Roxanne Roxanne

Name: Roxanne Roxanne
Genre: Drama
Released: March 23, 2018
Duration: 100 min
Rating: 74
Cast: Adam Horovitz, Chanté Adams, Cindy Cheung, Curtiss Cook, Elvis Nolasco

2018

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 10 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 8 Ratings

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6.1	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 8 Ratings

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Roxanne Roxanne

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Movie Details & Credits

Netflix | Release Date (Streaming): March 23, 2018 | TV-MA

Starring: Adam Horovitz, Chanté Adams, Cindy Cheung, Curtiss Cook, Elvis Nolasco, Germar Terrell Gardner, Jermaine Crawford, Kevin Phillips, Kristin Dodson, Lyric Hurd, Mahershala Ali, Mike Classic, Mitchell Edwards, Nia Long, Nigel A. Fullerton, Sean Ringgold, Shenell Edmonds, Terrence Shingler, Tonye Patano, Zurich Buckner

Summary: In the early 1980s, the most feared battle MC in Queens, New York, was a fierce teenage girl with the weight of the world on her shoulders. At the age of 14, Lolita "Roxanne Shanté" Gooden was well on her way to becoming a hip-hop legend as she hustled to provide for her family while defending herself from the dangers of the streets of theIn the early 1980s, the most feared battle MC in Queens, New York, was a fierce teenage girl with the weight of the world on her shoulders. At the age of 14, Lolita "Roxanne Shanté" Gooden was well on her way to becoming a hip-hop legend as she hustled to provide for her family while defending herself from the dangers of the streets of the Queensbridge Projects in NYC.… Expand

Director: Michael Larnell

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: TV-MA

Runtime: 100 min

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Critic Reviews

Leslie Felperin

Mar 20, 2018

Adams displays terrific range and an incandescent screen presence as she effortlessly incarnates Shante over a 10-year period, from puberty to young motherhood. Read full review

Owen Gleiberman

Mar 20, 2018

It’s a vivid and unusually honest drama about the pain and bravado that were the fuel of hip-hop. Read full review

Sheri Linden

Mar 22, 2018

A film that breaks the musical biopic mold in ways that are sometimes frustrating and frequently exhilarating. Read full review

The Film Stage Jordan Ruimy

Mar 20, 2018

Telling this story with a deep specificity, Larnell does the artist proud by artfully using his camera to capture a woman forging her identity through her art. He and Adams make a formidable team and finely stamp their own mark on the hip-hop movie genre. Read full review

Jason Zinoman

Mar 22, 2018

What distinguishes Roxanne Roxanne, a sensitively observed new movie with a dynamite performance by Chanté Adams, is that it marries a traditional hip-hop biopic, a form long dominated by male rappers, with a more idiosyncratic and deeply felt slice of life. Read full review

Movie Nation Roger Moore

Sep 25, 2018

Michael Larnell’s flinty and uplifting film of the early days of Lolita “Roxanne Shanté” Gooden, the Queen of Queensbridge, a mid-80s fury who became a years-in-the-making “overnight success” and role model, lives on grit and heart and some terrific performances by Chanté Adams, Nia Long and Oscar winner Mahershala Ali. Read full review

Kristen Yoonsoo Kim

Mar 22, 2018

The film may not end on a tragic note, but in attempting a gritty portrayal of Shanté’s little-known private life, Roxanne Roxanne forgets her genius, as so many other people did back in the day. Read full review

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User Reviews

my02

Apr 15, 2018

My guess is @ahmedaiman9999 didn't realize this was a true story or didn't realize how many of the 'minor characters' were future hip hip legends (Nas was her younger neighbor, what?). Hell I even remember Sparky D & how many other Roxanne-answer-record MC's were spawned back then (paging:My guess is @ahmedaiman9999 didn't realize this was a true story or didn't realize how many of the 'minor characters' were future hip hip legends (Nas was her younger neighbor, what?). Hell I even remember Sparky D & how many other Roxanne-answer-record MC's were spawned back then (paging: The Real Roxanne).
My eyes lit up seeing someone made a Roxanne Shante story....I'm happy for any insight into this woman's life, perfect film or not....although yes plenty of great actors/acting here (& after the immediate disappointment of Netflix' "The Get Down" looking more like a Broadway show, this was a MUCH more authentic feeling production).

I can't help but wish there was more info about the rise of the "Roxanne's Revenge" record (like any static between her & UTFO etc.) but kudos to Netflix for putting this out!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

DogeGamer2015

Jan 16, 2021

Una buena película con buenas actuaciones y muy buena música; la recomiendo.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

ahmedaiman999

Mar 30, 2018

The only thing that redeems this messy film is the superb acting specially from the lead actress Chanté Adams; she made me care about her character and root for her character, although neither the character's background or the struggles that the character went through have been representedThe only thing that redeems this messy film is the superb acting specially from the lead actress Chanté Adams; she made me care about her character and root for her character, although neither the character's background or the struggles that the character went through have been represented well. Also, Mahershala Ali gave an awesome and powerful performance, he steals every scene he's in in this film. Don't get me wrong it's a bad film but the great acting is what kept me riveted while watching it.

At the first act, the film tries to show me Roxanne Shanté's backstory which should be important but what I got instead are details about minor characters that don't have anything to do with the story but even that it was hard to figure out who's who. Also, there are a lot of in-your-face messages about racism.

The character of Roxanne Shanté's mother is annoyingly stereotyped and the film gave her dramatic scenes which are so corny. The dialogue is so faked and stilted that it ruined some great acted scenes.

There are many important turning points in the plot that are so rushed.

(5/10)… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

ahmedaiman9999

Apr 15, 2018

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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