Jason Cenzano (cenzano38)

Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire R

Precious is an almost great film that has glaring problems. All are overshadowed by fantastic acting and a near perfectly cast group of actors (I'll get to that shortly). It's a movie I found that was a later addition to a few theaters in Phoenix.

Not to sell it short, but when Precious is mentally escaping from something, they go to a ridiculous fantasy land that does nothing but harm what could be a near perfect movie. Toward the end, she is sitting by a young girl who is getting verbally beat down by her mother, and gives the girl a red scarf. Things like this made it so much more touching. Endearing. Like she gets to be the guardian angel of herself. Not to be. I hate getting on a soapbox about it, but it would make Precious a MUCH better movie (and I'll step down).

Gabourey Sidibe plays Clareece "Precious" Jones, and I wouldn't have guessed that she had absolutely no acting experience before getting picked to lead this movie. Fantastic job. Lenny Kravitz has his onscreen debut as Nurse John, and does a good job in front of the camera. Hopefully he does more. Other actors, Paula Patton, Sherri Shepherd, amongst others give a strong performance. WHAT THE HELL IS MARIAH CAREY DOING IN THIS MOVIE? I know they wanted to put people in place to portray strong black women, but Mariah Carey? So many people could have done a better job. She just looked lost, and does not need to be acting. Pinkett-Smith? Halle Berry? No one else? Really? Ouch.

GIVE MO'NIQUE THE OSCAR NOW!!! Powerful performance. Seeing this, you'd forget she's ever cracked a joke, let alone the fact that she is a very funny comedian. I don't care what movie is coming out between now and the new year, or who's acting in them. No one is going to give a performance this year as strong as Mo'nique. I can't say enough about how much she does to make this movie better than it would have been had she not been cast. I'd even argue that she gives the strongest performance since Hillary Swank in Million Dollar Baby. She gives an absolutely amazing performance as Mary, Precious' mother.

The director, Lee Daniels, has an unbelievable list of movies he's produced, and with what he does with Precious, I'd say he will get better along the way, and hopefully we can see movies that he directs on par with what he's produced.

Good story, and great performances, Precious is a movie worth searching out.

The Blind Side PG-13

The Blind Side is based on a true story about Michael Oher. I became interested in this movie since they first started showing previews, because I'd heard about him before the '08 draft, and had read about him. The movie is a little off when compared to the real story, but it's all small things that I'm sure were changed to "Hollywood" the movie up.

It was a very good movie that I'm guessing will earn Bullock an Oscar nomination. Although she's the bright piece to this movie, she's not the only thing good about it. It's a very positive movie that shows the progression of Oher at the most critical point in his life.

Although Bullock is the best actor in The Blind Side, there are some other good actors here. Get used to the name Jae Head. He plays the younger Touhy, SJ, and is the kid from Hancock. He was funny. Lily Collins, playing the daughter named Collins, is Phil Collins daughter, and didn't get much to work with, but didn't do anything to harm the movie. Tim McGraw is an entertaining actor, and I think he's pretty good. Quinton Aaron's only body of work besides playing Michael is a charming little movie called Be Kind Rewind, where if he had any speaking parts, they are few. When it came time to actually act in The Blind Side, he did a fair job.

It's not a deep, Oscar caliber movie like I thought it was going to be, and that's a shame, because they had one of the most interesting real life stories I've heard to work with. I probably had my hopes up too high, but it was still a good movie. I just wish they had more time, or found a better writing team and director.

If you're an NFL fan, and go see The Blind Side, I assure you that the next Ravens game you watch, you'll be locked onto number 74 for at least a few plays, and like the movie, you won't be disappointed.