Chi-Raq

Name: Chi-Raq
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Crime, Musical
Released: December 4, 2015
Duration: 127 min
Rating: 77
Cast: Angela Bassett, D.B. Sweeney, David Patrick Kelly, Jennifer Hudson, John Cusack

2015

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 37 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 65 Ratings

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5.4	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 65 Ratings

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Chi-Raq

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Movie Details & Credits

Lionsgate | Release Date: December 4, 2015 | R

Starring: Angela Bassett, D.B. Sweeney, David Patrick Kelly, Jennifer Hudson, John Cusack, Nick Cannon, Samuel L. Jackson, Teyonah Parris, Wesley Snipes

Summary: Chi-Raq is a modern day adaptation of the ancient Greek play “Lysistrata” by Aristophanes. After the murder of a Child by a stray bullet, a group of women led by Lysistrata organize against the on-going violence in Chicago’s Southside creating a movement that challenges the nature of race, sex and violence in America and around the world.

Director: Spike Lee

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy, Crime, Musical

Rating: R

Runtime: 127 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Joe McGovern

Dec 3, 2015

Erupting like a scalding geyser from the ground right beneath our feet, Spike Lee’s daring, dizzying, sympathetic, symphonic, vital, vehement Chi-Raq is the most urgently 2015 movie of 2015. Read full review

David Edelstein

Dec 4, 2015

Bitches, it’s always a good month in America for an antigun movie. The newest, Spike Lee’s Chi-Raq, might be the best ever. It’s sexy, brash, and potent — a powerful weapon in its own right. Read full review

Lawrence Toppman

Jan 15, 2016

Chi-Raq is indeed interesting, challenging, provocative and consistently entertaining in its outrageous depiction of life in modern Chicago. And nobody in mainstream filmmaking today except Spike Lee could or would have done it. Read full review

Justin Chang

Nov 23, 2015

Lee’s vision of a scarred, gutted city may not please the tourism board, but his movie is better for it: Its seething dramatic texture captures a deeper, more elusive beauty that — like reconciliation, reform or any other human ideal — can only be achieved when the illusion of safety is left behind. Read full review

Ty Burr

Dec 3, 2015

His carnival-esque filmmaking style, which can leave some Spike Lee joints in tatters, helps this one expand in sorrowful heart and indomitable wit. Chi-Raq is a vibrant community mural of a movie, and it stretches to the horizon. Read full review

Bill Goodykoontz

Dec 3, 2015

It is intense and uneven, moving and maddening, all in just about equal measure. But an angry Lee is an interesting Lee, and he’s really angry here. Read full review

John Hazelton

Nov 23, 2015

Though it sometimes recalls the irresistibly energetic, genre-bending feel of Lee’s best films – Do The Right Thing in particular – it lacks the assurance and unifying thrust that made those features work so well. Read full review

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User Reviews

donaldholmes3

Feb 6, 2016

This is a good movie to have group discussions on issue of gang violence. Adults should view it first, than children based on their level of maturity. In truth, he did give an answer to the problem - LOVE. But we have to include all its attributes in our everyday lives. As it is written,This is a good movie to have group discussions on issue of gang violence. Adults should view it first, than children based on their level of maturity. In truth, he did give an answer to the problem - LOVE. But we have to include all its attributes in our everyday lives. As it is written, Love: is patient and kind, is not jealous, it does not brag, does not get puffed up, does not behave indecently, does not look for its own interests, does not become provoked, it does not keep account of the injury, it does not rejoice over unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth, it bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things, and never fails. Yes, the answer is LOVE.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

JPK

Jul 8, 2019

Generally Enjoyable
Chi-Raq has a really good cast, terrific music, and solid directing by Lee.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

geedup

Jan 22, 2016

Very timely and a very modern take on the ancient greek tale. For this aspect, I give Lee his due. Power of thought provocation in a way that is very outside of what is happening in theaters these days. This aside, the movie played like a made for TV movie. Simple dialog, bright colors andVery timely and a very modern take on the ancient greek tale. For this aspect, I give Lee his due. Power of thought provocation in a way that is very outside of what is happening in theaters these days. This aside, the movie played like a made for TV movie. Simple dialog, bright colors and wrapped in exagerated stereotypes. Sad that Lee, despite the important message and great concept has to do the dumb sh*t to get people to watch… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

jrodfilms

Dec 6, 2015

a sometimes refreshing sometimes frustrating movie. the main character chi-raq is hardly a focus in the film, and there is not enough story to see why the violence is going on, just lots of screaming and blaming, samuel l jackson gives a great nod to 'Dolemite.'

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

TVJerry

Dec 10, 2015

Spike Lee has made some entertaining films, but when he gets political, things get heavy-handed real fast. The women of Chi-Raq (named because there are more gun deaths in Chicago than Afghanistan and Iraq combined) decide to withhold sex in an attempt to force their men to stop theSpike Lee has made some entertaining films, but when he gets political, things get heavy-handed real fast. The women of Chi-Raq (named because there are more gun deaths in Chicago than Afghanistan and Iraq combined) decide to withhold sex in an attempt to force their men to stop the violence. Their slogan, "No Peace, No **** The ploy is obviously based on the ancient Greek play “Lysistrata,” but I had no idea how literally Lee would take it: a chorus (Samuel L. Jackson), rhyming couplets, stylized confrontations. Even so, it might have worked if the message points weren't hammered home so bluntly and repeatedly…for 30 minutes longer than necessary.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Brent_Marchant

Dec 5, 2015

Despite having its heart in the right place, this stunningly unfocused, poorly executed amalgamation of ideas, narrative threads, and writing and filming styles doesn't hang together as a cohesive whole. Instead, viewers are left to endure an overlong, repetitive diatribe that criticizesDespite having its heart in the right place, this stunningly unfocused, poorly executed amalgamation of ideas, narrative threads, and writing and filming styles doesn't hang together as a cohesive whole. Instead, viewers are left to endure an overlong, repetitive diatribe that criticizes seemingly everyone and everything without offering much in the way of realistic solutions. The film never decides whether it wants to be incisive satire or serious drama, taking a scatter-shot approach that's akin to throwing a bowl of spaghetti against a wall to see what sticks. Unfortunately, these shortcomings obscure whatever strengths the picture has to offer, such as its excellent performances by Jennifer Hudson, Steve Harris and John Cusack. In short, "Chi-raq" represents a lost opportunity to draw serious attention to a real American tragedy.… Expand

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

hendrikchipman

Jan 5, 2016

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. An hour into this movie, I wanted it to stop. This movie goes for too long. They should have made this movie 1 hour long rather than 2 hours. My partner debunked this movie in 2 seconds. She said "boycotting sex would not work because the men would just find new partners". Yet, Spike Lee made a 2 hour movie about something that could easily be debunked in 2 seconds. This movie was also a Hollywood//leftie propaganda piece. John Cusak came off as an anti-gun nutter. There was one scene where John was preaching against gun violence on the pulpit. I can think of no better analogy to describe this movie. It was about a bunch of privileged Hollywood actors preaching about gun violence. No one likes to preached at.

I also didn't like the content of this story. The women withheld sex from the men to stop gun violence. Leave aside the fact that this would not work, why didn't the women just dob their partners in? If the men were murdering people (including children), a lack of sex does not seem like a fitting punishment. And, if these men were gang members and were killing children, wouldn't there be a risk of rape if the women withheld sex? I guess Spike Lee didn't think of this.

I feel like I need to respond to the propaganda presented in this movie. (1) Spike Lee introduced the movie by comparing the deaths in the Iraq war to murders in Chicago. As a statistics graduate, I suggest Spike Lee compare all of the murders in Iraq during this period and include Iraqi deaths to get a better comparison between the two areas. (2) Spike Lee can criticize the South all he wants but he cannot deny that Texas has a better track record than Chicago regarding gun violence.

All in all, a waste of time, to be preached at by a bunch of privileged actors. Also, why was John Cusak the head of an all black church? That doesn't make sense. Oh, and I couldn't understand a word Samuel Jackson or John Cusak said. This is what I heard: "blah blah blah leftie nonsense blah blah blah guns are bad blah blah blah something racist blah blah blah blah". In summary, I wouldn't even recommend pirating this movie.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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