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So, at this point, you have probably heard something about the film "Precious", which is out today in most major cities. It is directed by Lee Daniels, who produced "Monster's Ball" (the movie Halle Berry won an Oscar for).

If you haven't, here's the Cliff Notes synopsis: the film is based on a book called "Push" written by Sapphire. The story, set in 1987 Harlem, revolves around "Precious, an overweight, young girl with a horrific, abusive mother and a father by whom she is pregnant with her second child.

This film is not for the faint of heart. Seriously. To call it raw and disturbing is mild.

Mariah Carey attempts to redeem herself from the campy disaster that was "Glitter" by going all the way there as a completely unglam and unattractive social worker attempting to remove Precious from the hell in which she lives.

Mariah looks NOTHING like the picture you see above and her acting is quite decent. I saw the movie a couple of months ago and was impressed with her performance. It was confident, slightly bold and consistent. She is stripped of everything that's made her a celebrity and it works.

However, its Mo'Nique's completely mind-blowing peformance that carries this movie and leaves you thinking about it well after you've left the multi-plex.. She is so utterly awful as a human being in this movie that you cringe while she's onscreen; but, you also can't wait for her to return when she's not.

The film won two top prizes at the Sundance Film Festival back in January and there is plenty of Oscar buzz surrounding Mo'nique. It's all well-deserved. Lenny Kravitz, Paula Patton and Sherri Shephard also star.

"Precious" may seem like a film you wouldn't typically shell out $10 to see, but I think you owe it to yourself to do so.

Isoul H. Harris
Managing Editor
Atlanta