‘Precious’ Film Producer Follows Heartbreaking Road to ‘Tennessee’

Douglas Boultinghouse
Managing Editor

    Fresh off the success of the dramatic and critically-acclaimed hit “Precious,” producer Lee Daniels released another film starring Mariah Carey, titled “Tennessee.”

Courtesy of HollywoodOutbreak.com

The Cover-DVD cover/Movie Poster for the Lee Daniels film "Tennessee" starring Mariah Carey, Ethan Peck and Adam Rothenberg.

   When the terms “movie” and “Mariah Carey” come together, many question the seriousness of the project after the 2001 incident known as “Glitter,” which received poor reviews.

   Forget “Glitter.”

   Daniels cast Carey in “Tennessee” in 2008, but because of the film being a low-budget, independent film, it did not see a wide-spread release until it hit stores Jan. 26.

   Carey’s work in “Tennessee” led to her receiving the small role of a social worker in Daniel’s “Precious,” based on the book “Push” by Sapphire.

   “Tennessee” tells the story of brothers Ellis (played by Ethan Peck) and Carter (played by Adam Rothenberg) who left Tennessee with their mother to escape life with their abusive father.

   The family settled in New Mexico, but after the mother dies and doctors diagnose Ellis with Leukemia, Carter realizes his bone marrow does match for a transplant. Their only hope lies in their father in Tennessee.  

   The brothers head for Tennessee, but break down in Texas where they meet Krystal (played by Carey) working in a diner. Krystal aspires to be a singer, but because of her marriage filled with anger and abuse, her dreams remain dreams. Krystal decides to join the brothers on their journey, so she can sing in Nashville, Tenn.

   The three take to the road, running from Krystal’s husband on the hunt for them. After close calls in Oklahoma and Arkansas, the trio arrives in Nashville. Krystal performs the song “Right to Dream,” a song Carey co-wrote with country music legend Willie Nelson, and wins money, which she gives to Ellis to help complete his mission of finding his father.

   The film reaches a powerful conclusion, one many will not expect, proving the film’s theme, “There is always one last chance.”

   Rothenberg’s performance holds strong throughout, but the chemistry between Peck and Carey soar and pull the story along. In fact, the raw emotion Carey portrays in the film comes across powerfully. If the film had a higher budget and release, Carey may have been considered for an Oscar for her role, as would Peck.

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