Poetic Justice

1993 Drama

R&B star Janet Jackson made an impressive film debut in Poetic Justice as Justice, a hairdresser at a small salon in South Central Los Angeles. Justice uses her poetry to deal with her grief after her boyfriend is killed in a shooting incident at a drive-in. Hired to work at a hair stylists' event in Oakland, Justice is stranded when her car breaks down, until she remembers that her friend Ieasha (Regina King) was going to hop a ride down to Oakland with her boyfriend Chicago (Joe Torry), a postal worker who is heading there with a truck full of mail. Justice tags along to discover that Chicago's driving partner is Lucky (Tupac Shakur), the postman who delivers mail to her shop and keeps asking her out. Ieasha and Chicago have to deal with their own rocky relationship while Justice has to decide if she's ready for a new love -- and if Lucky is the man she's waiting for. Along with strong work from Jackson, Poetic Justice features a surprising turn from Shakur, whose nuanced performance as Lucky is in strong contrast to his "Thug Life" public persona. Justice's poems were written by Maya Angelou, who also appears in a small role. more..

Director: John Singleton

Starring: Janet Jackson, Tupac Shakur, Regina King, Joe Torry,Maya Angelou

 20 Reviews  5 Awards

Reviews

  • Poetic Justice is not equal, but does not aspire to be; it is a softer, gentler film, more of a romance than a commentary on social conditions.

    Roger Ebert - The Chicago Sun-Times

    26 April 2013

  • 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.

    Edward Guthmann - The San Francisco Chronicle

    26 April 2013

  • If Singleton, 25, stumbles, it is over ambition and not the complacency of a new Hollywood hotshot riding a trend.

    Peter Travers - Rolling Stone

    26 April 2013

  • John Singleton's bizarre but viewable Boyz N the Hood follow-up is surprisingly gooey going.

    Mike Clark - USA Today

    26 April 2013

  • While it's altogether smaller in its ambitions and achievements than Singleton's terrific "Boyz N the Hood," it at least allows Janet Jackson to emerge as a sympathetic presence, more credible than most pop singers making movie debuts.

    Jay Carr - The Boston Globe

    26 April 2013

Awards

  • Most Performed Songs from Motion Pictures

    ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards (1995)

  • Best Music, Original Song

    Academy Awards (1994)

     

  • Best Original Song - Motion Picture

    Golden Globes (1994)

     

  • Best Female Performance

    MTV Movie Awards (1994)

  • Worst New Star

    Razzie Awards (1994)

Lists

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