Angie M (angelsinheaven)

The movie packs in punch after punch for its audience. There's no artistry, no holding back - the ugliness is just unleashed on screen for everyone to gasp at. The director toes the line of making the film an overkill of a neverending series of sufferings for Precious. Between the discomfort of the visual and verbal depictions of abuse, and the much needed contrast brought upon by the the lightness of the classroom scenes, the film is really all about provoking emotions.
There was a sense of incompleteness, however, brought on by a sense that none of the characters were sufficiently dealt with in depth. However, what lacks in the writing was certainly compensated to a large extent by the performance. Amazing collection of cast. From the very intense newcomer, Gabourey Sidibe, to the powerful portrayal of loathsomeness by Mo'Nique, to the sweetness of Paula Patton, and a very restrained performance by Mariah Carey, and not to mention the small appearances of the all the "girls" in the classroom, who give much needed comic relief in the movie.

It was somewhat enjoyable for its meta-film gimmicks, which are heralded by the twenty or so "special appearances" by actors, filmmakers, and other BW celebrities. However, those quickly became dull halfway through the movie, and there wasn't even a particularly original or emotionally gripping central storyline to make up for it. I was far more interested when the movie focused on the "lesser characters" - the ones who work behind the scenes (shown in the opening montage, for example), the tabloid columnist, the assistant dance director, etc., - than the types on the top rung who have been parodied before, and yet weren't shown in a particularly novel manner in this movie.
Konkona was as usual great, but Farhan does an equally swell job playing the opportunistic go-getter.