I recently saw the film Precious and it was emotional, powerful and very well done.

Gabourey Sidibe plays Precious and for an actress making her debut performance to be playing this role is impressive.  It's even more impressive that she did it so well.  Precious is a young woman with no real chance at life and it's not her fault, it's her situation.  She's got a kid and is pregnant with number two, neither were her choice.  Her mother, played by Mo'Nique, does everything in her power to make sure that her daughter knows just how worthless she thinks she is.  When she's not verbally abusing Precious, she's physically abusing her and it's usually with any object she can find.  At times it was hard to watch the two interact and not want to leap at the screen and come to the defense of Precious. 

The movie is full of great performances from Lenny Kravitz to Mariah Carey.  I can't stand Mariah normally but she was excellent.  Paula Patton plays Ms. Rain, she's a teacher at the alternative school Precious attends, and her character offers hope when there is none.

The films is nominated for several Oscars including Best Picture, Best Lead Actress (Sidibe) and Best Supporting Actress (Mo'Nique).  It won't win Best Picture but it would be hard to argue against it if it does.  Mo'Nique will win the Oscar for  a character that is horrible and frightening on so many levels but brilliantly performed.  If you do see the movie, keep in mind that Mo'Nique is best known as a stand-up comedian.

See it before the Oscars on March 7th.  It's good, really, really good.