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Poetic Justice (1993)

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15 out of 15 people found the following comment useful :-
Triumph for Janet Jackson, 14 August 2003

Author: ha77ows3v3 from Toronto, Canada

Whenever a singer/musical artist decides to do a movie, the public's first reaction is to snicker and move on. The public couldn't say that about Janet Jackson though. Her career began as an actress with her stint as Penny on "Good Times" back in the late 70's. Was she good? Yes. Just watch the scene when little Penny's mother takes the iron, ready to burn her! But at the time of this film's release in 1993, Janet hadn't done any acting since the mid-80s. This being her first feature, she had a lot to prove. Can she still act? Definitely!

"Poetic Justice" is the story of Justice (Jackson), a disillusioned young poet who makes her living as a hair dresser. She's led a lonely life, and when she finally does experience love, it ends quite abruptly, and violently. In comes Lucky (played by late rapper/actor Tupac Shakur), he's rude and angry. Of course, the two immediately butt heads. Justice's friend Iesha (Regina King) decides a road trip is just what the two of them need. All plans are arranged, Iesha's boyfriend Chicago (Joe Torry) and his friend have a mail truck, their transportation. One catch, Chicago's friend happens to be Lucky.

For most of the ride, Justice and Lucky are at each other's throats, at one point they have a screaming match, a high light of the film. But eventually the two start to get along, which does seem surprising, but it works.

Janet Jackson is great! She took on a role that was very different from her public persona, a good way to introduce herself as an actress. Swear words and a street attitude are what Justice is about on the surface. The more sensitive sides of Justice are endearing and Jackson portrays both sides very well. See the "mirror scene" with Justice, that has got to be the saddest scene I've ever seen on film.

The chemistry between Jackson and Tupac is very strong, whether they're fighting, or being kind to one another, it's very real. Tupac was a great actor himself. He was the male version of Justice (minus the poetry). The supporting actors were very strong, believeable and excellent components to balance out the story.

Great flick 8/10

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8 out of 8 people found the following comment useful :-
An overlooked, intelligently produced and directed film., 31 December 1999
Author: frank56 (frankimages@hotmail.com) from Los Angeles, California

I applaud John Singleton for being brave enough to film "Poetic Justice" -- it's a real triumph in presenting a story that looks beyond Hollywood's usual stereotypes of urban youth. If you are looking for a typical gang-bangin' shoot em up angry urban film...look elsewhere, because that genre is miles away from Singleton's storytelling. This film has precisely what black audiences say they are looking for - depth, real characters with a number of real layers....and yet people say they cannot get into this film. I say watch it and simply feel the messages being conveyed through the hearts of the characters. Tupac Shakur's performance saddens my heart....because he had so much potential as an actor as proven with his performance here. I was fortunate enough to actually meet and compliment him on this performance, which is at turns skillful and all his own. He had that quality that film actors envy in that the camera loved him. Janet Jackson gives a skilled performance as well, and the two have a natural chemistry that works here. This film is worth watching...it's one of my favorites.

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7 out of 7 people found the following comment useful :-
not bad at all..., 28 June 2004
Author: whoTheFuqRyou from NYC

Poetic Justice is an urban film but within this catgory it stands out from alot of them in its own way. The movie uses some very interesting elements that I was familiar with and like most urban films they use realistic characters. The camerawork is nothing new but some of it is really good to look at. Janet Jackson is good as the somewhat uptight poet/hairdresser who is mourning the loss of her lover while on a night out with him as is Tupac in a rather different role from the ones he has in Juice, Bullet and Above The Rim. Not only is the role different but as a man it's impossible to not relate to him as you see his struggles in his life including one powerful scene in which he catches his baby's mother smokin' crack and having other men in his daughter's presence - I thought this worked great because I know how I'd feel if I had a kid and my baby's mother is bringing other men around my kid: I wouldn't be too happy. The road trip is where you begin to see all the characters(Pac Shakur, Janet Jackson, Regina King and Joe Torry) develop and John Singleton wastes little time doing that during that time...

Poetic Justice is a movie deserving alot more credit than it's getting but too bad there are people out there with stupid stereotypical assumptions so idiotic it can get someone angry

8/10

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6 out of 6 people found the following comment useful :-
One of the truly excellent films of the 1990's!, 12 May 2005
Author: josh-hall from United Kingdom

I saw this film after becoming addicted to 'Boyz n the hood'and 'Higher learning', I think John Singleton is one of the greatest filmmakers working today and Poetic Justice is a great example of a truly dedicated and talented filmmaker. The story starts off with Justice (played brilliantly by Janet Jackson, what a surprise)who witnesses the slaying of her boyfriend at a movie, justice becomes very depressed with life and feels nothing but loneliness. She expresses this by writing poems in a notebook to reveal her pain for her lost love and for the pain of living in America's South central l.a district. Lucky (again played greatly by Tupac Shakur in i feel his most personal and greatest role from 'Juice' right up to 'Gang Related')is a postman with nothing to look forward for in his life except to look after his daughter and a dream of rapping his pain for the hood. Together they go on a road trip with two other friends and learn on how to live again and to find their way in life. The performances are great, Singletons direction is wonderful. If your a fan of other 'hood' movies than this you might find a little different from the others. But nonetheless a deep hearted gem. 9/10

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5 out of 5 people found the following comment useful :-
A good street romance, 4 November 2001
Author: phatbleek from London, England

Poetic Justice is a great movie. It's not the follow up that wasn't as strong as it should have been for someone of Singelton calibar but it's still a good movie. Jackson and Shakur made their mark in this movie and keeps your attention. Check this out with Sineglton's other films in the ghetto trilogy, Boyz N The Hood &Baby Boy.

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5 out of 5 people found the following comment useful :-
A John Singleton movie that's a lot better than reviews would suggest., 21 May 1999
Author: macnjnc from Cincinnati, Ohio

Poetic Justice is the type of film that will sneak up on you. Some parts of the movie are a little slow, but as a whole the movie is very good. Director Singleton is able to bring a certain mood to this film; wavering between dark, funny and compassionate. Justice (Janet Jackson) is a directionless and lost female who expresses her wants and sorrows through poetry. Because of deaths in her family she is alone.

She reluctantly agrees to go on a mail trip with a friend (Regina King) and her male comrads. Little does she know that she would find her diamond in the rough in Lucky (Shakur). Although Lucky has a very hard exterior, Justice; through many trails and tribulations locates the good in him. It turns out that they (Justice and Lucky) are just what each other needs. Some may not be able to relate to this film, but if you can chances are you will really like the movie. This movie was not really made for mainstream audiences, just for certain people. I am one who was taken in by it, and it is one of my favorites. Great movie which probably appeals more to demographically urban viewers. Regina King and Joe Torry do a good job of providing support to the lead actors throughout.

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6 out of 7 people found the following comment useful :-
Not as bad as some think, 20 April 1999
Author: cupcake-6

Okay, I'll be the first to admit that this is nowhere near as good as Boyz in the Hood, however, it's not as bad as some make it out to be. The acting is somewhat lacking, but the story as a whole is moving. If you're a diehard Singleton fan, or are just in the mood for a pretty decent movie, go for it, you've got nothing to lose.

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9 out of 13 people found the following comment useful :-
So Easy To Relate To This Film, 18 September 2001

Author: tequieroselena from Los Angeles, California

Now, honestly, if you werent born and raised in L.A. you probably wouldn't be able to relate to this. However, I was born and raised in L.A., and all of the characters speech, slang, and laid-backness reminds me so much of people I know, including myself. It especially reminds me of being a teenager in high school, and all the boy drama and fights where all we did was swear at each other. It's very easy for me to identify with, and I think as long as you're from Los Angeles, you should be able to relate to this film.

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3 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :-
Worth a look!, 11 November 2004
Author: nadia-31 from Denmark

I read the other review and simply had to comment on it. This was a great movie. Perhaps not filled with action. But it takes the poetic point of view and happily surprises you. It's in my DVD - shelf at home. Janet is showing a great acting and so is Tupac. My boyfriend weren't that crazy about it, so I've come to realize that it take a special kind of person to want to see and understand the movie at it's fullest. Since i write poetry in my spare time maybe that explains my passion about this movie. In all, I think you should rent it if the review at the back cover tempt you, it's pretty much what you get.

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2 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :-
A Greatly Underrated Movie, 11 January 2004
Author: FishercherrlynnRKO from Pensacola

Poetic Justiceis one my favorite films.The storyline was something unique.But one thing about this film is acting.This film has some of the best talent I've ever seen(Janet Jackson was better in this than in the Nutty Professor 2).The acting was good and original.They didn't over play their parts,nor they did not play their parts good enough.They played their roles just right.The chemistry between Tupacand Janet just seem to touch your heart.The actors were suitable fo their roles.The casting director did a good job with this one.

The main character just seems to make you look at your life in your own point of veiw.In your own way,and in your own style.This is a movie about a girl's live in her point of veiw.It looks at her relationship between her friends and family,and her struggle.

All in all,I give this movie 9 out of 10.

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