Hello Oscar: 'Precious' Reigns Over Toronto
Will a Toronto and Sundance win translate to Oscar gold?
This news couldn't be better in my opinion as Lee Daniels's Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire was the recipient of the top audience award at the Toronto International Film Festival and as I have said several times before, this film is magnificent. I am anxious to see what kind of momentum this adds to the film from exec producers Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry as it is the first time I have ever been happy to see those two names attached to a film in hopes it serves as cause for serious audience and Oscar attention.
Heading into Toronto all the talk was for Jason Reitman's Up In the Air, which had just premiered to raves out of Telluride, but for Precious to walk away from Toronto with the top prize that is really saying something. Not to mention it is now the only film ever to win the audience prizes at both Sundance and Toronto. The Precious win mimicks Slumdog Millionaire's win at the same festival last year, will its award season be similar as well?
Over at The Envelope Tom O'Neil poses the same question and finds the difference in Slumdog's tone as a possible sticking point saying, "Precious inspires hope, but doesn't make your feet fly with a rousing dance number at the end — that's the key difference. However, Precious will certainly be nominated for best picture now that the Oscar list has been expanded to 10, best screenplay and acting bids seem to be assured for Sidibe (lead) and Mo'Nique (supporting). Both gals have a terrific shot at winning. Precious may reap a bid for best director too."
The film beat out first runner-up Bruce Beresford's Mao's Last Dancer and second runner-up Jean-Pierre Jeunet's Micmacs in the competition voted on Toronto festival-goers.
In a statement reported by The Hollywood Reporter, Daniels said, "The audience award holds such an important meaning. I made this film for every person out there who ever looked in the mirror and felt unsure about the person looking back."
Over on his blog, Roger Ebert writes, "This could not be a better omen for the Oscar chances of Precious; it is all but certain to win a place on the expanded list of the Academy's 10 'best picture' nominees. Its star, Gabourey (Gabby) Sidibe, is also a real possibility for an acting nomination."
Dave Karger at Entertainment Weekly writes, "[Precious] is well on its way to becoming one of next year’s 10 Best Picture nominees, while its stars Gabourey Sidibe and Mo'Nique are strong contenders in the Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress categories, respectively."
Over at Variety Jennie Punter adds, "With Sundance's grand jury, aud and acting (Mo'Nique) prizes already in the trophy case, [Precious] is solidly poised for awards season contention, if the eight-Oscar legacy of Toronto's 2008 aud winner Slumdog Millionaire is any indication."
I can't tell you how happy I am to see growing support for this film. As O'Neil says above, the film inspires hope and it does it despite a truly tragic story, which Ebert describes as the story of a teenage girl who seems to have everything going against her. The acting, directing, screenwriting, editing… everything about this film was perfect in my eyes and I can't wait for more of you to see it.
I've been tracking this one pretty high so far in my "The Contenders" section and have the film sitting in the #5 spot in my Best Picture predictions, but I will definitely have it leap-frogging An Education (another great film) following my next update.
Precious hits theaters on November 6, for more information on the film click here and for my continued awards season coverage click here.
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Very excited for this film. Have you read the book Brad? I really loved the novel and have been anticipating this film ever since. The buzz around the film is terrific and I definitely think it has a shot to sweep the Oscars? It's tough to make a concrete prediction at this point because we haven't heard anything about Invictus or The Lovely Bones.
I just can't see anything beating Nine at this point. That movie just screams Oscar, and this really doesn't. Then again, I haven't seen either, so I guess I'll have to wait and see.
im sorry but i have zero interest in Precious. I saw the preview for it when i saw 500 days of summer and me and the girl i was with looked at each other in shock it just looks so depressing. I am very very open minded to many types of films but i just cant see any interest in watching this. Im sure the acting is great but from many people who i have talked to just cant find any reason to see it. Are we missing something cause the preview just depresses us all it seems.
The first time you've been happy to see Tyler Perry's name on a film? Don't forget he had a cameo in "Star Trek." :D
But seriously, in like the last two or three days I'm suddenly interested in this film.
@Josh (Go UNC and Lakers!!!!): Trust me Josh, I was in your camp and it is depressing, but it also carries a HUGE message of hope. I would hate for anyone to miss this movie based on preconceptions.
I also am not interested to watch, but it does look like a quality movie. What a director, to get good work from the likes of Mariah Carey and Mo'Nique, and Oscar talk for someone with no prior history on imdb.com (Sidibe).
Good to know thank you. I knew that you were the guy to go to about this since no one else has really seen it but if this gets a release here I'll give it a try even if I have to go alone. Thanks for the point of view
"…but it also carries a HUGE message of hope."
Should be the official tagline for the film.
Seriously though, I've been interested in this since Sundance.
@Steve:
Im sorry dude but you obviously have noooo idea who the director is, Lee Daniels was also the producer of "Monsters Ball", remember that lil diddy and the MAJOR(oscar) hype with that film? Oh yeah, he also produced a very disturbing movie called "The Woodsman" starring Kevin Beacon, if you havent seen it please do, one helluva performance by Kevin his wife Kyra and even rapper Eve! Lee Daniels has skills!
Let me lead off by saying that I'm VERY excited about this film, for both its subject matter and performances. I very much look forward to seeing it and intend to at the earliest opportunity. However, I've heard some talk about it coming from behind. In reality this is a Tyler Perry/Oprah Winfrey production. There's plenty of money and momentum behind it.
FYI…http://www.slaveryinamerica.org/history/hs_essays.htm
( good Historical documentation)
I have read this book, & will watch the movie as I am hoping it follows the book quite closely.
Toni Morrison's "THE BLUEST EYE" touched on the underlying issues with a difference in time & location. Denzel Washington's "Antwone Fisher", undertook a modern preliminary examination of the unresolved & multi-generational psychological trauma that manifests as:
· lateral violence ( when an oppressed group turns on itself and begins to violate each other )
· suicide
· depression
· poverty
· alcoholism/drug abuse
· lack of parenting skills
· lack of capacity to build and sustain healthy families and communities
within the segment of society I was raised to identify as "Blue Corn People" & what you now call " African Americans".
Donna Meness
Algonquin Nation
Kitigan Zibi Anishnebeg Community
Turtle Island
http://www.idloa.org