EVENTS: “PUSH” DINNER PARTY PREMIERE
Saturday, January 17, 2009

Mo’Nique and director Lee Daniels arrive at the dinner party for the screening of Push held at the Phoenix Gallery during the 2009 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.
Push, based on the novel by Sapphire, is the story of Claireece Precious Jones, an overweight, illiterate teen who is pregnant with her second child. She endures unimaginable hardships in her young life: abused by her mother, raped by her father, growing up poor, feeling unloved and generally unnoticed. She is invited to enroll in an alternative school in hopes that her life can head in a new direction.
Guests included Mariah Carey (who plays a social worker in the film), Nick Cannon, Paula Patton (Claireece’s teacher), Robin Thicke and Young Jeezy.








68 Comments
1.
Barbie09
Saturday, January 17, 2009 /
Monique has lost alot of weight….. she looks great though!
2.
KMBPYT
Saturday, January 17, 2009 /
Everybody looks nice.
3.
Bediah
Saturday, January 17, 2009 /
Monique is looking really good. Glad to c that the happy couple is still together and Cuba looks really different now.
4.
Michellemac
Saturday, January 17, 2009 /
monique looks great!
5.
4000 words
Saturday, January 17, 2009 /
Monique looks better with less weight.
For some reason i laugh everytime i see nick and mimi together, but they are cute
I loooooove Robin Thicke, he is definately one of the most talented men in music at the moment. Him and his wife are a cute couple too
Cuba looks rougher than usual, and thats saying something!
6.
LadyCole
Saturday, January 17, 2009 /
go head monique!! everyone looks good.
7.
Diamond Latrelle
Saturday, January 17, 2009 /
Monique looks great!!! Everyone looks nice
8.
Shuckin' and Jivin'
Saturday, January 17, 2009 /
I cannot wait too see this movie! I ordered the book from Amazon and I hope the book and movie are as good as I heard!
Mo’nique looks gorg!
9.
Shuckin' and Jivin'
Saturday, January 17, 2009 /
anybody know if they have a trailer out for this film?
10.
J. Dakar
Saturday, January 17, 2009 /
#9: I tried my best to find one, but rest assured we’ll definitely post it once it’s available.
11.
HOTMOMMA001
Saturday, January 17, 2009 /
From reading the prologue, it appears that it may be a movie I’d be interested in seeing! Everyone looks nice.
12.
☆ Lola A♏ ★
Saturday, January 17, 2009 /
SHUCKY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyhoo, I’ve heard great things about the story. It’s very sad, but I can’t wait to see it.
Get em Mo!
13.
Preston
Saturday, January 17, 2009 /
Monique looks good !!
14.
Licea
Saturday, January 17, 2009 /
Looks like Mo mo is losing her weight naturally unlike another black female celebrity I shall not name *cough* Star Jones. Monique looks fabulous! Everyone else looks good too except Cuba.
15.
ghop
Saturday, January 17, 2009 /
Monique looks AWESOME! Alot of people on MediaTakeOut are talking about she is always talking about how great it is to be fat and now being a traitor b/c she lost weight.
the THEME behind Moniques message is that it is BEAUTIFUL to LOOOOVEE the skin you’re in, regardless of your circumstance, your failed diets, etc…
To feel COMFORTABLe being yourself…
And its NOTHING NOTHING wrong with living a healthier lifestyle; fortunately, weight loss and toning come with that…..
SO to ALL THE POTENTIAL HATERS!
GET BACK!
16.
platinum glam
Saturday, January 17, 2009 /
Sounds like Fantasia movie with added rue. I wonder who plays the main character.
17.
STLCHICK
Saturday, January 17, 2009 /
I want to see this movie becase it’s about time that Monique isn’t playing some horribly stereotyped, rude, overweight, horny woman. Mariah Carey is kinda making me a lil afraid to see this though.
18.
CREAMY
Saturday, January 17, 2009 /
OMG IT’S CRAZY, I WAS JUST SEARCHING FOR THIS FILM ON IMDB.COM BUT COULDN’T FIND A THING…
I THINK THEY HAD IT CONFUSED WITH THE ACTION FILM THAT’S OUT RIGHT NOW WITH THE SAME NAME…
BUT IT’S NICE TO KNOW THE MOVIE IS DONE (I HOPE?)… I HAVE THE BOOK, BUT NEVER FINISHED READING IT. COULDN’T GET PAST THE PARTS WHERE THE MOTHER IS ABUSING HER/FEELING UP ON HER & STUFF…. IT JUST GROSSED ME OUT.
HOPEFULLY, THE MOVIE DOESN’T TAKE IT THAT FAR….
19.
Hello Claireece
Saturday, January 17, 2009 /
#9: The closest thing available now is Gabourey Sidibe’s audition for the role of the main character, Precious, which she got. It’s on Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrFE9QcPU6w
I’m excited but nervous after watching Shadowboxer. Lee Daniels should sleep on the editing room floor to get better acquainted with it.
20.
m* OF suNRISESUNDOWN.BLOGSPOT.COM
Saturday, January 17, 2009 /
YOUNG JEEEZY RANDOM! JK”
THIS MOVIE MUST BE GOOD, NEVER HEARD OF IT
MONIQUE LOOKS SO BEAUTIFUL.
21.
Hello Claireece
Saturday, January 17, 2009 /
Almost forgot… Mo’Nique looks good! She’s at a good weight.
22.
ButtaBaby
Saturday, January 17, 2009 /
Jeezy lookin soo damn good wit dat facial hair
I see why Keyshia be on his ass now
23.
Che
Saturday, January 17, 2009 /
STLCHICK, Moniques’ character who is the mother to the main girl. Moniques’ character is an overweight, physically, emotionally, mentally abusive mother. She’s actually much heavier in the film than she is in these pics. If you check out Black Voices on AOL she talks about the film and her character.
I do like Lee Daniels film even if he’s kinda creepy weird to me. I know he stated that the book couldn’t be literally translated to the screen because it’s a very graphic story so certain parts I’m assuming depicting the moments of abuse are done in more of a fantasy aspect.
24.
Queen Bee
Saturday, January 17, 2009 /
Look at Mo’Nique lossing weight on use. I have to say that she do look good thou.!!
That movie “Push” remind me of that movie “Jumper”. Believe me, it actually do. You will say the same thing if you say the movie “Jumper”. In both movies, Samuel L Jackson and the other black dude in “Push”, was hunting ppl down who had those powers, becuz he felt that only god should have them. I know that its something like that LOL..!! *sigh*
25.
DAnny
Saturday, January 17, 2009 /
Young Jeezy looks decent wit facial hair……he needs to keep that up
26.
TeTe
Saturday, January 17, 2009 /
i wanna see this one,have never heard of it before this post..
monique is sheddin the pounds,i need to know her secret!lol
damn that facial hair is workin for jeezy..ohhweee.he looks sexy,damn
27.
Nothing But Love
Saturday, January 17, 2009 /
Mo looks great i wanna see this so bad i ordered the book the other day.
28.
«*Solid Rich Girl*»
Saturday, January 17, 2009 /
Paula is so pretty and I love her style.MC and Nick look really really nice and solid.WoW.Jeezy for some reason looks really grown and sexy to me in that pic.I can’t put my finger on it.
29.
«*Solid Rich Girl*»
Saturday, January 17, 2009 /
No.I do know why Jeezy looks better to me now…He’s single and ready to mingle.haha!! Monique is so pretty and she will always be a pretty woman.
30.
Harlem Loves...
Saturday, January 17, 2009 /
I think Monique looks pretty fabulous
31.
Bijoux
Saturday, January 17, 2009 /
Monique looks fab! Awwww, Nick and Mariah look so cute together. They’ve really grown on me!!
32.
Yolanda
Saturday, January 17, 2009 /
I am so ready to see this movie. I was hoping it would be out before all the Oscar campaigning began.
33.
caramelqueen
Saturday, January 17, 2009 /
TO ALL YOU WHO WANT TO SEE THE MOVIE, I URGE YOU PLEASE PLEASE CONSIDER WHAT YOU MAY BE WATCHING.
I actually bought and read the book a long time ago, and it is literally the WORST book i have ever read in my life. not to be a spolier but the girl gets abused and molested by her mother, her father contiuosly rapes her, and she ends up having 2 of his kids. She ends up getting aids from her dad. The book is soooo graphic,it talks about how her dad started molesting her as a baby while having sex with her mom. it will literally make your stomach churn. there is no posivitve aspect to this story or movie. the girl does eventually learn to read and write but still the negative parts of the movie overshadow the good parts because she does die from aids.
Please… read the book before watching the movie. It will save you from having images to actually match those horrendous words in the book.
34.
MRS. SK8BOARD P (AK AND BK STAN)
Saturday, January 17, 2009 /
Mo looks so good, she looks healthier
35.
Nothing But Love
Saturday, January 17, 2009 /
Mariah and Nick look so cute together.
36.
keepin' it Positive
Saturday, January 17, 2009 /
Congrats to my ghyrl Monique on her weightloss. She is as beautiful as ever. She needs to monitor from here on out so she won’t go all Star Jones on us. So far so good. Mariah and Nick may just be a match made in heaven. Love Robin and Paula.
37.
LB
Saturday, January 17, 2009 /
#32, Wow! The worst book ever? I mean, disturbing, yes, but to say it’s the worst book is kind of harsh.
But, yes, a lot of the images are very graphic and very sad, but overall, the story is very hopeful. And the main character, Precious, is someone that I’m sure literary and movie audiences will love and feel for on some level.
So, for those who are interested in the reading the book, I will warn you that it is an emotional story, and there are parts, especially the parts with how the parents treat Precious, that will just plain disgust or infuriate you; but, the girl is a sweetheart and she wants what’s best for herself and her children. So, with that, I’m sure plenty of people will come out of it feeling strongly moved by what they just read.
So, I say, it’s worth reading. And hopefully, the movie honors the original story properly.
38.
Ladyssolady
Saturday, January 17, 2009 /
I really liked the book and am looking forward to the movie. Month looks good!
39.
Mickey
Saturday, January 17, 2009 /
@ *23…wrong “Push” movie sweetie. This one is based on a novel by Sapphire.
I read this a couple of years ago and although VERY graphic it was a good book. I suggest reading the book first and then going to see the movie when it comes out. I will say that if Monique can pull off the part of the mother then she truly has grown as an actress and deserves an award.
40.
AP
Saturday, January 17, 2009 /
Monique look good but its kinda weird seeing her this skinny???
41.
KNUCK
Saturday, January 17, 2009 /
Everyone looks great..
But cuba..? He looks very rough from his hair, eyes and hands. Hope he’s ok
42.
CREAMY
Saturday, January 17, 2009 /
I KINDA AGREE WITH #32…. LIKE I SAID BEFORE, COULDN’T EVEN FINISH THE BOOK CUZ IT WAS JUST TOO GRAPHIC, SAD, AND GROSS AT THOSE PARTS. SO I WON’T SAY THAT IT IS THE WORST BOOK EVER IF I DIDN’T EVEN FINISH IT….
BUT TO THINK THAT THERE’S GONNA BE A MOVIE BASED ON THAT BOOK IS KINDA QUESTIONABLE TO ME… I DON’T KNOW. I GUESS WE’LL SEE WHEN IT COMES OUT. HEY, IT MIGHT JUST END UP BEING OSCAR WORTHY FOR ALL I KNOW.
43.
JUJU
Saturday, January 17, 2009 /
alright then mo! looks nice
44.
cedes
Saturday, January 17, 2009 /
Everyone looks great.
I love Winter Fashion. [people dressed fully]
Is it me or is Nick Cannon looking alot mature and more of a GQ than usual…
45.
Don't Argue With Me It's Just An Opinion
Sunday, January 18, 2009 /
I’m so glad Monique lost some weight. It was so clear that she wasn’t happy the way she was.
46.
T
Sunday, January 18, 2009 /
OMG Monique is looking really good!
47.
T
Sunday, January 18, 2009 /
Oh and Nick is starting to look more older with Mariah.Like he fits in right with her…thats a beautiful photo of them.It looks like I can see them two growing together.Look at how they look…just beautiful together.He doesnt look like the Goofy nick cannon,He has a more mature look to him.Or how would you say it… a distinguished young fellow.
48.
T
Sunday, January 18, 2009 /
And wait a movie based on the book Push?I would go see that in a heartbeat.
49.
Ruth
Sunday, January 18, 2009 /
@ caramelqueen
You’re ignorance is so obvious. You probably thought “Coldest Winter Ever” was a literary masterpiece with a hopeful ending that all “at risk” wanna be video ho prepubescent little girls of color should pick up. don’t get me started on “hopeless”. sista souljah should be ashamed. but i digress….
you obviously aren’t intelligent nor well read or opend minded enough to understand the abstract. this book is full of hope. how else would precious (by the end of the book) know how to read and write? a poor black girl whose parents both sexually abused her from the time she was an infant. a child who had two children by her father as a result of that abuse, not to mention a fatal disease. who would want to face each day coming from those circumstances, let alone learn to read, write and assume full day to day responsibility for her children who were born out of such disgusting circumstances.
if you can’t see the hope - i’d be willing to bet that you’re blind as a bat.
50.
Skinny B's are WHAT
Sunday, January 18, 2009 /
Ok Mo I see you slimming down….be careful what you say….Skinny B’s are what….to all the women out here skinny to plus size…Leslie thinks your fabulous! As long as you’re healthy work it out…strut…walk and pose
51.
YUP
Sunday, January 18, 2009 /
OH WOW….I remember reading this book like 5 years ago..crazy as hell i must say considering I was only like 15 when I read it. It was very very different. I wonder how the movie will portray the gory parts of the book. I will be seeing this one. The book was definitely as real as abuse gets.
52.
cali panamami (eBay peddler)
Sunday, January 18, 2009 /
wow! mo’nique looks great!
53.
sigh
Sunday, January 18, 2009 /
I don’t think I wanna see this.
@ 32
Thank-you.
54.
Isabelmariah
Sunday, January 18, 2009 /
Mariah has already acted in another critically acclaimed movie also directed by Lee Daniels. The movie is called TENNESSEE. This movie, PUSH, got a standing ovation at Sundance.
55.
LTee313
Sunday, January 18, 2009 /
OK, why is Jeezy so hot these dayz!!!!!!
56.
SylentDreamz
Sunday, January 18, 2009 /
I remember reading this book when I was a freshman in college. It was one the of things the professor and I had in common, He loved the book and I had just finished reading it. The book is superb…it is a must read. I can’t wait for the movie to come out!
57.
Tiffany
Sunday, January 18, 2009 /
I’ve read the book and although I felt for precious ,it was a slow read for me like with THE COLOR PURPLE (or close to it ) because the book was wrote in first person and I found myself spending more time playing “MAKE OUT THIS WORD !” instead of being able to understand the book . So I then read a second time with a better view . I just hate to see great novels like these be sugar coated and washed down , because of the sexual graphics in the novel there’s gonna be alot of editing and fluffing which if you havent read the novel then you will never get the full effect of the movie .So I in encourage people to read the novel first . If you ever saw the movie Beloved (My fave btw ) It was long ,drawn out ,kinda boring , and if you havent read the novel first it seems like a boring ghost film . If you read the book without the sugar coating ONE HELL OF A GREAT STORY . So if you stop at your local library to check out Push ,I recommend getting Beloved also .
I know I wrote alot ,lol but i’m a film lover and even bigger Book reader ……
So the cast …….. having read the book I would have chose Voila Davis (Antwone Fisher/ The Fantasia Barrino story /Get Rich Or Die Trying ) to play the teacher .. Glenn Close as the social worker ……. young jeezy being in the film lets me know there’s gonna be alot of emprovising in the movie cause I really can’t think of were he would have a part in this … or nick cannon for that matter unless they play the the random boys in the class room .. or the boys at the bus stop that teased her … RANDOM …… I look forward to seeing the film but I won’t get my hopes up on this Film being anything as raw as the novel.
58.
leasimone
Monday, January 19, 2009 /
monica has lost hella weight, but jeezy def takes the cake…..he looks really really nice in this picture and i do love me some jeezy!!!
59.
Krazee
Monday, January 19, 2009 /
Read the book. It was a slow read after you got through the gory stuff. I must agree that the book should be read first before seeing the film. I don’t know if this is a good look for Monique. The role of the mother depicted in the book was very mean and abusive and who know how the film industry typecast especially when it is pertaining to African American roles. I guess she wanted a role that showed how serious an actor she is but I wonder why comedians always want to stretch their legs into acting(comedies) then they want to be taken seriously!!! Jim Carrey is an example of it going all types of wrong(did anyone see that psychological thriller he was in that had something to do with numbers?) . But I guess this is better than that “Soul Plane” crap and “Hair Show” mess she was in!! But wasn’t Tarji Hensen (whatever her last name is) in Hair Show as well? I guess its about time for the studios to give decent role to African American actors instead of us resorting to the straight to DVD or BET “Blackbuster” movie presentations.
60.
mack
Monday, January 19, 2009 /
cuba looks pretty bad.
61.
Kellz
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
I heard of Push (the book) but never got a chance to read it. I’m gonna check out the book first and decide if I’ll see the movie afterwards.
62.
she she
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
young jeezy starting to look sexy to me..
63.
Candace
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
Can some one tell me the name of the book, it does sound like an interesting book.
Thank you
64.
Candace
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 /
Oh and the author too, that would be helpful
65.
Theworldwillendin2012
Thursday, January 22, 2009 /
Nice try Young Jeezy, but your still NOT sexy, haha.
66.
ref
Thursday, January 22, 2009 /
this movie is by far the best i’ve seen at sundance. to say monique is phenominal is an understatement…the best performance ive seen in a longgg time. ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE. SEE IT.
67.
Tiffany
Monday, January 26, 2009 /
to Candice #64
The book is called PUSH By Sapphire
68.
onetha
Friday, January 30, 2009 /
I read the book when i was in high school and i always hoped that someone would make a movie out of it so i am anxious to see it!!! Do anybody know when it’ll be showing.