Poetic Justice

After a deceptively funny and offbeat beginning, the movie keeps restarting; each new start shows some promise, and Singleton's talent never really deserts him-but the parts don't come together to create a unified story.

"Poetic Justice" is a disappointment.

Some good performances are balanced out by the film's contrivances and gratuitously foul-mouthed characters.

"Poetic Justice" is thoroughly watchable. The director's script has bite, he is fluid with his camerawork and his eye and ear for details, particularly the details of female life, are superb.

Singleton splatters his ambition all over the screen; he mixes up violence, romance, comedy, rage, and - yes - poetry. Yet he barely demonstrates the discipline to shape a scene.

"Poetic Justice" has a lot to commend, but discipline is not high on the list.

Outside of a certain demographic, it's just not going to hit the same way.

It was fine, I loved Janet Jackson, but for me watching it now, my brain is blank. it wasn't terrible, wasn't good, it was just there. Respect to a Black romantic drama revered in the community, but I'd rather watch Love & Basketball...

In short, the movie's pretty much of a mess, as it struggles with big themes but hasn't figured out what to do with them.

Its ambitious aims are commendable in themselves, but regrettable since they overinflate what might have been a simpler and better film.