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Is this movie the Slumdog Millionaire of 2009? Host Grace Randolph asks audiences if this indie drama is tough love, or too tough to watch.

Author: mmhsbando Keywords: 2006 Mira Mesa Sapphire Sound Band Color Guard SCSBOA Championships 5th Rancho Buena Vista Added: November 14, 2009

Denver may not be a city that attracts the amount of movie industry buzz that centers around our Western neighbors of Telluride, Sundance and Austin, but we do have a solid and fervent community of film lovers here. We don't have a ton of film events, but what we do have is cherished and obsessed over enough to rival the Alamo Drafthouse. One of these events is the Starz Denver Film Festival, which is going strong in its 32nd year. After partnering with Starz, over the years, we've played host to Crispin Glover, Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy, Will Smith, Ang Lee, and enjoyed every on-the-cusp-of-Oscar movie of the past three seasons. This year is no exception as the festival kicks off this week with Precious, which was produced by the Denver-based Sarah Siegel Magness and Gary Magness. Denver will also get a chance to "meet" the film's buzzed about star, Gabourey Sidibe. Three legendary actors will be receiving the spotlight while enjoying our thin air: Ed Harris and his latest film, Touching Home will be the focus of a special evening, and will receive the Mayor's Achivement Award. Hal Holbrook will be receiving the Excellence in Acting Award, and be on hand with his new film, That Evening Sun. Last but not least, J.K. Simmons will be receiving the Cassavetes Award, and be presenting his new film, The Vicious Kind. But hey, that's the glitzy statuette stuff. If you're a Colorado native, you need to check out the impressive schedule which includes big films such as Leaves of Grass, Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, The Last Station, The Young Victoria, and Best Worst Movie with special screenings of its star, Troll 2. If you want to avoid the buzz, there's enough intriguing indies, documentaries, and foreign film selections to make your eyeballs fall out.Filed under: Festival ReportsContinue reading Looking Ahead to the 2009 Denver Film Festival Permalink | Email this | Comments

Precious the movie, author Sapphie, Mariah, Sapphire, Gayle King, Jane Fonda, Mary J. Blige and more talk with Harlem Talk Radio about the power and importance of the movie 36 views | 0 comments Click here to watch the video (01:55) Submitted By: HarlemTalkRadio Tags: Precious The Movie Author Sapphie Mariah Sapphire Gayle King Jane Fonda J. Mary J. Blige Categories: Entertainment

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By Eric D. Snider (reprint from 1/19/09 -- Sundance Film Festival) The premise of Precious is so unsettling and bleak that no one would blame you if you didn't want to see it: It's the story of an obese 16-year-old illiterate Harlem girl who's pregnant (for the second time) by her own father, lives with her monstrously abusive mother, and has almost given up on life. But if you do see it, you'll find that it's compelling and artistic, punctuated with warm humor and masterful performances, and ultimately triumphant and hopeful. The girl is named Claireece "Precious" Jones (she goes by Precious), and she's played with astonishing rawness by newcomer Gabourey Sidibe. Narrating the film, Precious tells us the grim facts. Beyond the ones already noted, she is still in junior high school (where she's dumbly in love with her kindly math teacher); her first child, born with Down syndrome, is technically in her mother's custody but is actually cared for by her grandmother; and her mother, Mary (Mo'Nique), is a welfare-absorbing harridan who abuses Precious in every possible way, hating her daughter for "stealing" her man. Precious did no such thing, of course -- she was raped by her father -- but Mary is not interested in details. Precious is directed by her principal to an alternative school called Each One Teach One. Her class is populated by other girls who dropped out or were kicked out of public schools for various reasons; it's telling that even in such a motley group, Precious is still the most timid, the most withdrawn, and the most messed-up. The teacher, Ms. Rain (Paula Patton), is dedicated to her work, perhaps the first adult to ever take a genuine interest in helping Precious. The other students might be Precious' first friends, too. Filed under: Drama, Independent, Lionsgate Films, Theatrical ReviewsContinue reading Review: Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire Permalink | Email this | Comments

Precious the movie, author Sapphie, Mariah, Sapphire, Gayle King, Jane Fonda, Mary J. Blige and more talk with Harlem Talk Radio about the power and importance of the movie

HipHollywood.com was at the red carpet of one of the biggest premiere's of the year, "Precious". Our Vanessa Barnett talked to the stars of the film that is already getting tons of Oscar buzz.