|
March 7th, 2010
07:19 PM ET
Lee Daniels said 'Precious' has healed him
“I’m humbled, because I’m in the moment," Daniels told CNN. "[I'm] so humbled by it, because so many other people are waiting in the background to do what I did.” Like best supporting actress nominee Mo'Nique, who has won raves for her role in "Precious," Daniels also considers the tale, based on the novel "Push" by Sapphire, to be one that can transform lives.
And while Daniels directed the film, he said it even proved to be a balm that helped him deal with trauma. "I wanted to heal," Daniels said. "I wanted to not have nightmares anymore, think of my friends who passed away in peace and let that go, and 'Precious' has done that for me."
« Previous entryJames Cameron: Surprised by success of 'Avatar'
 |
  About this blog
Our daily cheat-sheet for breaking celebrity news, Hollywood buzz and your pop-culture obsessions.  |
Celebrated filmmaker Lee Daniels couldn't hide his excitement as he walked the red carpet with his daughter, who was dressed in a Chado Ralph Rucci gown on advisement from Vogue editor-at-large Andre Leon Talley.
Woah this weblog is fantastic i like studying your posts. Stay up the great work! You realize, a lot of individuals are searching round for this info, you can help them greatly.
I have read some excellent stuff here. Definitely value bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how so much effort you set to create this kind of fantastic informative website.
Thank you , Sue. Simple and true.
"A good move is one that makes you think and feel."
Precious is a movie that let us into the world of all broken people, irrespective of race, colour or creed. Avatar let us into a world that is colourful and bright. After watching that movie, I left the movie theatre thinking how grey and colourless our dying world seems in comparison! A good move is one that makes you think and feel. They both were powerful movies!!!
How can Avatar be "best picture" when the plot was a rehash of Dances with Wolves, Pocahontas and any other "kill the natives" movie.
Avatar was a beautiful movie and had great effects, which it won for. I think Avatar won the awards it should have.
I have not seen Precious, nor have I seen The Hurt Locker. I saw Avatar and I saw Julie and Julia and I saw Sherlock Holmes and I saw Harry Potter and I saw Up and I saw Transformers and I saw Up In The Air and I saw The Blindside and I saw 2012 and I saw The Hangover and I saw Star Trek and I saw Angels & Demons and I saw Drag Me To Hell and I saw Coraline and I saw Watchmen and I saw Taken and I saw Monsters vs Aliens and I saw Obsessed and I saw Wolverine... I saw others too. Movies, I saw movies. They were nice. It was good to get out of the house to see a movie. I enjoyed the time away, but then I left the movie and got in my car and went home and went to bed and got up and went to work. The movie did not pay my bills. The movie did not make me breakfast. The movie did not change my life. It's a movie. You want to see something touching or profound? Look up at the night sky or look down at the world from a mountain top. Who cares who won Best Director. Be the director of your own judgement and your own path... and BTW you all are completely wrong, Paul Blart is the greatest ever. Kevin james was robbed by not getting that Oscar. hehehehehehehehehehehehe.
To Mark,
MoNique playing herself. Appatently, the movie was much too deep for you to comprehend. 🙁 I bet if you look up the word racist, your name would be next to it!
I watched The Hurt Locker few weeks ago without knowing that it was an Oscar normineed film. We barely finished the movie and was like...huh? What was it about?
I teach high school in Louisiana and I see kids like Precious everyday. They come in many different races, incomes and from extremely abusive homes. Precious gives students and adults hope. That hope and the compassion of teachers and classmates, in many cases, is the only thing that keeps them going. If a character like Precious can make it, young people can believe that is possible to make it as well. Kudos to all who worked on Precious. This show is a godsend.
Knowing the subject matter of "Precious, I did not enter the theater expecting to be "entertained and have wonderful moments." You watched and listened to every word and movement sitting on the edge of your seat. It's drama that has not was to please the masses. Having the hair rise, blood pumping and the nerves on edge was the movie I wanted to see and was not disappointed. The last time i enjoyed a masterful movie like this was "Once Were Warriors." It's a New Zealand movie of the natives, Maori people, treated as we did to Native Americans. Hard movie to watch, buting both were thrilling.
Bill Constantine, when will you be leaving the earth? I want to know so that I can celebrate. I wonder if you've ever felt that too many movies were going to people of NO color since you feel so strongly about the amount of movies people of color are now being recognized for? Your ignorance is not blissful. I almost agreed with you until you wrote that purely racist comment, then you lost me. Shocking reminder that people like you still exist and why we all can't just get along.
Oh, and the movie is Precious, the book, it's Push.
Carie Alford, it looks like someone got a little too caught up in the "get before you get got" of this blog, what I wrote was a response to someone else who said black people were lazy and fat. Diversity classes, haha, not I ma'am, not I.
For years I have wondered why the Academy doesn't develop "catagories" for the movies we all enjoy. It seems small on the part of the industry to put movies side-by-side and then pick the best. In the Olympics, we have different athletic events that are judged separately. How can we lump in a basket, Precious, a movie of unbelievable truth and public awareness, to a movie that is technologically the finest made, to another war movie that really probes our conscious? Perhaps it is time to separate into categories such as the "Luge", "Curling", "Speed Skating", "Downhill",etc.
give me a f...g break–Avatar had great hi-tech moves but as a whole movie it sucked!! If you are going by the millions spent by 14 year olds to go see it then yes, it was a moneymaking success–but statistics show it IS 14 year old boys that moviemakers gear their products to since that's who will attend the theatre to watch it again and again–that's no assessment on what's good, just a commentary on what's happening in reality. They got some hi tech gadgets to use and wrapped a few color graphics into it and what was the plot again and the defining moment for the characters, er, sorry, the creatures......The Hurt Locker deserved it and if not that one then District 9 as both were ACTED out and as a whole product were worthy....
Inglourios Bastards should have won every award Hurt Locker did.
A larger question seems to be "what is the role of the Movie in society."
It may inform and inspire but we would be foolish to think it can teach.
A good movie has a harmonic structure, pace and narrative that possesses a resolution. Life is messy and often inconclusive. Often time the inner-study of adversaries is never known. The path to success is rarely crystal clear. No if Movies can do anything uniquely powerful it is to get an audience to question where they stand in time and in proximity to the human condition.
@Michael N.J. Wright: cool story bro.
Zzzzz........
nick did you see precious!
After reading most of the comments on here thus far, it is apparent that intolerance, and ignorance are on the rise. Just because a movie takes in a great deal of money at the box office doesn't mean it should automatically be The Best Picture. Avatar, while visually appealing, lacks the depth of storyline and charcters that most "Best Picture" winning films contained. If you compare the stories of Titanic and Avatar it's crystal clear why one was awarded Best Picture, and not the other.
I agree with Bill Constantine, except his racial remark about to many movies going to people of color. As an African American military officer I respect and defend his right to that opinion, but he is way off base on that point. He is correct in regards to movies such as Zorba The Greek, and Lawrence of Arabia. Those movies have withstood the test of time, and continued to be enjoyed by younger generations. If you look at the last 19 films to win the Oscar for Best Picture only Dances With Wolves, and Unforgiven were selected for archival by the National Film Registry of The Library of Congress. That shows the true greatness in the storylines, and the acting of those two films.
In regards to all those who dislike "Precious", just because the movie doesn't appeal to you, don't stereotype black people because the story uses a black cast. The story that inspired the novel Push, upon which Precious is based, transcends ethnic, and ecosocial boundaries. The sexual, physical, and emotional abused potrayed in this movie are happening now in surbubia, the barrios, rural areas, trailers, and ghettos alike. This movie is no more or less disturbing than an episode of Jerry Springer or the movie The Ringmaster starring Jerry Springer. I'm pleased that picture was nominated for the awards at all, especially when you consider that it was released on 300 screens initially.
Bill constantine... movies have too many people of color? What planet are your from...oh, I'm sorry, you quoted Zorba the Greek, DeMille and Lawrence of Arabia, you must be at least 90 years old. Take your medicine and chill.
Wow – let me say I love reading other peoples comments. I am glad we have the option; it allows for people to see how some things have not changed at all. Now having said that! Actors and acresses – act. Prescious the movie I thought was entertainment. However their is a kid somewhere right now who needs someone to care! Having said that all thes individuals here who thinks it is a black or white things. I so disagree – it is a human problem! The movie was shocking! Someone the things that happen is probably happening right now in the homes values at $20K all the way up to $100K because we are talking about people. With the energy spent here finding fault, why not try to assist with some change? If not interested, I understand.
I too think the Oscars was a huge dissapointment. "Hurt Locker" for those that are in the military and do that sort of work it was a sensationalize version of the real deal.
All I can say is to hype a movie that does not fairly depict what our men & women do on the front line-what a joke. It's always the same cliques in Hollywierd! There is no way you can tell me that Sandra Bullocks role was more riveting than Monique in Precious??
PRECIOUS was about people showing their ability to act, yes very real it happen every day in homes through the world, not just in America, stop hating on people that have acting ability that you don't. What ever movie you like it was only people acting, not the real person. That why they get paid for acting and win oscar, etc, because they come out of who they really are and become someone else. This is pure entertainment and if they stopped having it most Americans would die of boarem. PRECIOUS WAS THE BEST. MONIQUE PLAYED HER BUT OFF! HATS OFF TO HER. DIDN'T LIKE HER IN THIS FILM, WAIT TIL THE NEXT ONE COME OUT. To Mark who thinks she was playing herself, well it got her paid from you going to see it. Don't like her, Don't Watch her.
Avatar without a doubt the best movie and director. The only reason Hurt Locker won director was because it had a woman director. Had the director been a man, Avatar would have won both. As usual, the Acadamy is playing Politics.
to Lee Daniels and cast members BRAVO!!!!!
Best director and best movie was supposed to go to Avatar. That movie HAS an exceptional message. What a shame.. Oscars=politics.
Can't wait for Precious 2!
Monique I'm so porud of you.. I kenw you could do it.
the right movie won. The Hurt Locker was pure art, done on a low budget, all about the actors, sound, sight, editing It won all the right awards. It is an amazing achievement.
I read Push, the book that Precious was based on. It was extremely horrifying and racist. If a white person had written that book bashing blacks the way Precious did, this move would be boycotted. Even though this happens in this country, couldn't it be portrayed without the racial undertones?
every once in a while a movie comes along and makes you say ¡¡¡WOW!!!
Precious was just this, real life for alot of women all over the world, and once again "TRADITIONAL" America decided to do the wrong thing (not awarding the Lee Daniels) and the right thing (awarding a female director) way little too late. Hurt Locker hurt my intelligence. Sorry Kathryn Bigelow, you didn't deserve to win based on the competition you were up against.
We have so many black actors/actress and movies which are never considered. Okay you didn't like the movie but the people have spoken let it go. I have found that the ones who put others down do so only in an attempt to make themselves feel or look bigger. Nope it don't work.
I thought Precious was a little strong; but I also didn't like Monique because of the character she played. In saying that I felt that Monique came across believable in her role and did a wonderful job.
Stop hating there's enough of that in the world already. Find something positive to write about or just keep quiet.
I am an african american female who liked Precious, understand its significance, watched it once but not twice, through Monique was outstanding!!, thought Gabouray and Mariah were wack actors. Personally I am turned off by Gabouray as an actor and an interview and don't think her performance merited a nomination compared to Meryl Streep etc. BUT! Why are people worried about how the movie portrays black folks? Not every black female are fat, loud, poor and abusive. Some are. Not all black families have doctor/lawyer parents like the Cosby's. Some do. Not all people of ANY color have these characteristics. Not all people of Any Color live in poverty, abuse their children, suffer incest or read at a 3rd grade level. SOME DO!! That's what makes this a human story of note.
I personally commend Mark on his observation although a bit misguided in the comment on Mo'Nique. Look at how the real people act who portrayed the actors in precious. They all acted like a bunch of bafoons. Black people need to remove the stereotypes themselves. I, like Bill Cosby, feel that we need to fix ourselves and stop blaming everyone else for our issues. We keep ourselves down...
jamal-what planet are you from? this was a performance how is this keeping black people down this was recognition to someone, an achievment, your missing the point this is evolment .You are holding YOURSELF down.
mark-you are an idiot!!! the world would be a better place if you weren't in it.
Monique played herself in Precious? Where in the world did that come from... that is absolutely untrue. If you know anything about her you would know that she is on top of her game as a comedian. Everybody whom I talked to about her role in Precious wondered how did she ever pull off such a convincing character, it is something we have never seen, nor thought her capable, of doing. Monique is kind, caring - more of a woman providing nurture and worldly advice. She is certainly deserving of the praise she's receiving for playing such a difficult role that is anything remotely like her.
As an aside, I agree with the person who made the comment that there are Precious' in every race - this is not a Black thing. The movie was about abuse, mental-physical-sexual...all of it. It also shared a glimpse about how young girls sometimes see themselves, pretending that only if they were someone else life would be better. It also strongly addressed the issue and importance of education.
I absolutely loved this movie and hopefully young women who find themselves sharing some of these same issues realize that they are not alone and have options.
Precious is about PEOPLE living in poverty. Not just Black people, rather, all people. White, Black, Native American, Mexcian,Aisan...
I think whatgrew said it best. It's about broken people traped in (most cases) a life style not of their choice. I't glad it got the Oscars it did.
I think white american needs to grow up this is real life not just in blacks but in poor white america too we were just bold enough to put out there.
The movie precious could be for any race, Blacks, Whites, Indians and Mexicans what ever color you. Being Black we were often taught to tell something like the movie protrayed and to overcome with all obstacles. To not let things bring us down, and all Blacks Afro-Americans are not fat and lazy that could go for all nations of color.
Whatgrew you need some diversity classes. May the Lord bless you and hopefully this would never happen in you family. If so watch or read the book "PRECIOUS" and maybe you will find some closure as well.
Sorry Mike, that comment was intended for Mark and his presumptiveness!
Also elliwfran, all people have to learn to engage the totality of their experiences. there are black , white, yellow and brown Precious'. Running away and pretending they don't exist no matter how painful and in your mind steretypical is not the solution . Heal by embracing this unfortunate circumstance as part of someones experience and vow to not allow it to happen to anyhone you know. Pretense is not the solution
As a black man I am appauled at movies like Precious and the attitudes of its actors and director at the oscars. The woman who played Precious is classless at best. Look at her comments prior to the award show. Talking about if her dress was a porn movie then it would be a money shot. LOW CLASS and this is why we do not evolve. It is not white people keeping us down it is our own society. So grow up people
Sorry i have seen Avatar and it was not a Oscar worthly movie. The plot was boring and the movie should have been cut by at least a hour. The only reason anyone wants it to win anything is because of the special effects.
Mo'Nique deserved that statue, hands down. Her background is not serious acting and that role was intense! Good for her. Glad for Sandra Bullock for shedding the romantic comedy and taking a role in a film that was so good it didn't cost millions of dollars to make. James Cameron is very talented, no doubt but Avatar was long and lacked sustance. I think all statues went to the right people for a change.
It's refreshing to see that the voting members of the Academy appear to be a much more forward-thinking group of people. "We the People" does not apply in all situations, and sometimes the people need to simply close their mouths and hope for their turn next time. The nominations are based on what the Academy thinks, not what everyone in the public thinks. There were a slew of good movies and the Academy, for it's role in awarding Oscars did what it did best – award based on what it thought after reviewing all of the nominated individuals, groups, movies soundtracks, etc. Congratulations to ALL of the nominees and awardees.
I'm just glad I didn't have to listen to another "I'm king of the world" speech. I like films which make me think. Pretty colors can only carry you so far....you end up with the prettiest colors award. I'd prefer a film filled with angst and well-developed characters over a glorified cartoon any day.
Mike do you know Monique, met her family or for that matter anyone that knows her. thought not! enough said.
The Broadcast is dull because the television medium is dull. In an attempt to be everything to everybody the Producers of the Oscars squeezed some of the world's most creative people into a "Mannequin Parade" with 45 second sound bite windows.
Death by Yuppie. Muted controversy = good for advertisers = good for television = equals dumbed down audiences.
Solution: Limit the broadcast to the Above the Line categories. Let the Artists TALK. If they embarrass themselves so be it. We are adults-we all know embarrassing people.
Take the Craft portion of the awards and do them separately on cable or Pay-per-View in a completely different format. More of a party atmosphere mixed with spot interviews and entertainment. I t would be looser/hipper and only those people who care to find it would go looking for it.
The Oscars is inside baseball. Movies are universal. there is a discordance between the core mission/structure/culture of a Network Broadcast and the unique Type A driven capitalism of Motion Picture Artists.
Elliwfram,
Unfortunately there are people like the characters in "Precious" in every nationality not just black people and it is people like you that complained so much about the "Color Purple" this is why the movie was shut out and didin't win not one single oscar. Everyone knows that Whoopi Goldberg should have won that year.
It's one thing to voice your preferences concerning who should have won or not. But, when you criticize, ridicule, and demean actors, directors, and writers who have done nothing to you–that's showing a lack of class and poor character on your part.
First of all, Monique did not play herself in Precious, but of course a racist, closed minded society would assume that all black women are the same. If you see Monique in reality or in other roles, you will see this role stretched her to new limits. Facing the reality of the horrors of Precious stretched everyone beyond their limits (and if you really watched this movie you will feel the same way)
Second of all, saying this movie was about poor, lazy, fat and foul mouth black people is an atrocity. The movie is about broken people, who happened to be overweight, who happened to be living in poverty. Every character in Precious was broken in some way, and the film allowed Precious to come full circle through her brokenness and experience freedom. (a freedom stinted by the reminder that some evils cannot be undone as she will probably die from the HIV virus.) America sees black people as poor, lazy, fat and foul mouthed and takes humor whenever a dig is made by themselves about their weight or truth is hidden behind curse words. This story is a revelation, to what really happens in black communities, of how many children are forgotten about, invisible.
But I guess, for you, ignorance is bliss. Enjoy the special features on the Avatar DVD.
Precious was a difficult movie to watch, and the novel was raw and very revealing. Having said that, I feel all the actors did well, and were worthy of numerous awards.Please remember that there are Precious' in all races.
Seriously, if you think Avatar should have won anything besides the awards it did for design and flashiness, then you and I didn't watch the same movie.
I go to movies hoping to get a complete visual, audio and storyline package. Avatar lacked the third aspect of what makes a good movie, a STORY, or perhaps, quality screenwriting and dialogue to flush out the lame story that was told by the film. The characters could have been plucked from a (bad) comic book, and perhaps that is where the entire story should have been portrayed.
At the end of Avatar, not only did I want my money back but more importantly my 3 hours that I had squandered.
I try to not be a Cameron basher, as it is pretty popular, and I do like some of his films, The Abyss, Aliens and The Titanic, but Avatar needed better writing. Much better writing.
the oscars are mostly imposters
how does 2012 and Zombieland not get nominated for best picture?
all movies must have a statement to be oscar-worthy!!
Precious was a disgraceful, disgusting movie to me. It showed the worst of situations for African Americans. I wish it had been of more substance rather than a representation of poor, lazy, fat and foul mouth Black People. The reason it was nominated, is because that is the way the world still to see in Black People.
Best movie of the year – The Hangover. The only movie that came out in 2010 that I will watch over and over again. This movie will be a comedy classic for years to come.
Movies today are a bunch of junk...Too many pictures are going to the people of color..I used to work at the studios for many years but today they are boreing....No more directors likeDemille or what have you..Zorba the Greek, Lawrence of Arabia etc...too much junk today..perhaps in a few years....I see this Hurt locker stuff everyday on TV...I walk out many times from boring movies..take care...
Precious was only nominated b/c if it did not get nominated then everyone would cry racism. Horrible state of affars. How does Mo'nique get an oscar for portraying herself?
I'm glad Hurt Locker won instead of Avatar. I've watched both movies and fell asleep watching Avatar. It could be that watching the bright colors in 3D, took away all the excitement that other people was telling me about. Maybe I will watch it again when it comes out on DVD and have a different experience about it.
People who have not positive and only negativity to express should GROW UP AND GO READ A BOOK!! I know we all have various opinions but the more I read these blogs and write-ups i lose any confusion of why our society is so jacked up. Everybody has something negative to offer but not a solution, kind word or optimism to make things better for all. I have not seen "Precious" and will not until i'm in the mood to go throught the rollercoaster it brings but I will see it. I'm so happy for Mo'nique and Lee Daniels and all the cast/crew of this movie. It is great to see Blacks succeed in Hollywood and i look forward to see all groups..White, Blacks, Latinos, Asians, etc... larger representation in the best/worst of films in the future.
Can we for once have a Best Picture that really lives up to the title? Lee Daniels "Precious" film should have won in my opinion. He's not a wealthy director making films leisurely at his own will. This is someone who takes an extremely small budget film (by Hollywood Standards) and makes a bold statement in his work. This film told the story of the thousands of children who are abused physically, sexually, and mentally in poverty stricken families and quite frankly, it speaks to children abused in "families" period irregardless of their race or class. I hope Lee Daniels continues to make more Brave films like "Precious".
I thought Hurt locker sucked...the main character's redneck bravado was to much to bare. I stopped watching halfway through. I hope he blew up.
what is mr director here doing to help the people that really find themselves in the situation tehy portrait in the movie? that's what i thought.
I watched the Hurtlocker and Avatar. The Hurtlocker has a huge problem:
it is too loooooong. It was entertaining for the first 45 minutes and then it got a little too much of the same, Avatar on the other hand was greatly entertaining throughout the hole experience.
Not a doubt in my mind, Avatar was better than The Hurtlocker
It was SO dull. Baldwin & Martin didn't have enough to do. Those TIRESOME introductions of the Best Actor & Actress nominees made it look like a poor reality cable show. The only good thing to come out of it will probably be the fact that Sandra Bullock will never work with most of the loser directors she has in the past. She has been really BAD in some of those movies.
Im glad that the Hurt Locker won. I am also glad that Avatar did not win. The reason why Avatar won many awards is because of technology, not the overall theme of the film. It deserved not to win best picture. I am happy for Sandra Bullock and Mo'Nique's win, and for Sidibe's nomination.
Congrats to the cast of Precious. I'll watch it on DVD. Given the resources, anyone can achieve anything.
Yes Avator should have won in best picture. The Hurt Locker was not a good movie at all.
best director should have gone to james cameron, c'mon now. Other than that, it was a pretty good oscar telecast
Preciious is a movie that shows the bare knuckle consequences of poverty and violence. Buit is its softer, quieter moments that stick with you after you leave the theatre. Everyone associated with this film did themselves proud. Colette, Denver, CO
bla bla bla!!!
Greatly disappointed with OSCARS.........Best Director should have gone to James Cameroon and best picture......no doubts.....AVATAR.