--- title: "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/precious-based-on-the-novel-push-by-sapphire/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/precious-based-on-the-novel-push-by-sapphire" critics_score: 78 critics_reviews: 17 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire (2009): what the critics said Critics' score 78 from 17 reviews: 13 positive, 3 mixed, 1 negative. Most critics are moved by it, and the praise gathers almost entirely around two performances. Gabourey Sidibe, in her first screen role, is credited with acting so unforced that several reviewers say they stop seeing a performance at all, and Mo’Nique’s mother is described repeatedly as monstrous in a way that stays with them. Lee Daniels is credited by many for holding the film’s extremes together, letting the bleakest material sit alongside humour and the fantasy sequences without the whole collapsing into misery. The reservations cluster around tone and intent. Some find the lurches between nightmare and uplift awkward, and the dream sequences ill-fitting or condescending. The spread is wide: a small group, led by Slant Magazine and The Playlist, calls the film manipulative exploitation dressed for liberal audiences, and The Guardian argues it has been treated with more reverence than it earns. Tellingly, even the harshest dissenters exempt Sidibe and Mo’Nique from their complaints. ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Rating 4/4. 4 November 2009. The film is a great American story that moves from despair to inspiration through the hope offered by two women in Precious's life. It highlights powerful performances, especially by the debut lead and supporting cast, in depicting a girl's pain and resilience. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/precious-based-on-the-novel-push-by-sapphire-2009) ## Empire — Angie Errigo Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 30 December 2009. The critic finds the film a raw and powerful emotional journey of self-acceptance and hope that is dramatically a triumph despite some technical flaws. They single out the lead performance by Gabourey Sidibe as undetectable acting that fully draws the viewer into her life. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/precious-review/) ## Los Angeles Times — Betsy Sharkey Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 6 November 2009. The film is a raw, unforgettable blend of dark social commentary and entertainment that challenges but ultimately moves viewers through the horrific realities and escapist fantasies of its protagonist. Sharkey singles out the fearless performances, particularly Mo'Nique's as the monstrous mother, and the director's restraint in letting emotional peaks emerge naturally. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-nov-06-et-precious6-story.html) ## The New York Times — A.O. Scott Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 5 November 2009. The adaptation avoids preachy realism and mixes styles to sing as well as howl about a life of horror and dysfunction. It is unabashedly populist in emotional appeal while challenging audience complacency as genuine art. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/06/movies/06precious.html) ## Evening Standard Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 10 April 2012. The critic describes the film as a bracing new-style weepie that is more uplifting than depressing and praises its truthful depiction of real life. They single out Mo’Nique’s performance as the monstrous mother as one of the best screen performances ever seen. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/precious-is-the-mother-of-all-weepies-7418418.html) ## The Hollywood Reporter Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 21 January 2009. Festival review. The critic calls the film an overwhelming and masterful Sundance entry with a grim, disturbing story of merciless degradations, crystalline performances (especially from newcomers Gabourey Sidibe and Mo’Nique), and strong direction and technical work that elevates the material. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/precious-film-review-92783/) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 22 January 2009. Festival review. The review calls the film compelling and inspirational despite its upsetting content, highlighting the electrifying debut performance of Gabourey Sidibe as the resilient teen. It singles out the unusual story and strong direction for making the portrait of hardship stand out at the festival. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/precious/4042793.article) ## Time Out — Dave Calhoun Rating 4/5. 26 January 2010. The critic finds the film deeply affecting and full of compassion, with strong performances from the leads, though it leans more on emotion than artistic depth. The adaptation is praised for balancing bleak subject matter with moments of humour and resilience in the central character's story. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/precious-based-on-the-novel-push-by-sapphire-1) ## Variety — John Anderson Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 19 January 2009. Festival review. An urban nightmare with soul, the film is courageous and uncompromising, a mix of debasement and elation that elevates despite its danger and problems. Anderson praises Daniels' ability to juggle emotional extremes and the strong production values and performances. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2009/film/markets-festivals/precious-based-on-the-novel-push-by-sapphire-2-1200473264/) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 28 January 2010. The film has been treated with excessive reverence but features a powerful lead performance by Gabourey Sidibe as an abused teenager. It has raucous energy and a brilliant performance from Mo'Nique but shifts awkwardly between nightmare and sitcom-ish uplift. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/jan/28/precious-review) ## Slant Magazine — Ed Gonzalez 1 October 2009. The critic dismisses the film as an impeccably acted piece of trash and exploitation that strokes liberal audiences’ sense of righteous indignation with lurid misery and condescending fantasy sequences, while failing to meaningfully engage with its social themes. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/precious-based-on-the-novel-push-by-sapphire/) ## The Telegraph Rating ***. 28 January 2010. The film provokes ennui and dyspepsia through its campy characters, lurid melodrama and celebrity cameos. It mixes class tourism, gothic sexploitation and embarrassing elements in its domestic scenes. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmreviews/7092274/Precious-review.html) ## Collider — Matt Goldberg Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 5 November 2009. The film is one of the best of the year thanks to its honest portrayal of Precious's brutal life and hard-won hope. The critic singles out Gabourey Sidibe's breakthrough performance as the element that makes audiences cheer rather than pity the character. [Read the review](https://collider.com/precious-based-on-the-novel-push-by-sapphire-review/) ## Den of Geek — Simon Brew Rating 4/5. 29 January 2010. The critic calls it a haunting, brutal yet affecting and three-dimensional tale that is very powerful and difficult to stomach. Standout praise goes to the performances of Gabourey Sidibe and especially Mo'Nique, along with solid direction from Lee Daniels. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/precious-based-on-the-novel-push-by-sapphire-review/) ## Digital Spy — Ben Rawson-Jones Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 25 January 2010. The film is described as compelling and harrowing yet stylishly told and earnestly acted, transcending potential obstacles through moving performances from Sidibe, Mo'Nique and Carey. It is a far from pleasant but ultimately worthwhile experience. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a198547/precious/) ## Paste — Robert Davis Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 5 November 2009. The film offers a visually textured but familiar and occasionally manipulative story of triumph over adversity. The critic singles out Gabourey Sidibe's intimate, expressive performance as the element that moves audiences despite the surrounding hype and marketing. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/precious-based-on-the-novel-push-by-sapphire) ## The Skinny — Keir Roper-Caldbeck Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 1 February 2010. The review notes the film is skilfully made with relief from emotional extremes via fantasy sequences and strong, stoic performances from Sidibe and a demonic Mo'Nique. It questions the graphic abuse and redemption payoff but concludes it just about succeeds due to humanity and generosity of intent. [Read the review](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/film-events/misery-inc) ## Eye for Film — Amber Wilkinson Rating 3/5. 28 March 2009. Festival review. The critic praises the bravery in handling grim subject matter with effective humor and the fiercely compelling acting from Gabourey Sidibe and Mo'Nique. However, the film is faulted as an uneven mishmash of genres with ill-fitting dream sequences, stilted scripting, and pacing issues that make it feel bloated. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/precious-based-on-the-novel-push-by-sapphire-film-review-by-amber-wilkinson) ## The Playlist — Rodrigo Perez Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 5 November 2009. The critic dismisses the film as a manipulative con job that exploits liberal empathy with garish, hamfisted direction and contrived narrative despite strong lead performances from Gabourey Sidibe and Mo'Nique. The acclaim from festivals is called puzzling given the clumsy execution and emotional exploitation. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/con-job-of-year-precious-is-not-much-of-20091105/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/precious-based-on-the-novel-push-by-sapphire.md