IS 'PRECIOUS' DESTRUCTIVE? Writer says it fails black community.

     *(From TheWrap.com) The central themes in black communities across the U.S. and in Harlem are not ones of incest, rape, teenage gregnancy, physical and nental child abuse, obesity, poverty, welfare, illiteracy, and AIDS. 

     Yet, in marketing the motion picture "Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire," the producer and director, Lee Daniels boldly affirms that, "I know this chick. You know her. But we just choose not to know her." Rather by choice or circumstance, let me be the first to say that I do not know Precious, and I have a hunch that most other black Americans do not know her, either. 

     This film is as dangerous as it is offensive, and it is not representative of any community, past or present.

     The narrative about a young, unloved victim is intellectually and socially dishonest. Daniels relies on overly objectionable imagery and perverse cinematic devices to provoke emotion from the audience, all the while offering no true explanation of events, no link between cause and effect, no solution and no opportunity to deliberate, just action -- vile, disgusting, and inhumane acts of violence, apathy, abuse and rape. 

     Moreover, Daniels, similar to the cinematic tendencies of executive producer Tyler Perry, equates light-skinned black characters as friendly, virtuous saviors, working to counteract the ugly, evil, stupid and animal-like dark-skinned characters.

     Wow. Read MORE of what writer Anthony Smith has to say, HERE. 

     *It seems that at this point Mr. Smith's thoughts aren't being shared by too many paying customers. Based on the numbers from this weekend, the demand for the film keeps growing, even though it still hasn't opened nationally yet. Yesterday, it expanded to five more markets; even more next week.

     In the meantime, here's what movie maven/blogger Nikki Finke is saying about how well "Precious" is playing at the box office:

Because of amazing word of mouth propelled by Oprah and Tyler Perry, and castmembers Mariah Carey and Mo'Nique, and even George H.W. Bush, Lionsgate's Precious also did $1.9 million Friday and $2.4M Saturday (+26%) for a $6.2M weekend after expanding to still only 174 plays in arthouse and African-American neighborhoods. Precious also is pulling off an impressive feat; it represents a healthy 10% of Fandango’s daily online ticket sales.

Related Story: THEATRICAL ROLLOUT FOR 'PRECIOUS' CONTINUES: Film opens this weekend in more cities.