Sundance reviews for 'Push' (Based on the novel by Sapphire)

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 1/20/09 at 1:26pm

An urban nightmare with a surfeit of soul, "Push: Based on a Novel by Sapphire" is like a diamond -- clear, bright, but oh so hard. To simply call it harrowing or unsparing doesn't quite cut it; "Push" is also courageous and uncompromising, a shaken cocktail of debasement and elation, despair and hope. Everyone involved deserves major credit for creating a movie so dangerous, problematic and ultimately elevating. Marketing will be a problem, because the shorthand description is so unpalatable. But this is, for all its scorched-earth emotion, a film to be loved.

http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117939367.html?categoryid=31&cs=1


Another stunner of a film is Lee Daniels' harrowing urban character study of an inner city overweight black teenager who strives to overcome her lifetime of socio-economic despair.

http://www.dailyfilmdose.com/2009/01/sundance-report-4-push-based-on-novel.html


Probably the least important aspect of Lee Daniels' fantastic new drama "Push: Based on the novel by Sapphire" was still the biggest elephant in the room at the Racquet Club theater in Park City, Utah last night: Can Mariah Carey show any acting skills whatsoever? Surprisingly, the answer is yes. In a movie filled with unconventional casting, Carey goes plain jane (i.e, absolutely no makeup) as a social worker and has to participate in a number of intense scenes where her fans will be happy to learn she clearly does not embarrass herself. The bigger surprises, however, were provided by Mo'Nique and the film's star, newcomer Gabourey Sidibe.

http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/2008-12-11-awards-campaign-2009/posts/2009-1-17-sundance-review-yes-carey-doesn-t-embarrass-in-push


Also stunning: Mo'Nique. I **** you not. As Precious' welfare cheating mother Mo'Nique essays one of the greatest bad moms in cinema history. She makes Joan Crawford look like Ma from Little House. The character is mean, nasty, violent, lazy and ugly - physically ugly in a way that must have taken a lot of courage on the part of Mo'nique. What I really appreciated about Mo'Nique's performance was not only how rotten she was willing to go but how she maintained that even during a big emotional scene where we get to understand why she is the way she is. Mo'Nique lays the character bare for us but never begs for us to feel bad for her or to change our opinion of her. The actress - and the film - knows that understanding isn't the same as accepting. Were Mo'Nique (and Sidibe) to be nominated for Oscars in 2010 I wouldn't imagine raising a stink. I wouldn't imagine raising anything but a glass in their direction for two performances that shatter with their honesty.

http://www.chud.com/articles/articles/17827/1/SUNDANCE-REVIEW-PUSH-BASED-ON-THE-NOVEL-BY-SAPPHIRE/Page1.html