Chi-Raq

Lionsgate | Release Date: December 4, 2015

5.4	USER SCORE Mixed or average reviews based on 65 Ratings

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TVJerryDec 10, 2015

Spike Lee has made some entertaining films, but when he gets political, things get heavy-handed real fast. The women of Chi-Raq (named because there are more gun deaths in Chicago than Afghanistan and Iraq combined) decide to withhold sex inSpike Lee has made some entertaining films, but when he gets political, things get heavy-handed real fast. The women of Chi-Raq (named because there are more gun deaths in Chicago than Afghanistan and Iraq combined) decide to withhold sex in an attempt to force their men to stop the violence. Their slogan, "No Peace, No **** The ploy is obviously based on the ancient Greek play “Lysistrata,” but I had no idea how literally Lee would take it: a chorus (Samuel L. Jackson), rhyming couplets, stylized confrontations. Even so, it might have worked if the message points weren't hammered home so bluntly and repeatedly…for 30 minutes longer than necessary.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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LamontRaymondDec 4, 2015

It's a good movie, but it's sorely in need of an editor. And it's politics are muddled. At the very least, it brings attention to the crisis of violence in inner-city Chicago, which is highly necessary. At certain points in the movie, itIt's a good movie, but it's sorely in need of an editor. And it's politics are muddled. At the very least, it brings attention to the crisis of violence in inner-city Chicago, which is highly necessary. At certain points in the movie, it correctly urges that the people need to get their act together and stop shooting each other. At other times, Lee wants to blame the government, white people, the prison system, education, etc. for the problems. It's tough for him to reconcile the need for personal responsibility and the blame game. ALL that being said, I was entertained.… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

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ProteusDec 7, 2015

Critics will love this movie because it is verbal clever and opinionated. But its a mess needs an editor badly and has a lot of junk in it that shouldn't be there. There is a long long long tirade by Cusack as a preacher who is wildlyCritics will love this movie because it is verbal clever and opinionated. But its a mess needs an editor badly and has a lot of junk in it that shouldn't be there. There is a long long long tirade by Cusack as a preacher who is wildly mis-cast and could have been cut completely....its just a monologue from a liberal nightly news program...lots of stuff like that. On the other hand there is a lot of clever writing and word play and some good acting by the female cast and parts are very funny. A mixed bag. Go see it if you like an urban drama comedy with a message I guess.… Expand

1 of 5 users found this helpful14

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jrodfilmsDec 6, 2015

a sometimes refreshing sometimes frustrating movie. the main character chi-raq is hardly a focus in the film, and there is not enough story to see why the violence is going on, just lots of screaming and blaming, samuel l jackson gives aa sometimes refreshing sometimes frustrating movie. the main character chi-raq is hardly a focus in the film, and there is not enough story to see why the violence is going on, just lots of screaming and blaming, samuel l jackson gives a great nod to 'Dolemite.'… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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TimbarosDec 11, 2016

Chicago has such a high murder rate that from 2003 to 2011 there were more murders there than in the same years in the Iraq war. On one Independence Day, 55 people were murdered. And in one year alone, 400 school kids were shot. With statsChicago has such a high murder rate that from 2003 to 2011 there were more murders there than in the same years in the Iraq war. On one Independence Day, 55 people were murdered. And in one year alone, 400 school kids were shot. With stats like this, a film with a message about violence and murder in the Windy City is seriously needed. But don’t expect it from Spike Lee’s new film called ‘Chi-raq’ (Chicago and Iraq).

What we do get instead is a musical drama where woman ‘take away the **** from the men in order to stop them from using their guns. This is triggered by the death of a local girl who is the daughter of a church going religious momma (Jennifer Hudson). This in turns leads Lysistrata (yes, that’s her character’s name – and she’s played brilliantly by Teyonah Parris), to withhold sex from her boyfriend Demetrius, whose nickname is ‘Chi-raq (a surprisingly good turn by an unrecognizable and very buffed up Nick Cannon a/k/a the former Mr. Mariah Carey). Lysistrata rallies her girlfriends to do the same, and they all band together to declare ‘no peace, no **** while wholed up in an armory in downtown Chicago (the scene where Lysistrata seduces the general in charge of the armory is got to be the most ridiculous scene this year). This sex strike makes the men crazy, they’re missing their women, and even the mayor’s wife joins the strike, causing him (played by D.B. Sweeney) to intervene in this major crises that’s taking place in his city, and, of course, right before a re-election.

It’s the women who take center stage in this movie; they’re sexy and hot and all of them seem to be wearing very little clothing, and what they do wear is extremely provocative – tight fitting tops and shorts – with padlocks over their crotches (yes, for real). It’s quite misogynistic. It all comes to a head when Lysistrata and Demetrius have a sort of sex-off to resolve the crises that’s televised live for everyone to see. Really stupid stuff there.

Spike Lee has a voice and the talent to make a film that could’ve highlighted the problems and issues dealing with Chicago’s murder rate, but instead he’s written, produced and co-wrote a satire/comedic farce that can’t decide whether it’s a musical, a tragi-comedy, or something so surreal and stupid that you can’t believe that it’s is unfolding right before your very eyes. The cast is first rate, including Angela Bassett as a woman who had a daughter that was killed by a stray bullet, and John Cusak as the local white priest who has to preside over the many funerals that take place in the black neighborhood. The music is excellent and the locations and cinematography are all first rate. Samuel Jackson is ridiculous as a narrator who pops up every now and then wearing very bright colored suits – his role is a distraction that doesn’t really help the film’s narrative. ‘Chi-raq’ was released in U.S. Cinemas in 2015 and was a commercial bomb, making only $2.7 million from a budget of $15 million. It’s a film that’s likely to recoup it’s costs back – deversedly so.
www.TheEntertainmentWebsite.com… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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smiyamotJan 29, 2016

I give credit to Spike Lee for taking on a troubling problem in our inner cities, guns and gangs. But I'm not sure his style of movie making is a good match for this topic. Almost seemed to be making light of a serious problem. I wasI give credit to Spike Lee for taking on a troubling problem in our inner cities, guns and gangs. But I'm not sure his style of movie making is a good match for this topic. Almost seemed to be making light of a serious problem. I was pleasantly surprised that the dialog was in poetic rhyme; I like a director that takes a chance.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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bdjudeJan 11, 2018

It is so messy and never on par with 'Do the right thing'. Hope the technical aspect was simple as the 1989 classic that would have made this movie a cult classic. Disappointing at the end as this is a Lee joint!

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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