Poetic Justice

Name: Poetic Justice
Genre: Drama, Romance
Released: July 23, 1993
Duration: 109 min
Rating: 51
Cast: Janet Jackson, Tupac Shakur

1993

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 20 Critic Reviews

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7.3

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7.3	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 20 Ratings

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Poetic Justice

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Movie Details & Credits

Columbia Pictures | Release Date: July 23, 1993 | R

Starring: Janet Jackson, Tupac Shakur

Summary: A mismatched pair pushed together on a road trip from South Central L.A. to Oakland, Justice (Jackson) and Lucky (Tupac Shakur) have only one thing in common: they can't stand each other. But as their friends Lesha and Chicago (Regina King and Joe Torry) fight and make up in the back of the van, Justice and Lucky find themselves reluctantlyA mismatched pair pushed together on a road trip from South Central L.A. to Oakland, Justice (Jackson) and Lucky (Tupac Shakur) have only one thing in common: they can't stand each other. But as their friends Lesha and Chicago (Regina King and Joe Torry) fight and make up in the back of the van, Justice and Lucky find themselves reluctantly drawn together. After a surprising detour toward romance, the two travelers are confronted once again by the shocking violence they thought they'd left behind. (Sony Pictures)… Expand

Director: John Singleton

Genre(s): Drama, Romance

Rating: R

Runtime: 109 min

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Critic Reviews

Desson Howe

Often graceful, sometimes brilliant, Poetic is an absorbing, amusing symphony of sound and image; it also gives equal weight to its male and female characters. Read full review

Edward Guthmann

It's safe, and it's smart, and even though it's lightweight compared to "Boyz" and bound to disappoint a lot of Singleton's admirers, Justice demonstrates that Singleton is more than a one-shot wonder. [23 Jul 1993]

James Berardinelli

Some of Poetic Justice is quite good, if unspectacular, and the dialogue has a consistent ring of truth. Read full review

Hal Hinson

It's more a brave movie than it is a good one, but at least Singleton has faced the unknown. And he deserves credit for the attempt. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

Overall, this is a fuzzy, unfocused drama that bites off more than it can chew, or viewers can digest. Read full review

William Arnold

Poetic Justice is much more self-indulgent and self-consciously arty and shows [Singleton's] directorial inexperience in almost every scene. [23 Jul 1993]

Richard Schickel

What must be said is that the new movie is simply awful: poorly structured, vulgarly written, insipidly directed, monotonously performed. Read full review

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User Reviews

DawdlingPoet

Nov 27, 2021

I was interested in this film after learning that both Janet Jackson and Tupac appear as main characters and when I read the credits, I discovered the poetry featured in the film is by Maya Angelou (who wrote 'Why The Caged Bird Sings'). I felt the first half of the film was fairly typical,I was interested in this film after learning that both Janet Jackson and Tupac appear as main characters and when I read the credits, I discovered the poetry featured in the film is by Maya Angelou (who wrote 'Why The Caged Bird Sings'). I felt the first half of the film was fairly typical, a bit predictable - not bad but ok but the second half was better. It felt really rather poignant by the end. I certainly enjoyed the imagery and meaning of the various poems recited by the narration/voice-over and I liked the ending, although it's not an especially easy film to stick with or to feel engrossed by at first. It's not a bad film by any means but it doesn't stand out much in the first half of it. Overall I'd cautiously recommend it, yes.… Expand

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SEROJ

Aug 26, 2013

This movie has no story but is enjoyable to watch! I didn't like it but i don't hate it so 4/10 is my personal score. Some people may like it, but if there wasn't Tupac and Janet probably it would've been 3/10 or even lower. I really think it could be a lot better!

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