Is 'Precious' racist?
Is the acclaimed film, 'Precious,' about an obese African American teen an inspiring story—or just sensationalist "poverty porn"?
Gabourey Sidibe as "Precious." (Anne Marie Fox/ Lions Gate Entertainment)
With pivotal support from executive producers Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry, "Precious"— the grim story of an illiterate, obese, abused black teen—prevailed at the box office this weekend with a record $1.8 million in limited release. Though most critics gave the "resoundingly hopeful" release two large thumbs up, dissenters say it just perpetuates negative stereotypes. Is "Precious" exploitative? (Watch a trailer for "Precious")
"Precious" is a sociological horror show: Shame on Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey for endorsing this "orgy of prurience," says Armond White in the New York Press. This "post-hip-hop freak show" demeans black American life more than it enlightens.
"Pride & Precious"
Critics who cry "racist" are missing the point: "I wish I could agree with those who say 'Precious' is just one more movie that feeds [African Americans'] vision of ourselves as victims," says Raina Kelley in Newsweek. What’s really outrageous is that the film, set in 1987, "is a period piece that feels like a documentary." Hardly anything has changed in the 20 years since.
"Precious": Has the Black Ghetto Changed?
The controversy is overshadowing the film: "Precious" was set to be "this year’s requisite heartwarming movie story," says The Wall Street Journal's Speakeasy blog. "Ah, not so fast." Audiences might just avoid a film that raises such “thorny questions” about how Hollywood handles issues of race and class: Who wants to suffer through a "downer" movie if it’s not a "must-see masterpiece”?
"'Precious' Reviews Divided on Issues of Sex, Race and Class"
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58 Comments
Posted by Joan , Tuesday, November 10, 2009, 2:21 pm Just seems to me that any movie that would pay any tribute to a morbidly obese person and just plan wrong. Forget about the victim angle, it's very unhealthy for anyone to be that large and to be proud of it as the actress has been in her interviews is sick. To imply that there is nothing wrong with being that large is criminal.
Posted by Wow - Joan you are really judgmental , Tuesday, November 10, 2009, 2:45 pm Joan, I'd repeat the famous Saturday Night Live exclamation by Dan Aykroyd when disagreeing with Jane Curtain during Weekend Update i.e. Jane you ignorant slut but I am afraid it still wouldn't help here. Joan, Precious may not be your desired cinematic cream filled Twinkie, but who are you to dictate taste or lifestyle choices. Shakespeare is filled with flawed characters who for dramatic purposes are compelling. Instead of being a politically correct harpy, perhaps you might see the movie before making such an idiotic critique.
Posted by pawiba, Tuesday, November 10, 2009, 3:01 pm Although Joan's wording is harsh, I feel her basic point is apt, Wow. Self destructive behavior like morbid obesity is too extreme to be labelled a taste or lifestyle choice. It also has a negative impact on family, friends, and society. One can be proud of intrinsic elements of character extreme overeating is definitely a pathology, and not something of which anyone should be proud. One can come to terms with it, or at worst, accept it.
Posted by GaryDL, Tuesday, November 10, 2009, 3:32 pm I saw this waste of time and money. Now comes this year's black movie that the guiltridden intelligentsia has decided that all us racist whites must run and see so as to get cleansed of our sins that Hollywood must annoint with some Oscars. Remember Training Day and Monster's Balltwo forgettable films that were used to reward Denzel Washington and Halle Berry when Hollywood decided that we needed some Black Oscar winners? If the main character was white, abused, obese this racist claptrap film would likely not have been made.
Posted by mjira, Tuesday, November 10, 2009, 5:19 pm I have read part of the book and was underthe impression that it was written for a black audience, that said there is no reason that a film about another culture could not be meaningful to people of another. Scum dog milliionaire.Gary DL you seem to be obsessed with race perhaps you are racist and feel guilty. Precious is victimized by her mom amd dad who are black she might just be obese due to the abuse. In real life we have to deal with the fact that morbidly obsese pppl like the actress both exist and have talent
Posted by mjira, Tuesday, November 10, 2009, 5:23 pm The actress is telling a story of how life is for some ppl. And some ppl are morbidly obeses. google it and you will see that more than choice is involved and that sometimes it is next to impossible to get the weight off. you have no business judging this young lady. perhaps with the money she makes she can get weight lost surgery like a lapband. ppl come in all shapes and sizes and should not have to hide because they make you uncomfortable.
Posted by BlogDog, Wednesday, November 11, 2009, 7:27 am Not on point of this movie but have you seen the work Tyler Perry puts out? I don't think if there was a KKK studios making TV shows of such gross stereotypical idiocy that it would be any worse than what I've seen of TP's work. Hmm. TP. Appropriate initials.
Posted by Jay, Wednesday, November 11, 2009, 8:50 am Joan, I love you and am inspired by you as I know you are perfect in every way, beloved by friends and family for your perfection, you are perfectly svelte, work a fabulous job where you make millions, have a 6foot2, 175pound hunk of a husband, two darling children who get straight A's in school and you've never had so much as a moment of stress or grief or trouble in your life and therefore have never eaten so much as a cookie or a drop of alcohol or taken Prozac and you are free to judge other people as healthy or unhealthy.
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