Gaboure Sidibe, 26, is giving established actresses a run for their Oscar, according to Variety. The 'Precious' star received three standing ovations at the AFI Fest premier of the Lee Daniels-directed film. Hollywood likes "breaktout" performers and Gabby's rising star status due to her performance as an illiterate, obese, 16-year-old single mother who's dealt with a lifetime of sexual, physical and mental abuse could be her ticket to a trophy come award season. If nominated for a Golden Globe or an Academy Award, Sidibe could likely be up against veteran players like Meryl Streep.

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'Precious' and 'Monster's Ball' director Lee Daniels is in talks to create a new film, 'Selma,' about the historic 1965 march in Alabama town Selma, that signified the height of the Civil Rights movement. Daniels will partner with producer Christian Colson ('Slumdog Millionaire') to bring the screenplay, written by Paul Webb ('Lincoln'), to life. Brad Pitt's Plan B will co-produce, according to Variety. It seems like Lee is the right guy for the right story. 

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Continue reading "MJB: 'Song for 'Precious' Draws From Personal Struggle" »

"Precious" is one of those movies that sticks with you. It's harsh, scary and takes you to another world, a dark place. A place that Black people--all people--don't want to admit exists. Based on the best selling novel "Push" by Sapphire, "Precious" deals with incest, literacy and abuse. The movie, a darling of the film festival circuit, is executive produced by Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry, and is starting to feel the Oscar buzz. The cutting-edge, independent film is directed by Lee Daniels, the man who worked with Halle Berry on her Academy Award winning performance in "Monster's Ball." ESSENCE.COM sat down with Daniel's to discuss the breakthrough performances, the controversy over the "darkness" and "pathology" of the movie, and the real meaning of "Precious."

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Despite the overwhelming box-office success of "Precious" and critic's speculating about the film's Oscar promise, the LA Times reports that actual Oscar voters, surprisingly, may not be as enthusiastic. Read more.

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Want to know what's happening this week? Check out our cultural calendar.

Continue reading "Radar 11/9: The Pop Culture Periscope" »

ESSENCE.com blogger Dr. Janet Taylor shares her observations on the film "Precious", discusses sexual abuse and incest the Black community, and explains why we have to watch out for our girls.

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Black female Oscar contenders weren't the only buzz on the red carpet of the "Precious" premiere. A shift in hair styles was also making a statement.

Continue reading "On the Red Carpet of 'Precious' Tight Hair Rules" »

Tonight 'Precious' hits the big screen. But that's not the only movie you should be excited about. Find out what flicks are coming to a theater near you from now through the end of the year...

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The young star of 'Precious' tells us how she prepared for the role of a lifetime, what happened between takes, and what she'll be doing in her next big screen part.

Continue reading "Gabourey Sidibe Talks 'Precious' and Mo'Nique" »

Tonight on Larry King, Mariah Carey discusses a history of "emotional abuse." While she will not go into details about who specifically she is talking about, we found this interesting: "There was a connection that was not only a marriage but a business thing, where the person was in control of my life." Hmmm.

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Continue reading "'Precious' Star Mo'Nique Talks Abuse in ESSENCE" »

Continue reading "GALLERY: Hollywood Premiere of 'Precious'" »