Themes: Journey of Self-Discovery, Writer's Life, Starting Over
Main Cast: Billy Zane, Janet Jackson, Tupac Shakur, Regina King, Joe Torry, Tyra Ferrell
Release Year: 1993
Country: US
Run Time: 109 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
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. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Roger Guenveur Smith - Heywood; Maya Angelou - Aunt June; Q-Tip - Markell; Tone-Loc - J-Bone; Miki Howard - Maxine; Keith Washington - Dexter; Khandi Alexander - Simone; Michael Colyar - Panhandler; John Cothran, Jr. - Uncle Earl; James Deeth - Helicopter Pilot; Norma Donaldson - Aunt May; Susan Falcon; Dedrick D. Gobert - Lloyd; Clifton Gonzalez Gonzalez - Mailroom Supervisor; Baha Jackson - Baha; Kirk Kinder - Cop; Jenifer Lewis - Annie; Special K. McCray - Cousin Pete; Lori Petty - Penelope; Denney Pierce - Cashier; Michael Rapaport - Dockworker; Rose Weaver - Aunt Audrey; Yvette Wilson - Colette; Billy Zane - Brad; Kimberly Brooks - Kim; Robi Reed - Woman on Couch; Maia Campbell - Shante; Mark Miller - Policeman #5
Credit
Dwight Alonzo Williams - Associate Producer, Darryle Johnson - Costume Designer, Don Wilkerson - First Assistant Director, John Singleton - Director, Bruce Cannon - Editor, Janet Jackson - Composer (Music Score), Stanley Clarke - Composer (Music Score), Terry Lewis - Composer (Music Score), Keith Brian Burns - Production Designer, Kirk M. Petruccelli - Production Designer, Peter Lyons Collister - Cinematographer, Steve Nicolaides - Producer, John Singleton - Producer, Daniel May - Set Designer, John Singleton - Screenwriter
Singleton named the film Poetic Justice because the main character, Justice, writes beautiful poems which she recites throughout the movie. The poems are in fact from 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 road side family reunion. The Last Poets make an appearance toward the end of the film.
Poetic Justice reached #1 in the box office for one week; it made $11,728,455 its opening weekend. It 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". However, Jackson earned two Razzie Award nominations for the film, as both Worst Actress and Worst New Star. Out of the two categories, Jackson "won" the latter.
Justice (Janet Jackson) 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), the young woman becomes deeply depressed. Shortly thereafter, she meets a Post Office clerk and single father named Lucky (Tupac Shakur), who embarks with her on a trip to Oakland with Iesha and her boyfriend Chicago (played by Regina King and Joe Torry, respectively). In classic Hollywood type, the young woman's heart opens to her suitor's attentions as she finds a new meaning for life.
