Growing up is hard to do, just ask the lead characters of 2009's most-buzzed-about films, Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire and An Education. Both films follow two teenage girls (Claireece Precious Jones, a 16-year-old in 1987 Harlem and Jenny, a 16-year-old in 1961 London) as they struggle to discover themselves.
Precious (Gabourey Sidibe) is a depressed, obsese, illerate teen, pregnant with her second child. She lives her mother, Mary (Mo'Nique), an abusive wretch, who treats Precious as her slave. As the film opens, Precious' confidence is so low that she rarely speaks -- the audience only hears from her through downtrodden and somber voice-overs. However, after a late night visit from her school principal Precious takes a spot in an alternative school, Each One Teach One. It's there that Precious meets a teacher, Blu Rain (Paula Patton), who encourages her to express herself through writing.
Like Precious, Jenny's story is one of self-enlightenment. Jenny (Carey Mulligan) is an above-average 16-going-on-17 London schoolgirl. She is beautiful, perky, witty, and smart. She's destined for Oxford according to her mum and dad (Cara Seymour and Alfred Molina). That's before Jenny meets a 30-something man, David (Peter Sarsgaard), who sweeps both she and her parents off their feet. David whisks Jenny across Europe, treating her to the finest in food and entertainment. It's not long before our leading lady is questioning her education, and her Oxford future.
Precious and An Education each have smart screenplays and more-than-capable directors (Lee Daniels and Lone Scherfig, respectively). However, the films belong to the actors. Sidibe is remarkable in her first role, Mo'Nique tears up the screen with fury and rage -- the Oscar is her's come February, and Mariah Carey channels raw emotion and sheds any memories of Glitter as Precious' social worker.
An Education belongs to Mulligan. Also in her first major role, she dominates every scence with girlish innocence and wavering womanhood. The comparisons to Audrey Hepburn are spot-on. However, her stellar turn would be for not if it weren't for the supporting cast. An Education reunites Mulligan with her Pride & Prejudice co-star Rosamund Pike, and Pike, as one of David's rich, oblivious friends, gives her most effortless performance to date. Screen stalwarts, Molina and Emma Thompson (playing a bullheaded headmistress), also turn in small yet memorable performances.
Even a bevy of outstanding actors can't make a fantastic film. It's the excellent material that put Precious and An Education in a league of their own. While the circumstances of the heroines are vastly different, both Precious and Jenny represent hope, and in a roundabout way, redemption. Their stories are marred with pain and heartbreak. However, both Precious and An Education will lift you up. The tales are proof, that in spite of everything, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.
Precious, Grade: A
An Education, Grade: A-
No comments:
Post a Comment