Tough to watch and inconsistent at times, but it remains a great movie.

Precious is a film that will give you many emotions throughout the movie, and let me warn you a lot of it is really tough to get through, especially Monique's portrayal of Precious's mother and the treatment she gives her. I know that was the point to get you sympathy for Precious, but that doesn't change the fact that it was incredibly hard to witness the torture that Precious was going through and I got to be honest, it turned me off the movie sometimes, because it was too much. It helps though that they have blended in a few likable characters to help the torture that Precious went through. My favorite relationship had to be between Precious and her teacher later in the movie Mr.s Rain(Paula Patton) because it felt real and at last somebody wasn't trying to make her feel stupid. My favorite scene had to be when Precious is hungry so she goes to get some Chicken but bolts with it without paying, it was funny and quite cute in my opinion.

Performances. Gabourey Sidibe is a revelation here. She is definitely Oscar worthy and I completely felt for the girl and the torture she was going through. Mo'Nique plays one of the most terrible characters I have ever seen in a movie. She has no likable qualities and I felt no sympathy for her, I was glad when she got what she deserved. Paula Patton is very pretty and does great as Mrs Rain. Her kindness helped soothe the movie for me. Mariah Carey is surprisingly terrific in her role. She displayed likability and charisma.

Bottom line. It's grueling to watch, it's not always consistent, but in the end it had me thinking when it was over. The performances are one for the ages, and if you have the strength to get through this movie, I highly recommend it. Simply precious.

Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire

“In Harlem, an overweight, illiterate teen who is pregnant with her second child is invited to enroll in an alternative school in hopes that her life can head in a new direction.”

Gabourey Sidibe plays the title character, an illiterate, overweight teenage black girl in 1987 Harlem. She lives with her abusive mother (Mo'Nique) and already has one child and another on the way, both of which came from getting raped by her father. Their world is one of the grittiest ever brought to screen: aside from the scuzzy surroundings, everything's always about to explode in their apartment.

When the bullied Precious gets expelled from her school, she gets reassigned to an alternative school. So begins a new adventure in her life. But not without some tough spots along the way.

Clever and understated pseudo-documentary

With a droll sense of humor and a flair for gentle satire, the filmmakers poke affectionate fun at the life of a teacher, while at the same time evincing a genuine respect for the characters and what it is they are trying to do. The movie acknowledges that teaching is a difficult profession, yet it doesn't insult those who dedicate their lives to it by pretending that all one need have to be successful is a magical combination of motivational speeches and good intentions.

The cast members, most of whom are newcomers to the movies, never undercut the joke by winking at the camera or treating the material with anything less than total earnestness. They genuinely appear to be ad-libbing their lines, lending to the film the air of spontaneity and improvisation befitting a documentary. And the movie ends on a note of quiet poignancy that reminds us of just how powerful a tool restraint can be in making a point.

By refusing to resort to either melodrama or hyperbole, "Chalk" paints about as realistic a portrait of life in the classroom as I've seen in quite some time.

Chalk

The low-budget comedy "Chalk" provides a welcome antidote to all those inspirational, cookie-cutter crowd-pleasers like "Freedom Writers" and "Dangerous Minds" that Hollywood routinely proffers in answer to our troubled schools.

Although this is a scripted, fictional film, co-writers Mike Akel (who is also the director) and Chris Mass (who also plays one of the teachers) have given "Chalk" the look and feel of a slice-of-life documentary. Director Akel has trained his cameras on a handful of young teachers and one first-year administrator as they go about the business of molding young minds at a fictional school called Harrison High (though the location remains unidentified, the movie itself was filmed in Austin, Texas). Yet, these are not your typical movie "super teachers" who, through sheer force of personality and a series of well-crafted lessons, are able to convert their initially hardened students into lifelong lovers of learning. Rather, the teachers here are well-meaning but imperfect mortals who wage a daily battle with students who won't learn, copiers that won't copy, and colleagues who often don't see eye-to-eye even on the most rudimentary aspects of teaching and learning, let alone on how best to run a school. Frankly, it's a good day for these teachers if the students aren't fighting in the lunch area, hiding the chalk as a lame practical joke, or arguing about why they aren't allowed to use a cell phone in class. And there are times in which the teachers themselves come across as more insecure, petty and immature than even their own students. Yet, there are also those special moments when the teachers and pupils manage to connect on a meaningful level - those little flashes of hope that the whole frustrating ordeal might just possibly amount to something worthy in the end.

A winner despite conventional story elements

"Because of scoring exceptionally high on a state wide standardized exam and being an exceptionally good basketball player Jamal Wallace is sent to a prestigious prep school in Manhattan. He soon befriends the reclusive writer, William Forrester. "

Inspiring story of an ambitious urban African-American teenager, a prodigy of the Bronx who's not only a great athlete but academically brilliant as well, and his unlikely bond with a reclusive writer who teaches him the merits of good writing and invaluable insight to life after he enrolls in a predominantly white, upper-class prep school. The premise is simple and familiar, to say the least, but it's acted with conviction and always involving with some poignant messages about friendship, as well as the pursuit and discovery of a true life's dream. More profane than it needs to be, but overall a thoughtful and in-depth drama with newcomer Brown making a formidable on-screen presence for old pro Connery.

This is a highly intelligent film with a strong story, steady direction and marvelous acting. Despite an all too familiar storyline, it differentiates itself by its wide-ranging excellence. For those who enjoy good dramatic performances and intriguing character studies, this film is not to be missed.

Finding Forrester

William Forester once wrote a Pulitzer Prize winning book, but now is a recluse, hiding from his fame, who never leaves his book-filled apartment in the Bronx, but spends his time reading and bird watching, as well as watching the teenagers of the neighborhood play basketball in the park outside his window. Jamal Wallace is one of these teenagers. He hides his love of reading, and his brilliant writing skills, and chooses instead to gain the acceptance of his peers through his skill at basketball. A prep school has offered Jamal a scholarship because of his high test scores, and their need to win a basketball championship. The two characters meet, and Forester becomes a sort of teacher/mentor, but both learn many things from each other. The friendship leads to William to overcome his reclusiveness and for Jamal to overcome the racial prejudices and pursue his true dream - writing. Symbolism is important in this film, and it makes many good points about people, how we relate to each other, and how we deal with the difficulties of life.

Strong acting helps overcome the familiarity of the material

Morgan Freeman is perfectly cast as Joe Clark, a newly appointed principal at a deteriorating, gang-ridden school who gets through to his students with a tough, opinionated, no-nonsense approach to the pursuit of academic excellence. The odds are stacked against him as the education board threatens to shut down East Side High School, but with his burning desire, devoted staff and administration, and some bright students who actually want to succeed, he rallies them for what will be the final chance for the school to remain open.

Clark turned Eastside around, appearing on the cover of "Time Magazine" and becoming a national symbol of tough-love education. "If you don't succeed in life," Clark tells his students, "don't blame your backgrounds. Don't blame the Establishment. Blame YOURSELVES." His message is simple: Don't lean on excuses, drugs, crime, or anger. LEAN ON ME...and learn.

Based on a true story the premise is familiar and the script has its ups and downs, but it's meaningful and acted with strength and conviction, especially Freeman who is nothing short of superb.