Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

Poetic Justice Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman February 5, 2019

Writer/Director John Singleton's debut feature Boyz n the Hood will probably always be remembered as the high point of his career. Singleton's seminal work came right off the bat but he followed that classic with several very good films, including his sophomore effort, 1993's Poetic Justice, a tonally different film that did not take a snapshot look at the realities and perils of urban life in the early 1990s but rather focused on a more tender and more gentle love story set around the same time. With Poetic Justice, Singleton focuses on how the urban experience has shaped several individuals who are sharing a ride in a mail truck en route to Oakland, California via South Central L.A. The film does not shy away from the rough-edged realities that have molded them into who they are, but Singleton also carefully constructs an underlying tenderness, particularly for his two main characters, one of whom is a poet and the other of whom is a budding musical talent whose love and concern for his daughter's well-being runs deep.

When Justice's (Janet Jackson) boyfriend is murdered, she retreats into herself and her poetry, refusing to socialize or find some new point of entry to jumpstart her life. Her only escape is at the salon where she works. She's a talented hairdresser in addition to a gifted poet. One day, when her car fails her and leaves her unable to travel north from L.A. to Oakland to attend a hairdressing convention, she agrees to travel with her friend Iesha (Regina King) and Iesha's boyfriend Chicago (Joe Torry) in a mail truck operated by Lucky (Tupac Shakur), a mail carrier who recently flirted with Justice when delivering mail to the salon. As the foursome make their way north, the film explores Iesha's and Chicago's imploding relationship and Justice's and Lucky's burgeoning relationship.

Poetic Justice sees two of its era's top musical talents -- Janet Jackson and the late Tupac Shakur -- step away from the microphone and in front of the camera to great success. The two share a chemistry-laden screen camaraderie that sees them build their characters from the ground up, each of them scarred by great tragedy and difficulty in their lives and gradually finding not only solace, but also purpose, in one another. The film tells their love story in the guise of a road trip film, surrounded by the inescapable realities of circumstances that have chiseled their façades but not hardened their hearts. Singleton's screenplay challenges both characters to not discard what life has given them but rather use their hardships to discover who they are and what they might could have if they open up and allow one another into their lives. Singleton does not make their road easy; his film is not a Romantic Comedy but rather a Romantic Drama that demands both characters come to terms with tragic pasts, difficult presents, and find the hopeful futures they both deserve. His characters are flawed but real, shaped but not fully defined by their experiences.

Jackson and Shakur prove more than capable of emoting the necessary nuance to breathe life into Singleton's characters and carry the film's dramatic currents, whittling away at the more challenging life obstacles and bringing their hearts closer together as they not only share time together but open their souls to one another. The film builds their relationship slowly and assuredly, beginning with a fairly crude advance and ending, at that same spot, with a tender and heartfelt finale. Singleton literally brings his characters full circle, demonstrating that life's greatest gifts aren't always found by remaining stagnant but by taking a chance, looking beyond the superficial, investing in another's heart and soul. The film is certainly not profound, but it's very well done structurally, thematically, and considering the lead actor performances. Hints of Jackson's Again, one of the signature songs from her career, dot the film, underlining its kindheartedness and the burgeoning romance in several key scenes.

Poetic Justice Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Poetic Justice makes its highly anticipated Blu-ray debut with an impressively organic 1080p transfer. Singleton's film translates nicely to the format, and aside from some minimal and minimally distracting speckles and pops and minor signs of print wear is in very good condition. The image is texturally firm, with a light and complimentary grain field at work for it, presenting the picture with an agreeable film-like quality. Detailing is a strong point, whether the complexity of Justice's braids, the fine stitch and material details on Lucky's White Sox ball cap, and of course intimate skin textures seen not only in close-up but obvious in medium-distance shots as well. Environments are sharp, whether densely packed urban areas, a spiraling outdoor family reunion, or the inside of a mail truck. Colors enjoy fruitful pop and saturation, with good, even density and vitality across the colorful period clothes, the red and blue stripes on Lucky's mail truck, natural greens, or a myriad of colors at a carnival seen in chapter 11. Black levels are a strength, particularly nighttime exteriors. Skin tones appear full and natural. No significant encode artifacts are obvious. This is a healthy, filmic, and highly enjoyable Blu-ray release from Sony.

Poetic Justice Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Poetic Justice features a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 lossless soundtrack. The presentation is fluid across the front, with dialogue seamlessly imaging to the center. The spoken word additionally plays with excellent clarity, presence, and prioritization. Score enjoys prominent front-end width and impressive fidelity. Atmospheric effects around various locations, whether in more densely populated sound areas like a crowded family reunion and a carnival or more serene environments such as a beach all yield impressive spacial awareness and location clarity. The track is fairly straightforward and Sony's presentation handles core components with effective ease.

Poetic Justice Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Poetic Justice contains a commentary, a retrospective, a screen test, deleted scenes, and a trailer. A Movies Anywhere digital copy code is included with purchase. This release does not appear to ship with a slipcover.

• Audio Commentary: Director John Singleton covers much of what is said in the next retrospective supplement but here obviously has plenty of time to expand on his thoughts. Singleton is a little soft spoken but a fountain of wonderful information that covers his film, his career, and his cast. Fans will find this to be a worthwhile listen.
• Revisiting Poetic Justice with John Singleton (1080p, 9:38): Singleton reflects on the opportunity to make the movie, writing the screenplay, the film's focus on female characters, Singleton's growth as a filmmaker during the shoot, casting and characters, and more.
• Janet Jackson & Tupac Shakur's Screen Test (1080p, 2:12): Singleton introduces and speaks over the first chemistry-laden screen test.
• Deleted Scenes (1080p, 14:34 total runtime): Included are Day at the Salon Extended, You Heard About Derek, Closing Time at Salon, Lucky Home with Daughter, Justice Scared at Night, Road Trip Pee Break, Road Trip Diner Stop, In the Liquor Store?, Toothpick Joe, and Carnival at the Park.
• Theatrical Trailer (1080p, 2:59).

Poetic Justice Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Poetic Justice will not be remembered as John Singleton's best film, but it may be his most honest and heartfelt. The film juxtaposes hard external realities and inner tenderness as two seemingly disparate souls come together on the road. The film is beautifully acted and well written. Sony's Blu-ray is likewise of a high quality, featuring strong video and audio presentations as well as a handful of enjoyable extras. Highly recommended.