that are less... perfect, or whatever.

@pumpkinseed: Me too! My eyeliner is running...

@meg9: I'm torn on that point. It seems whenever there's a good story to be told, it is a Beyonce or a Paula Patton. But, when it's a nightmare brought to light- it's as if the powers that be say,"Ah KNOOOW, let's go get that big'ol black darkie girl. She's perfect for this". There seems to be a perpetuation of the myth that conventionally attractive black women can find normal lives with success and love, but if you're a the kind of girl/ woman that Precious is appearance- wise, you must have a life of horror. I think this story is so important, and I'm glad this woman got the part (bc she's working), but if this was a story of anything positive, or a depiction of middle class or higher black people- out would come the biracial-in-appearance black cast. People outside of these horrendous situations have big, black daughters, too. I'll support this film, but some of this does not sit well with me.

oh.geez.

@Fizzy77: Yep. The distribution problem is actually Weinstein claiming they'd made a deal for it before Lionsgate. There's minor controversy over this.

MyNameIsChris

I'm so excited! I live for intense, draining movies like this.

Caitfish

Damn! I hope this has a happy ending. I'll have to see it and take my son with me, maybe then he'll appreciate how good he has it. I work in EMS and have seen the results of street violence, domestic violence, substance abuse, teen pregnancy, and people living in squalor. My kid needs a wake up call!

Cliff Powell

that wrecked me. DAMN. i'm ready for monique to get her oscar for this shit, and mariah carey literally shocked me silent.

tobesthewonderdog

@PunnyMcGee: I thought that too.

@trikota: I mean the poster. The movie looks amazing. I can't wait to see it.

trikota

@Trulymadlyme: yeah, it made me cry and I didn't even have the sound on. I can't wait to see this movie.

Brigid Barry

That trailer has me bawling. As does the poster. I have never seen such a powerful trailer. And I'm going to have to make it through the entire movie. Oh god, that's going to be rough. But it also looks so beautiful and real. Ouch.

@RisaPlata: Whoa. I wonder how much of that will end up being in the movie.

@Evie Havok: I noticed that in the trailer and wondered about that too.

@Fizzy77: Seriously. It's a major reality check from the Nine trailer earlier.

mharker

Hmmm. Am I the only one who thought the trailer looked a little... Lifetime-y? There's no denying that Sibide and Mo'Nique look amazing in it. (Especially if you've seen the extended scenes that were released a few months ago.) But, the movie itself looks a weeeeee bit treacle in places... specifically the part about the beautiful teacher who shows Precious how to love.

I dunno. Maybe I just saw too many interviews where Lee Daniels and his cast talk about the "gift" this film is to people. It just seems like it could end up being very didactic.

This looks really, really good. I'll definitely be watching.

@thequeenofstartingover: No, not just you! It pleases me to no end to know that Mariah has real acting talent. Go Mimi!

mariamariamaria

@Jack_Burton: I immediately thought of Anatomy of a Murder. Either way, great, thought-provoking poster.

Did anyone see the discussion they were having about this movie on Feministing? They bring up good points between light skinned versus dark skinned blacks represented in the movie. Something along the lines of the "authority" figures being played by light skinned blacks and so on. Very interesting as a whole.

@Trulymadlyme: i cried when i watched the trailer last night, i forgot how haunting the book is.

also my job is incredibly stressful and i do with d.v.,abuse, sexual assault, and self esteem with young women of color so im pretty on edge about the film in general.

Hopefully it wont be too " light skinned ladies save the day"

IMO the book does interrogate the institutionalized oppression that the reality precious lives in, so i hope the movie can show all this as well

Lamees

@ArtfulSlinger: I was shocked when I realized it was her. I think I held my breath for the entire length of the trailer.

@TawdryHepburn: by "at that his association," i mean "AND that his association." speling, ur doin it kreatively.

@Trulymadlyme: It was that scene with Mimi, Monique that killed me. And I'm not a crier. The last movie that made me a mess was "Boys Don't Cry."

@HokeyPokey: I understand that inclination, given that some of his movies are pretty silly, but please don't be put off by his association with the movie. I heard Lee Daniels (the director) give a wonderful interview on NPR's News and Notes (sigh, RIP) a couple months back, and he said that Tyler Perry came to him after reading the script for the film and very humbly asked to be a producer. Perry knows that he has a huge audience, at that his "association" with the film might draw in more viewers to see this incredible-looking film. He's helping Daniels reach more people, because he knows that this one might unfairly get a limited screening.

Anyway, I thought that was quite nice and just wanted to share. It also made me smile that T. Perry was in Star Trek. I've changed my opinion about him over these past few months! :)

I just wept during that trailer. It makes me want to find out how to work with those types of schools

YanabaSeverus

@RisaPlata: It gives me goosebumps because I remember reading it and what's really happening in those scenes...

The mother accusing the social worker of judging her and then telling the story of Precious' father having to undo her diaper to rape her?

The first child being delivered on the kitchen floor, named Mongo because she had Mongoloid Downs Syndrome?

The teacher being gay and Precious having a really hard time accepting the one caring person in her life because of her sexuality?

The mother raping her?

I read this book in one night, ten years ago, and I've never discussed it with anyone. Clearly, I am overdue.

RisaPlata

@ringobarbie: & gabby sidibe...new comer and damn the girl can ACT

Lamees

ummm...i want this movie to have a happy ending.

@librariesare4lovers:
Definitely understand. I think I'm going to re-read it and am interested in the differences between my 20 year-old experience and my 25 year-old experience.

What I like about this is the actress they picked for Precious. Three cheers for casting directors who actually look at what the story calls for, instead of finding a way to put beyonce in it.

I read Push when it came out 10 or 12 years ago, and was floored by it---but don't think I can deal with watching the movie. Very emotional stuff.

Holy crap. That shook me to the bones.

HappyHappyJoyJoy

@HokeyPokey: I don't like Tyler Perry either. Did you watch the trailer?

SPOILER DISCUSSION for those who have read the book

RisaPlata

@bess marvin, girl detective: Yeap, Mariah really surprised me!

@Trulymadlyme: It takes ALOT for me to cry at a movie, but damn...I'm tearing up at the TRAILER. Looks like I'm going to be a mascara streaking mess when I see this in theaters

@Vivelafat says Sweep the leg, Johnny.: Same here. I get SO angry that people feel like this. NO-ONE should ever have to feel like that, I just wanted to climb through the screen and hold her.

roadrunnerbeepbeep

@AnnoyingFemaleLeadVoiceover: I read the book in college for a class, and it was absolutely heart-breaking. When I saw it was being turned into a movie, I was kind of dumbfounded. I know I'm not going to be able to watch this movie, because I don't want to put myself through all that misery again.

For me, it's kind of like "Wit." Wonderful, beautiful, but too depressing for me to handle.

@CurtCole: Seconded on the Angelika. And, um, is the Inwood theater still around? I think it's not. Man, I haven't been to Dallas in ages.

HereComesMyBaby

@KassiaStevenson: I understand honey, but the naivete is part of the reason that this reality exists for so many young Black women. It's a lot easier to bury your head in the sand.

MizJenkins

@sylvie calls shotgun!!:

And here's how it got resolved:

[www.blackvoices.com]

@Ramseylicious: Oh yeah absolutely. The emotional impact speaks to the quality of the book. I mean if anyone were to ask me if it was a well written work of literature I would have to say 100% yes- it's a very good book- but I can't say that I enjoyed reading it (if that makes sense).

I want to see it but for some reason, I don't care at all for Tyler Perry and am put off by his association with the movie.

HokeyPokey

Wow. Maybe it's the mom in me, but I just want to give that girl the biggest hug. Can't wait :)

mtnmstr

@birminghamdrunk:

I went to an all Black Catholic school in Harlem and it is EXTREMELY popular amongst young Black girls.The "Push" books get passed around handed to friends and tattered, even girls I knew who "hated" to read, read it. I just was too busy into science stuff to notice it. I want to read/watch it but, I'm at a different place in my life and I think it will open too many wounds I've worked hard to heal.

@Vivelafat says Sweep the leg, Johnny.: Many of us do, and I can't tell you why except that yes, it is crushing.

So ready to see this, especially to see a dramatic turn for Mo'nique. This looks like a true winner.

And it is just me or am I the only one who is sorta rooting for Mariah Carey's acting career? *crickets* Yeah, I know 'Glitter' was GOD AWFUL but she was pretty decent in 'Wise Girls' with Mira Sorvino

@librariesare4lovers: Sounds incredible. As much as it hurts to read books like that, I always find the journey a rewarding one, in the end. I'll be sure to check this one out. Thanks for you opinion on it!

@ArtfulSlinger:

What do you mean "all the backlash?" I went to see what you were talking about and only found one post where the O.P and several others praise it and two or three people bring up some interesting, well supported potential problems and internal conflict about the premise. It's a pretty interesting conversation and calm about how minorities are portrayed in redemption type of films and how those films may effect some people's perceptions of minorities.

Katxyz

@Triana Orpheus: Definitely! We bemoan the lack of authentic and powerful roles for and movies about women so often. THIS is the kind of thing we need to throw our money behind with full force!!!

HistoricUpstart

@Plum-Pie:

[www.entertainmentlitigationblog.com]

@librariesare4lovers: I actually read this for a class as well, in my very first semester as a college student. I need to re-read it, because I remember it as a difficult, tragic book the first time, but I think it will mean even more to me now that I've grown as a person. Being an eighteen year old first semester freshman and trying to discuss that book? Most difficult thing I did in that class, and I adore that professor but damn did she push us with that.

@ArtfulSlinger: There was a lot of criticism of the film in the comments when Racialicious covered it too.

@burnside13: I haven't seen the trailer before, but I saw a clip on Gawker months back.

@Trulymadlyme: Seeing this in theaters is going to be so difficult. But it looks like they actually might manage to stay true to the novel, which blows. my. mind.

@CurtCole: It does look good, but creative - it is not. It is powerful. But creatively - it is a rip off.

trikota

@librariesare4lovers:
I agree that it was hard and emotionally unsettling to read, but think that that is the point. It's supposed to make you angry, it's supposed to make you sad, it's supposed to make you want to do something.

@Plum-Pie: Yes, as a teacher who has worked in urban schools for many years, I can tell you that MILLIONS OF KIDS live like this. It is soul-crushing, and very real.

HistoricUpstart

@Trulymadlyme: I was just going to say, 'great, i'm crying at work!'

pumpkinseed

@Interrobanging: yeah- the promised goosebumps came first, but then i realized there were tears running down my cheeks.

i've never heard of the book- i don't know why. but i don't even know if i'll be able to see this. it looks so heartbreaking.

birminghamdrunk

I'm looking forward to seeing this. It looks so well made and very touching.

@Trulymadlyme: Yep. I saw it at of all places, dlisted. Butterflies and Hello Kitty comments aside, this trailer brought tears to my eyes. I'm a bit scared to see it, but I know I must. Incredible.

SisterSonny

@librariesare4lovers: I tried to read "A Map of the World" and couldn't. It was too hard, too sad and too painful and it hurt my heart every time I picked it up.

@Trulymadlyme: I don't generally get weepy over trailers, but damn. The part about "Love beat me, love made me feel worthless!" *wipes away tear*

Kivrin

@Trulymadlyme: I cried when she said "Nobody loves me" How many people feel like this? It makes me so mad at life. WHY do people feel this way? The futility of it is crushing.

I am completely confused by all the backlash this film is getting on Feministing. This is a movie, which is telling a story rarely told, with sincere honesty. Whats the problem?

@VioletBeauregarde: Party Pooper Extraordinaire: There's just an awful lot of very, very horrible things that the main character, Precious, is subjected to. I mean, being an English major I had to read my share of books where women are put through the wringer in various situations but this book was just-heavy. I would be emotionally/psychologically tired after reading parts of it and need to put it down and come back to it later.

@AnnoyingFemaleLeadVoiceover: Now I've got something to add to my reading list. :)

@bess marvin, girl detective: As do i. I mean sometimes you can just tell a performance is worth it. Like heath in batman. Sometimes you just know.

I've been really excited about this ever since scenes started leaking from Sundance.

And like a lot of ya'll, the trailer made me cry

@JulyMama: I think she won an audience award at Sundance too. Go figure.

@Trulymadlyme: I have actual chills. The book blew my mind when I read it years ago but this trailer is going to stick with me. Can you imagine what the full length film will do?

@burnside13: I think I vauguely heard about it last year, but the hype from Sundance in Jan. means I've had it on my Netflix queue as "Push" since then. Netflix hasn't updated the name.

I'll be running out to get the book. The trailer brought tears to my eyes. I don't know if I will be able to watch the film (won't stop me from going to see it though). Thanks for the heads up. I hope the Canadian release will be around the same time as the States.

ha im laughing at the amount of times "holy shit" has been used in these comments, including myself!

Wow I remember so many girls reading this during 7th/8th grade and I never once gave it a second thought, but this trailer made me cry.

My goodness. Wow. Just... wow.

SassyOh

@hello.kitty: ahh, ok. I was looking for it too.

@librariesare4lovers: Was it the premise or the writing itself? I haven't read it, so I'm curious.

Is that Mariah Carey? Holy shit, this film looks awesome!

People, go see this movie. We always ask about how we can do more to bring diversity to the forefront. You can go see this movie. Support more (good) movies featuring people of color and Hollywood will have to cater to the demand.

@burnside13: There were clips of her scenes released earlier.

Fizzy77

@hello.kitty: And I am quite intrigued by Lee Daniels, the director.

hello.kitty

@JulyMama: Indeed. It looks like she gives quite the performance.

@stoprobbers Ille qui nos omnes servabit.: Actually, there was a bidding war at sundance for it.

Fizzy77

It's very Bass-esque, I love the poster.

@Trulymadlyme: Shit. Actual tears here too.

@CurtCole:
Angelika will probably have it. Or it'll be an "AMC Select" at Grapevine Mills.

@AnnoyingFemaleLeadVoiceover:
Read the book a few years ago as well and was so psyched to see it turned into a movie.

Okay, I thought I was going cuckoo because I couldn't find this film on IMDB. It's still listed under its original title, PUSH.

Beautiful poster. Hail to Saul Bass, the master.

hello.kitty

@VioletBeauregarde: Party Pooper Extraordinaire:
This was on the last few minutes of Oprah yesterday. I cried for a good 10 minutes during and after. It looks REALLY good. Who knew Mo'nique had it in her?

As soon as I saw Mariah, I was SURE I had seen this trailer before - like several months ago. Was this supposed to be released much sooner, like maybe there was a rewrite or something? Does anyone else remember seeing this?

burnside13

I know for a little while they were having trouble finding a distributor for this film -- I read an article with an extended clip of Mariah/Gabby interacting and mentions of rape and incest -- and I'm soooooo glad they found one. This is going to be an incredible film.

@Trulymadlyme: Same here. I will be shamelessly bawling like a baby when I see full movie.

Goose bumps. Holy shit.

aloysius

The poster, really...total swoon.

I want to read/see this, though I think it would make my heart hurt.

Are we going to be treated to a Jezebel review of this? I'd like that.

Still cannot believe this book was made into a movie. The book was so difficult for me to get through I remember being a little irritated w/ my Prof for choosing it as part of our course reading b/c it was just so upsetting. I never-never-would have thought it could have been made into a movie.

@copious: I couldn't sleep last night and I couldn't stop thinking about it. Not sure which came first. Thanks Oprah!

Holy shit, that looks really good.

@ArtfulSlinger: I thought it was just me. I had to do a double take when I saw Mariah, and then I thought my mind was playing tricks on me when I started thinking that she looked like she was acting... well.

Tiffany Underwood

I watched it yesterday in my office with the sound off, which made it even more potent.

holy shit mariah carey ... I can't believe that was you ... impressed - I'm off to watch the trailer again

@Trulymadlyme: i know, i had tears welling up over my lunch at my desk.

i love you Precious. goosebumps and tears.

militia

@TinkishDelight: Yeah. I would almost be more comfortable watching this at home where I can cry, yell, and throw things. But I am definitely going to see it in theaters in order to support this movie's opening and to encourage other good dramatic films.

It's annoying and premature but I call Oscar noms for Mo'Nique, Gabby Sidibe and Mariah Carey.

Whoa, I totally did not recognize Mariah in this!

This movie looks like it'll be good. I hadn't heard about it before but now I wanna watch it.

illythia

@Trulymadlyme: If I'm this taken by the 2 minute trailor I can't imagine what the movie will do. It may be a movie I see stag.

TinkishDelight

Fuck yeah. I cannot wait for this.

i agree, the poster is awesome. and the film looks good!

@KassiaStevenson: Ah,well, I believe the woman who wrote it based on the lives of her students.

I don't know if my heart can take that. I barely made it through the trailer.

Wow. What a cast. Looks sad, fantastic.

RosePetalPlace

i didn't believe all the hype, but after seeing the trailer, WOW.

recovering-hiptard

Finally a movie about real women and rael issues.

Good call, Dodai - I immediately thought of Bass' Exodus poster! Looks like a compelling story and remarkable film!

They played the trailer on Oprah yesterday, this looks AMAZING! I will definitely be seeing it.

Dang, that trailer made me cry. I cam excited to see this film!

I saw the trailer last night and I was already crying. I think Mo'Nique will definitely getting major props for this movie. And I never thought I would say this but Mariah Carey actually looks really good in it.

the trailer made me cry; I'm not sure I can handle the movie. Wow. powerful.

Fizzy77

Part of the naive, protected side of me truly hopes this is fiction and that no one would ever hurt like that. : (

KassiaStevenson

Oh my god. That was utterly amazing and so intense. I'm actually crying right now. They all look phenomenal (geez even Mariah looks believable). It sounds sick to say this but I cannot wait to see this.

Incredible book as well. Still haunts me 5 years later.

CANNOT WAIT!!!!

PopCultureIsAFarce

This looks good! And I have to agree that the poster is very creative. Hope it comes to Dallas.

CurtCole

This trailer made me cry for ten minutes in my office. I am so scared to see this (but am going to love every second). Amazing.

this looks so amazing, I am tearing up right now.

Julie Parker

@ArtfulSlinger: Mo'Nique gave me chills.

missbadkittyherself

@KassiaStevenson: sorry, but it is true, that kind of hurt happens every day to thousands and thousands of kids. I work in child welfare and I see it every day.

missbadkittyherself

@Evie Havok: It's "Destiny" by Mary J. Blige.

I know Mo'Nique's performance is going to be good. Her turn in Shadowboxer was pretty impressive. I want to see it but I hope it's not overly dramatic with so much happening. I thought that Kite Runner was too much though so I hope this doesn't leave me with the same feeling of too-much-ery.

Chivone

@RidleyCornicen: I've watched the trailer four times now, and this is where I lose it, when she is making her baby boy laugh. Maybe it's because I'm a new mom, but anything with children ruins me lately.

God, that poster is POWERFUL.

@bostontonian: The book is really, really hard. It made me cry.

@Trulymadlyme: I'm still crying right now. I really want to see this, but I'm going to have to mentally prepare and bring Kleenex.

HalloweenJacqueline

A friend saw this at Sundance and he said that everyone just sat there stunned in silence when it finished. I can't wait to see it, but I might wait for Netflix because I can't bear to sob in front of strangers.

dingdang

Does anyone know what the name of the song in the trailer is and who sings it? I like it.

@thequeenofstartingover: I just watched that video last weekend with some friends! They were very impressed that I could do the Jay-Z rap.

I'm in. I'm going to need a jumbo box of tissues and an IV of Prozac but I'm totally in.

killershrew

@China Blue: That's a LACK of makeup:)

Wow...when a movie trailer makes me cry usually it's amazing...

i don't go out to movies because i don't want to support the film industry because of the rampant misogyny. but this movie looks brilliant. finally i can spend money on tickets and feel like i'm sustaining something positive. it's been a long time...

FYI it's in Netflix as "Push" not Precious... if you want to save it like I did.

@HoneyBoom: All of my students who've read "Push" say how much they loved it. I'm looking forward to this movie.

I am reiterating but I just totally teared up too. my sister is a teacher in the inner city and this sounds like so many of her students. I can't wait to see the movie. Not sure if I can handle the book . ..

bostontonian

I read this book in High School when I fell in love with Sapphire and I'm soo glad that it is being brought to the mainstream. Young women like Precious are out there barely living and their stories need to be told. Just like eveyone said, goosebumps and tears in my cubicle!

Naomi Roberson

@oh.geez.: You make a good point. I'm still pleased that they cast this character true to book form, but it is true. Should this have been a story about a kicky girl (no incest/abuse) it would have been played by a light skinned, korean haired actress. Or the bi-racial.

@missbadkittyherself: I worked with CPS and DSHS and this stuff is truley heartbreaking.

But I will say this: Almost every woman I got close to in that office (including myself) has suffered some kind of trauma. I was homeless, my friend was a meth addict, the other was beaten and paralyzed by a boyfriend...etc.

A good portion of people in these places are survivors that have channeled that pain into helping others.

You have to remember the beauty of that or you will drown. Places like that are overwhelmingly heartbreaking. It has never made sense to me why these people who work here are so unappriciated.

@Shotrock: That's the movie! I was trying to put my finger on that Kevin bacon movie.

@KassiaStevenson:

I went to middle school with a half dozen girls like that - and this was small town, pale as milk Canada. I can only imagine how nasty it is when you throw in having people hating your for your ethnicity on top of multi-generational poverty.

Phalene

Okay, for those of you concerned about the Tyler Perry/Oprah combo "ruining" this:

Lee Daniels will not eff this up.

He produced The Woodsman, which was a story about a pedophile where the pedophile was the sympathetic character (played by Kevin Bacon). He's out of prison, and trying to resist recidivism and his own sexual impulses towards children. Bacon is brilliant in it (as is the rest of the cast). Lee Daniels did a feature on the DVD about the INSANE difficulty of getting funding for a movie where the "hero" is a child molester. He also produced Monster's Ball which I think y'all may have heard about. :) So, Daniels knows from, shall we say, difficult subject matter.

Plus, he's a homeboy from Philly who shot part of his film Shadowboxer at my college. I gotta have his back.

Shotrock

@meg9: Three cheers for casting directors who actually look at what the story calls for.

I remember reading The Shipping News and thinking, "If the make a movie of this, John Goodman is SO playing this guy." I mean, part of the greatness of the Quoyle character is that he's a massive, lumbering man.

And of course, they cast Kevin Spacey. Jerks.

Shotrock

@hello.kitty: The only movie I saw on IMDB entitled Push is something starring Dakota Fanning.

missinaction

I don't mean to hate but is there any particular reason why they had Paula Patton portray Ms Rain.

************* SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER ***************

I thought it was really important that the person who cared for Precious the most was dark skin like herself, since Precious thought that light-skin people are smarter, prettier, nice, etc. Having Ms. Patton ( a fine actress) be Ms. Rain is taking away from a very important factor of the book. And the social worker Ms Weiss is white (but I'm not sure if Mariah is playing a light skin person or a white person, I'll have to see).

Like so many others, I teared up during the trailer. At the end I felt a lot of different things but what stood out was the feeling of triumph. AT LAST. At last, one of 'those girls' gets her story told. The ones we see on the bus or at the mall. Usually with one or two kids. There aren't many in my comfortable, middle class existence. The first time we see Precious her face looks like a closed fist. We've all seen the look. But as the trailer continues, we get to see the PERSON inside.

I'm no fan of Oprah or Tyler but thank god for their participation. The film industry (black and white) doesn't feature this kind of black woman. Or if they do she's the butt of a joke or a judgment. And you go Mariah. Shut the haters up.

I'm in Canada so might have to search to find this movie, but I will. I've found something to replace 'The Princess and the Frog'.

topsy

@xuatastic: Cool! You were one degree away from Mariah, lol! Twice!

mariamariamaria

so now we know that Mariah Carey is an infinitely better singer AND actor than most singer/actors, ahem, Beyonce.

Ok, I'm no Mariah fan but she impressed me... and this was only the trailer! Watching something like this always makes me think that I have NOTHING to complain about in my own life.

Ack

@PunnyMcGee: I TOTALLY agree. I just made almost the same comment! I do not get why everyone here is wetting themselves over this, it looks like a thousand other Oprah/Lifetime movies.

Um, am I the only one who thinks this looks like another cliche-ridden Lifetime-esque flick?? It looks so predictable it's a joke. The trailer didn't make me cry, it just made me laugh as throughout I guessing what would happen next and was invariably correct, "Here comes the shot of her walking the streets alone, here comes the part where her evil (but it's not her fault!) mother hurts her, here comes the part where her gorgeous teacher/counseler tells her they love her etc."

However, I will say Mariah Carey looks great in it, perhaps it's time she started taking roles like this to show she can actually act!

@RidleyCornicen: I lost it at the point she started playing with the baby as well. What is it about a babys smile that is like so addicting. it is the best thing ever (at least in my world). Will definately be going to see this film with like ten boxes of tissue.

@chancentrate: from reading discussions of the novel upthread, it is safe to say the most brutal elements of the story aren't particularly trailer-friendly.

StratfordX

That is a badass poster.

StratfordX

@chancentrate:

I guess perhaps it looks that way if you didn't grow up in that sort of environment and go to school with girls like Precious. I did, and this doesn't look Lifetime-y at all, its dramatic, its harsh, and its extremely painful just like it is in real life. I'm not understanding why a few posters keep saying it looks that way..maybe there's a disconnect.

@JulyMama: Yeah, it'll probably be at tha Angelika. It always annoyed me how long it took to drive over there to see small films when I was living up there (way back when the closest theater was Tinseltown in Grapevine, there was no Grapevine Mills, and even Ttown was a good 15-20 minute drive from the house). Ah, how I don't miss you, suburban life...

@Shotrock: YES! YES! YES!
Lee Daniels is an authentic and fresh artist. Is a genius in the truest sense. Looking forward to his future work.

hello.kitty

The poster, if you want it to, can symbolize many things especially about the black female body and how it relates to this society. It is awesome. I can't wait to see this movie. It looks like it's going to be good.

AvaBaer

The best movie I've seen in a LONGGG TIME. I'm going again.

AlbionArsinoe

@Interrobanging: I didn't think it looked Lifetime-y either, and I am normally the first to dismiss treacly shit for that reason.

Also, I am a big fan of waiting until I see the actual movie before developing an opinion of it. I can't count the number of times the trailer has misled me into thinking a film was one thing when it was really another.

whynotshesaid

@MyNameIsChris:

I dont think people are "trying to find some great injustive" more than their just making sure that misrepresentation doesnt happen, as always.

Looks like I have a new nickname for those gigantic rude girls who cross the street real slow, not even remotely close to an intersection, blocking me from driving forward as they stare me down like they're the devil or something.

since i don't have emotions i couldn't cry, but i came pretty damn close. wow, chills/goosebumps/awe.

@robotwaste: The hell?