I’m excited today because I’m checking out Precious at the Sunday Matinee at the $1.00 show. Some people may think that I am a little late but I think that I am right on time. The 82nd Academy Awards airs tonight at 8:00 on ABC. If Mo’Nique wins for best supporting actress, I want to go on the emotional rollercoaster ride with her. I must check out the flick and report back to my readers. You guys will be getting updates from me throughout the day. I am eagerly awaiting my viewing of Lee Daniels’ dramatic film.
9:00-I’m headed to church to pray for everyone nominated for Precious. Oh yeah!
12:00-Church was awesome! Thank you Reverend Jim Lee for that uplifting service. Reverend Jim Lee wants all of us to accept our compliments gracefully because our souls are in need of them. Now it is time to find out the show times at Universal Mall.
1:00-Okay. When did they close the dollar show at Universal Mall? Now what am I going to do. You know what. I know people. Time to get my hustle on! After I get my hustle on, I’m going rollerskating with my sister, Doreen Thomas, and my two beautiful nieces, Cierra and Ashley.
4:30-I went rollerskating, fell on my knees, and ripped my jeans. Oh well. I will do better next time. My wheels are turning. I need to see Precious today before the Academy Award Show airs.
6:00-Alright. I’m about to view Precious. I can’t tell you how I pulled that one off, but most of you should already know. Shhh! The movie is on.
8:00-Wow! Precious is the tragic and triumphant story of an obese and illiterate pregnant teenager. Her father is an out-cold rapist and her mother is monstrously abusive in every way. I hope everyone remembers the scene when Mary Jones, the mother, called Precious into her bedroom when she was masturbating. Very disheartening! Thank God that Precious was amazingly resilient and was able to move on with her life after entering an alternative school for girls. Precious needed to feel real love. She got that love from her teacher, her social worker, and her two babies. That love empowered Precious to end the cycle of abuse.
8:30-Time for the show! Why is Doogie Howser, MD, singing?
9:50-Geoffrey Fletcher wins for Best Adapted Screenplay for Precious. I am elated that a fellow black writer won an Oscar! Hooray!
10:00-Mo’Nique wins for Best Supporting Actress! Ooops! The camera caught Samuel L. Jackson crying. That’s okay Shaft! Real men cry! Sorry for digressing. Monique is doing a great job at maintaining her composure. She is very poised. I’m so proud of her. In her brief acceptance speech, Mo’Nique offered thanks to Hattie McDaniel, the actress who became the first black to win an acting Oscar in 1940. Mo’Nique said, “I would like to thank Miss Hattie McDaniel, for enduring what she had to so I would not have to.”
10:30-Lee Daniels is an amazing director. He didn’t win but he will win in the future.
11:45-That’s alright Gabourey Sidibe. You are a newbie. Maybe next year.
12:00-The show is over. Precious won two Oscars. The truth is that all of the people involved with the movie, based on the novel Push by Sapphire, are winners.
Please remember a point made by Mo”nique: “I want to be clear about something. It’s not the black experience. This movie was a life experience, and the people playing the parts happened to be black. If you take Mary Jones and Precious and put them in the heart of Beverly Hills, don’t you think they exist?…If you take them and put them anywhere on the face of this earth where there are human beings, those two people exist.”
The characters in Precious do exist in real life. I know some precious children. And I bet that you know some precious children too; you just don’t know it yet. Much love to all the precious boys and girls!
Peace and Love,
Rachel Araya
Comments on: "A ‘Precious’ Day" (1)
OH MY GOD, im soooo late on reading this one, but as you know, i had to watch the movie too. First off love that you commentated this piece, i was at the top of my chair like i was watching the show myself! Second just all round well done, and of course you know that this happens in real life although the film depicated is fictional, there are many facts of heart renching, soul turning moments in this movie that had me sick to my stomache. And im glad you reconized that it can happen and probably is happening in beverly hill. But to the blog and how glad we, african american, are THREE THUMBS UP for MONIQUE…opps i only have two! lol…she deserved it and recieved it!
Since this has occurred have you thought about what it takes to win an oscar as an african american…why are all the parts degrading to us in some way….i havent watch Glory with Morgan Freeman..just a thought! luv u sis good piece