Poetic Justice
Encyclopedia
Poetic Justice is a 1993
drama
/romance
film
starring Janet Jackson
, Tupac Shakur
, Regina King
and Joe Torry
. It was written and directed by John Singleton.
The main character, Justice, writes beautiful poems which she recites throughout the movie. The poems are in fact by Maya Angelou
. Angelou also appears in the movie as one of the three elderly sisters, May, June and April (called the "Calendar Sisters") whom the characters meet at a roadside family reunion. The Last Poets
make an appearance toward the end of the film.
Poetic Justice reached #1 in the box office its opening weekend, grossed $11,728,455. It eventually grossed a total of $27,515,786.
Jackson received a nomination for the Academy Award
for Best Original Song, with the Billboard Hot 100
number one song, "Again
".
) is a young woman living in South Central, Los Angeles. She was named Justice by her late mother, who gave birth to her while attending law school
. After the shooting death of her boyfriend (Q-Tip
), Justice falls into a deep depression. She spends the majority of her time in the house she inherited from her grandmother, with her cat White Boy, only going out to her job at a local hair salon. Justice is a talented poet, she reads many of her poems throughout the course of the film, both to other characters and in voiceover.
Justice is at the hair salon working one day when a young postal clerk named Lucky (Tupac Shakur
) comes in and begins flirting with her. She rebuffs his advances with the help of her female boss; the two women pretend to be lesbians and mock Lucky with their "relationship".
Lucky has also had tragedy in his life, his main focus is caring for his young daughter Keisha. He had to forcibly remove her from the care of her mother, a crack addict who was using drugs and having sex with her drug dealer while leaving the child unattended in the apartment. Lucky dreams of a professional career in music and shows considerable promise, but he insists his cousin is the true talent.
Justice's friend Iesha (Regina King
) manages to talk Justice into taking a road trip to Oakland with Iesha's boyfriend Chicago (Joe Torry
), and Chicago's co-worker at the post office. Justice warily accepts, mainly because she has to go to Oakland for a hair show, and her car dies at the last minute. Unbeknownst to Justice, Lucky is Chicago's co-worker also on the trip, and she will now be sharing a postal van with him and their two mutual friends. Initially they argue, but over the course of the film soften towards each other as they discover their similarities.
The foursome make a couple of detours, the first being a family reunion bar-b-que they see signs for on the road. It is here that it becomes apparent (although there were ample hints earlier) Iesha and Chicago's relationship is troubled. Iesha openly flirts with other men at the bar-b-que, while Chicago broods watching her behavior. This friction explodes shortly after the foursome return to the highway, when a drunken Iesha informs Chicago she has been seeing someone on the side and he physically attacks her. Justice defends Iesha by kicking Chicago in his groin, and when Chicago turns his physical brutality on Justice in retaliation, Lucky jumps in and ends the situation by force. Lucky, Justice, and a bleeding and shaken Iesha leave Chicago by the side of the road and continue on their journey.
When the now-threesome arrive in Oakland, they are met with the news that Lucky's cousin, with whom he had been working on recording music, has been killed. Lucky blames himself for not being in Oakland sooner, believing he could have prevented the shooting had he been in town. He turns his anger on Justice, angrily blaming her for distracting him while they were on the road.
Some months have passed, and we meet up with Justice again back at the hair salon, just at the moment Lucky brings his daughter Keisha in. Lucky is remorseful over his conduct in Oakland and the cruel words he said to Justice there. He asks for forgiveness. Instead of answering, Justice smiles coyly, and then turns her attention to Keisha, fussing over her hair. Justice and Lucky's eyes meet over Keisha's head and they smile, their connection as strong as ever.
:
Golden Globe Awards
1993 in film
The year 1993 in film involved many significant films, including the blockbuster hits Jurassic Park, The Fugitive and The Firm. -Events:...
drama
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
/romance
Romance film
Romance films are love stories that focus on passion, emotion, and the affectionate involvement of the main characters and the journey that their love takes through courtship or marriage. Romance films make the love story or the search for love the main plot focus...
film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
starring Janet Jackson
Janet Jackson
Janet Damita Jo Jackson is an American recording artist and actress. Known for a series of sonically innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows, television and film roles, she has been a prominent figure in popular culture for over 25 years...
, Tupac Shakur
Tupac Shakur
Tupac Amaru Shakur , known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper and actor. Shakur has sold over 75 million albums worldwide as of 2007, making him one of the best-selling music artists in the world...
, Regina King
Regina King
Regina King is an American film and television actress. She is well known for her role as Mary Jenkins's studious daughter, Brenda Jenkins, on the 1980s sitcom, 227, and for her critically acclaimed supporting role in the feature film Jerry Maguire...
and Joe Torry
Joe Torry
Joe Torry is an American actor and comedian.-Biography:Torry was born and raised along with his brother, actor and comedian Guy Torry, in St. Louis, Missouri. He attended Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri, where he earned a B.A. in mass communications/broadcast journalism...
. It was written and directed by John Singleton.
The main character, Justice, writes beautiful poems which she recites throughout the movie. The poems are in fact by Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou is an American author and poet who has been called "America's most visible black female autobiographer" by scholar Joanne M. Braxton. She is best known for her series of six autobiographical volumes, which focus on her childhood and early adult experiences. The first and most highly...
. Angelou also appears in the movie as one of the three elderly sisters, May, June and April (called the "Calendar Sisters") whom the characters meet at a roadside family reunion. The Last Poets
The Last Poets
The Last Poets is a group of poets and musicians who arose from the late 1960s African American civil rights movement's black nationalist thread...
make an appearance toward the end of the film.
Poetic Justice reached #1 in the box office its opening weekend, grossed $11,728,455. It eventually grossed a total of $27,515,786.
Jackson received a nomination for the Academy Award
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
for Best Original Song, with the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
number one song, "Again
Again (Janet Jackson song)
"Again" is a song by American singer Janet Jackson from her fifth studio album, janet. . Written and produced by Jackson, James Harris III, and Terry Lewis, the ballad was released as the album's third single in October 1993. "Again" topped the U.S...
".
Plot
Justice (Janet JacksonJanet Jackson
Janet Damita Jo Jackson is an American recording artist and actress. Known for a series of sonically innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows, television and film roles, she has been a prominent figure in popular culture for over 25 years...
) is a young woman living in South Central, Los Angeles. She was named Justice by her late mother, who gave birth to her while attending law school
Law school
A law school is an institution specializing in legal education.- Law degrees :- Canada :...
. After the shooting death of her boyfriend (Q-Tip
Q-Tip (rapper)
Kamaal Ibn John Fareed , better known by his stage name Q-Tip, is an American hip hop artist, producer, singer, and actor from St. Albans, Queens, New York, part of the critically acclaimed group A Tribe Called Quest...
), Justice falls into a deep depression. She spends the majority of her time in the house she inherited from her grandmother, with her cat White Boy, only going out to her job at a local hair salon. Justice is a talented poet, she reads many of her poems throughout the course of the film, both to other characters and in voiceover.
Justice is at the hair salon working one day when a young postal clerk named Lucky (Tupac Shakur
Tupac Shakur
Tupac Amaru Shakur , known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper and actor. Shakur has sold over 75 million albums worldwide as of 2007, making him one of the best-selling music artists in the world...
) comes in and begins flirting with her. She rebuffs his advances with the help of her female boss; the two women pretend to be lesbians and mock Lucky with their "relationship".
Lucky has also had tragedy in his life, his main focus is caring for his young daughter Keisha. He had to forcibly remove her from the care of her mother, a crack addict who was using drugs and having sex with her drug dealer while leaving the child unattended in the apartment. Lucky dreams of a professional career in music and shows considerable promise, but he insists his cousin is the true talent.
Justice's friend Iesha (Regina King
Regina King
Regina King is an American film and television actress. She is well known for her role as Mary Jenkins's studious daughter, Brenda Jenkins, on the 1980s sitcom, 227, and for her critically acclaimed supporting role in the feature film Jerry Maguire...
) manages to talk Justice into taking a road trip to Oakland with Iesha's boyfriend Chicago (Joe Torry
Joe Torry
Joe Torry is an American actor and comedian.-Biography:Torry was born and raised along with his brother, actor and comedian Guy Torry, in St. Louis, Missouri. He attended Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri, where he earned a B.A. in mass communications/broadcast journalism...
), and Chicago's co-worker at the post office. Justice warily accepts, mainly because she has to go to Oakland for a hair show, and her car dies at the last minute. Unbeknownst to Justice, Lucky is Chicago's co-worker also on the trip, and she will now be sharing a postal van with him and their two mutual friends. Initially they argue, but over the course of the film soften towards each other as they discover their similarities.
The foursome make a couple of detours, the first being a family reunion bar-b-que they see signs for on the road. It is here that it becomes apparent (although there were ample hints earlier) Iesha and Chicago's relationship is troubled. Iesha openly flirts with other men at the bar-b-que, while Chicago broods watching her behavior. This friction explodes shortly after the foursome return to the highway, when a drunken Iesha informs Chicago she has been seeing someone on the side and he physically attacks her. Justice defends Iesha by kicking Chicago in his groin, and when Chicago turns his physical brutality on Justice in retaliation, Lucky jumps in and ends the situation by force. Lucky, Justice, and a bleeding and shaken Iesha leave Chicago by the side of the road and continue on their journey.
When the now-threesome arrive in Oakland, they are met with the news that Lucky's cousin, with whom he had been working on recording music, has been killed. Lucky blames himself for not being in Oakland sooner, believing he could have prevented the shooting had he been in town. He turns his anger on Justice, angrily blaming her for distracting him while they were on the road.
Some months have passed, and we meet up with Justice again back at the hair salon, just at the moment Lucky brings his daughter Keisha in. Lucky is remorseful over his conduct in Oakland and the cruel words he said to Justice there. He asks for forgiveness. Instead of answering, Justice smiles coyly, and then turns her attention to Keisha, fussing over her hair. Justice and Lucky's eyes meet over Keisha's head and they smile, their connection as strong as ever.
Full cast
- Janet JacksonJanet JacksonJanet Damita Jo Jackson is an American recording artist and actress. Known for a series of sonically innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows, television and film roles, she has been a prominent figure in popular culture for over 25 years...
- Justice - Tupac ShakurTupac ShakurTupac Amaru Shakur , known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper and actor. Shakur has sold over 75 million albums worldwide as of 2007, making him one of the best-selling music artists in the world...
- Lucky - Regina KingRegina KingRegina King is an American film and television actress. She is well known for her role as Mary Jenkins's studious daughter, Brenda Jenkins, on the 1980s sitcom, 227, and for her critically acclaimed supporting role in the feature film Jerry Maguire...
- Iesha - Joe TorryJoe TorryJoe Torry is an American actor and comedian.-Biography:Torry was born and raised along with his brother, actor and comedian Guy Torry, in St. Louis, Missouri. He attended Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri, where he earned a B.A. in mass communications/broadcast journalism...
- Chicago - Tyra FerrellTyra Ferrell-Career:She appeared in Jungle Fever , which starred Wesley Snipes and Annabella Sciorra. She also had roles in films such as Boyz n the Hood , White Men Can't Jump , and Poetic Justice...
- Jessie - Roger Guenveur SmithRoger Guenveur SmithRoger Guenveur Smith is an American actor, director, and writer.-Early life:Smith was born in Berkeley, California, the son of Helen Guenveur, a dentist, and Sherman Smith, a judge...
- Heywood - Billy ZaneBilly ZaneWilliam George "Billy" Zane, Jr. is an American actor, producer and director. He is probably best known for his roles as Caledon Hockley in Titanic, The Phantom from The Phantom, John Wheeler in Twin Peaks and Mr...
- Brad - Lori PettyLori PettyLori Petty is an American film and television actress best known for playing "Tyler Endicott" in Point Break in 1991, "Kit Keller" in A League of Their Own in 1992, and the title role in Tank Girl in 1995.-Early life:...
- Penelope - Khandi AlexanderKhandi AlexanderKhandi Alexander is an American dancer, choreographer, and film and television actress. She is perhaps best known for the roles of Dr. Alexx Woods on CSI: Miami and as Catherine Duke on NewsRadio. She also had a major recurring role on ER as Jackie Robbins, sister to Dr. Peter Benton...
- Simone - Maya AngelouMaya AngelouMaya Angelou is an American author and poet who has been called "America's most visible black female autobiographer" by scholar Joanne M. Braxton. She is best known for her series of six autobiographical volumes, which focus on her childhood and early adult experiences. The first and most highly...
- Aunt June - John Cothran, Jr.John Cothran, Jr.John Cothran, Jr. is an American actor.In the Madagascar video games, he voiced Maurice the aye-aye, replacing Cedric the Entertainer.-Biography:Cothran, Jr...
- Uncle Earl - Jenifer LewisJenifer LewisJenifer Jeanette Lewis is an American film and television actress and singer.-Early life:Lewis was born in Kinloch, Missouri, to a nurse's aid mother and a factory worker father. She attended college at Webster University in Webster Groves, Missouri...
- Anne - Keanu ReevesKeanu ReevesKeanu Charles Reeves is a Canadian actor. Reeves is perhaps best known for his roles in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, Speed, Point Break and the science fiction-action trilogy The Matrix...
- Homeless Man (uncredited) - Kimberly BrooksKimberly BrooksKimberly Brooks is an American voice actress in the anime, feature films, video games, and theatre industry. She started her acting career when she was nine....
- Kim - Maia CampbellMaia CampbellMaia Campbell is an American film and television actress. She is best known for her portrayal of Tiffany Warren in the sitcom In the House.-Early life and career:...
- Shante - Norma DonaldsonNorma DonaldsonNorma Donaldson was an American actress and singer.Donaldson launched her career as a nightclub singer and then toured with Harry Belafonte and Lena Horne...
- Aunt May - Dedrick D. GobertDedrick D. GobertDedrick D. Gobert was an American actor best known for his supporting role as "Dooky" in the 1991 John Singleton film Boyz n the Hood.-Career:...
- Lloyd (as Dedrick Gobert) - Rene Elizondo, Jr. - E.J.
- Clifton Collins Jr. - Mailroom Supervisor (as Clifton Gonzalez Gonzalez)
- Ricky Harris - Gangsta
- Tone LocTone LocAnthony Terrell Smith , better known by his stage name Tone Lōc, is an American rapper and actor.-Early life and career:...
- J Bone - Q-TipQ-Tip (rapper)Kamaal Ibn John Fareed , better known by his stage name Q-Tip, is an American hip hop artist, producer, singer, and actor from St. Albans, Queens, New York, part of the critically acclaimed group A Tribe Called Quest...
- Markell - Keith WashingtonKeith WashingtonKeith Washington is an American R&B vocalist from Detroit, Michigan who scored a hit single in the United States in 1991 with "Kissing You," which was also used as background music for a General Hospital on ABC...
- Dexter - Yvette WilsonYvette WilsonYvette Wilson in Los Angeles, California is an American comedian and actress. She is best known for her role as Andell Wilkerson on the UPN sitcom Moesha and its spinoff The Parkers. She has appeared on many comedy films such as House Party 2, House Party 3, Friday, and on Russell Simmons' Def...
- Colette - Michael ColyarMichael ColyarMichael Colyar is an American comedian and motivational speaker. He is mostly known as the heavy-hitting concert promoter "Showboat" in the 1994 movie, House Party 3.Colyar also spent his formative years as a comic, busking on Venice Beach....
- Panhandler
Box Office and Rankings
According to Box Office Mojo, Poetic Justice made $27,515,786 in the domestic box office with the budget being $14,000,000. For its opening weekend it opened at #1 with over $11,000,000 in ticket sales. It ranked #20 for the year of 1993 openings and #21 for highest R-rated movies of 1993.Reception
Poetic Justice received positive to mixed reviews from critics. Most critics compared it to the critically acclaimed film, also by Singleton, Boyz N the HoodBoyz N the Hood
Boyz n the Hood is a 1991 American hood film written and directed by John Singleton. Starring Cuba Gooding, Jr., Ice Cube, Laurence Fishburne, Morris Chestnut, Nia Long, Angela Bassett and Regina King, the film depicts life in poor South Central Los Angeles, California and was filmed and released...
:
- Roger Ebert: "...Boyz N the Hood" was one of the most powerful and influential films of its time, in 1991. "Poetic Justice" is not its equal, but does not aspire to be; it is a softer, gentler film, more of a romance than a commentary on social conditions." He also stated , "...Poetic Justice" unwinds like a road picture from the early 1970s, in which the characters are introduced and then set off on a trip that becomes a journey of discovery. By the end of the film, Justice will have learned to trust and love again, and Shakur will have learned how to listen to a woman. And all of the characters - who in one way or another lack families - will begin to get a feeling for the larger African/American family to which they belong. The scene where that takes place is one of the best in the film."
- Variety stated: "Though aiming to create a feel for the locale, Singleton periodically loses sight of audiences unfamiliar with the colorful lingo. "Poetic Justice" has a lot to commend, but discipline is not high on the list. That flaw will be a major stumbling block toward wide appeal, and overseas prospects seem particularly remote.
Awards
Academy AwardsAcademy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
- Best Original SongAcademy Award for Best Original SongThe Academy Award for Best Original Song is one of the awards given annually to people working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences . It is presented to the songwriters who have composed the best original song written specifically for a film...
("Again") - Nominated
Golden Globe Awards
- Best Original SongGolden Globe Award for Best Original SongGolden Globe Award for Best Original Song was awarded for the first time in 1962 and has been awarded annually since 1965 by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.-1960s:...
("Again") - Nominated
Soundtrack
The soundtrack album was released on June 29, 1993.- TLCTLC (band)TLC is an American musical trio whose repertoire spanned R&B, hip-hop, soul, funk, and new jack swing. Originally consisting of singer Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, rapper-singer Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes and singer Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas it found success in the 1990s while also enduring a series of spats...
– Get It UpGet It Up-TLC version:"Get It Up" was covered by girl group TLC for the Poetic Justice soundtrack becoming a minor hit for the group and was later included in TLC's greatest hits album, Now and Forever: The Hits. The video for TLC's "Get It Up" was shot in June 1993....
(4:25) - Mista GrimmMista GrimmRojai Trawick, better known as Mista Grimm is a rapper formerly signed to Epic Records' sub-label, 550 Music. Grimm's first release was the 1993 single "Indo Smoke" featuring Warren G and Nate Dogg from the Poetic Justice soundtrack. The following year Grimm released a single entitled "Situation:...
– Indo Smoke (5:23) - Babyface – Well Alright (4:00)
- Usher RaymondUsher (entertainer)Usher Terry Raymond IV , who performs under the mononym Usher, is an American singer-songwriter, and actor. He is considered around the world to be the reigning King of R&B. Usher rose to fame in the late 1990s with the release of his second album My Way, which spawned his first Billboard Hot 100...
– Call Me a MackCall Me a Mack"Call Me a Mack" was the first single released by R&B artist Usher for the soundtrack album Poetic Justice. "Call Me a Mack" was released in 1993 for Epic Records and was produced by Tim Thomas and Teddy Bishop...
(4:07) - Tony! Toni! Toné!Tony! Toni! Toné!Tony! Toni! Toné! is an American Soul/R&B group from Oakland, California, popular during the late 1980s and early to mid 1990s. During the band's heyday, it was composed of D'wayne Wiggins on lead vocals and guitar, his brother Raphael Saadiq on lead vocals and bass, and their cousin Timothy...
– Waiting for You (5:13) - Pete RockPete RockPeter Phillips , better known by his stage name Pete Rock, is an American record producer, DJ and rapper. He rose to prominence in the early 1990s as one half of the critically acclaimed group Pete Rock & CL Smooth...
& C.L. Smooth – One in a Million (4:05) - Cultural Revolution – Nite & Day (5:04)
- Naughty by NatureNaughty by NatureNaughty by Nature are a Grammy Award-winning American hip hop trio from East Orange, New Jersey that at the time of its formation in 1989 consisted of Treach, Vin Rock, and the DJ Kay Gee...
– Poor Man's Poetry (2:59) - Terri & MonicaTerri & MonicaTerri & Monica was a R&B duo from the early 1990s which featured Terri Robinson and Monica Payne, who were members of the short-lived late 80s New Jack Swing R&B group The Gyrlz. They released a pair of full-length recordings, 1993's Systa and 1996's Suga, both released via Epic Records...
– I've Been Waiting (4:21) - Dogg Pound – Niggas Don't Give a Fuck (4:40)
- 2pac – Definition of a Thug Nigga (4:10)
- Chaka Demus & PliersChaka Demus & PliersChaka Demus & Pliers are a Jamaican reggae duo made up of deejay Chaka Demus and singer Pliers, best known for their hit "Tease Me".They had more commercial success with mainstream pop fans after their collaboration in the early 1990s, that either ever had in their solo careers.-Career:Both artists...
– I Wanna Be Your Man (3:55) - Nice & SmoothNice & SmoothNice & Smooth was an East Coast hip hop duo from New York that consists of Greg Nice and Smooth B . The duo released four albums from the late 1980s to the mid 1990s...
– Cash in My Hands (3:52) - Stevie WonderStevie WonderStevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
– Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer (2:54) - Stanley ClarkeStanley ClarkeStanley Clarke is an American jazz musician and composer known for his innovative and influential work on double bass and electric bass guitar as well as for his numerous film and television scores...
– Justice's Groove (4:36)
External links
- Poetic Justice: Filmmaking South Central Style
- Original Poetic Justice Script
- Poetic Justice at the Open Media Database
- VH1 Clips, Trailer and more