The Martlet

Commentators are billing the 82nd Academy Awards as the “Battle of the Exes,” with James Cameron’s Avatar vying for the top prize versus his ex-wife Kathryn Bigelow’s The Hurt Locker.

But this year has churned out a number of remarkable movies, including two that have been slightly overlooked in all the hubbub. Most notable in the list are Precious and A Single Man. Though they only received a handful of nominations, these are powerful and remarkable films that need to be acknowledged.

A Single Man, the directorial debut of fashion designer Tom Ford, is a powerful meditation on the loss of a loved one. Colin Firth anchors the simple, elegant movie, giving us one of the most moving and realistic portrayals of a homosexual in Hollywood history.

Unlike Brokeback Mountain a few years ago, A Single Man doesn’t flout its lead character’s homosexuality for political reasons, nor does it feel forced or idealistic. Rather, the movie is about his grief and, ultimately, about appreciating the small human moments in life.

The film, set in the 1960s, follows a single day in the life of British university professor George Falconer. Whether he is buying a pack of cigarettes or a bottle of gin for his longtime friend and confidante Charley, played by Julianne Moore, the film emphasizes particular moments of human connection throughout a seemingly mundane day.

Ford chose to use the same design team that created the 1960s period look for Mad Men, and it’s clear from watching the film that it was directed by a fashion guru. Every character looks like they’ve waltzed out of a magazine, and the set pieces make the audience feel like they’ve gone back in time.

The film’s main nomination is for Firth’s lead performance, but many believe he may lose to Jeff Bridges for Crazy Heart. Though both men are deserving, it is Firth who took a real risk with this role.

Regardless of the outcome, A Single Man is a beautiful piece of work that will resonate with audiences for years to come.

Precious, on the other hand, ran the risk of being melodramatic and exploitative. The story of a pregnant, overweight, black teenage girl growing up in Harlem is a problematic premise if not handled properly. In the hands of Academy Award nominated Lee Daniels, however, it becomes a captivating, hopeful and life-affirming journey.

There has been a great deal of attention paid to Mo’Nique, who plays the abusive mother of the main character. No other performance this year compares to it. She snarls throughout this movie like a feral beast, commanding the screen every moment she appears. A performance without a shred of vanity and so emotionally engaging it will leave the audience exhausted, Mo’Nique deserves all the hype she has received.

Unfortunately, her performance overshadows what was already a tremendous piece of work, with a tight script, a talented cast and a visually appealing story. Precious will not win Best Picture (though it is nominated), but it is one of the rawest depictions of inner city life ever put on celluloid.

Unlike The Blind Side, which was also nominated for Best Picture this year and has received harsh criticism for its overly simplistic storyline and latent racism, Precious is a gritty, inspiring story of how a community can come together to make a significant difference in one teenager’s life.

Make sure you don’t miss either of these films.