Raped repeatedly by her father, abused by her horrible mother and kicked out of school for her second pregnancy, Precious (also obese, black and illiterate) finds redemption when an alternative-school teacher (lesbian) teaches her to read and write a journal about her feelings. Writing isn't ...

Harshing on Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire (Lionsgate Films), the awkwardly titled Lee Daniels adaptation of an "urban fiction" bestseller, makes a critic feel almost as mean-spirited as Mary, the monstrously abusive mother of the film's eponymous heroine. Parked in front of the ...

The New York Times Magazine that made Precious actress Gabourey Sidibe a cover girl was almost a too-good-to-be-true moment. All at once, the world was a more inclusive place for people of dark complexions, ample body sizes and for people living in the shadows of the less visible ...

By Debbie Schlussel I saw a movie last night, starring in your face, morbidly obese actress, Monique, about whom I’ve previously written (here and here). To remind you, she’s the star of the movie, “Phat Girlz” (read my review) and author of “Skinny Women Are ...