Maddenation
Precious
I hate movies like Precious. Depressing stories about ugly people (inside and out) whose lives scream stupidity and hopelessness. Yes, I can see the artistry involved and the stark truth of their situations, but as mom asked as we discussed it, “Why do they make these movies?”
Why also do they encourage the dramatization of this kind of monstrous behavior by giving them awards, implying that negative, exploitative celebrators of the dirty underbelly of human nature are somehow smarter, more courageous, and morally superior to those who bring us uplifting fare like Up or The Blind Side?
Thankfully, we didn’t waste time and money seeing Precious in the theater. I watched the whole thing, but didn’t enjoy it. I didn’t need to think about people like her despicable father or contemptible mother or the societal conditions that some would say partially implicate all of us in this disgusting tragedy. The movie wasn’t even well done, nor did it offer any hope for the future, nor give us a clear indication where it was going in the end. Maybe the book was better, but I’ll not be wasting any of my time finding out.
In the end, I was motivated to write this entry but I’m at a loss to explain my feelings or create an appropriate closing thought. What the movie seems to promote is despair, knowingly or unknowingly. I refuse to accept the message.
Dad • Movies • 03/11/10 • 1 comments
Comments
Patrick • 03/31/10 • 2:26 PM:I was thinking I might want to see this movie (it was playing at Sundance last year when I went with David Lazar to a few movies), but now I don’t have to. Thanks, Dad.
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