X
- 2018
- TV-MA
- Netflix
- 1 h 40 m
- 2018
- TV-MA
- Netflix
- 1 h 40 m
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 t...
Directed By: Michael Larnell
Written By: Michael Larnell
- 2018
- TV-MA
- Netflix
- 1 h 40 m
- 2018
- TV-MA
- Netflix
- 1 h 40 m
Roxanne Roxanne
74
6.1
Where to Watch
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 t...
Directed By: Michael Larnell
Written By: Michael Larnell
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 10 Critic Reviews
74
90% Positive
9 Reviews
9 Reviews
10% Mixed
1 Review
1 Review
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 10 Critic Reviews
74
90% Positive
9 Reviews
9 Reviews
10% Mixed
1 Review
1 Review
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Adams displays terrific range and an incandescent screen presence as she effortlessly incarnates Shante over a 10-year period, from puberty to young motherhood.
It’s a vivid and unusually honest drama about the pain and bravado that were the fuel of hip-hop.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 8 User Ratings
6.1
38% Positive
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
63% Mixed
5 Ratings
5 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 8 User Ratings
6.1
38% Positive
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
63% Mixed
5 Ratings
5 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
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!
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Una buena película con buenas actuaciones y muy buena música; la recomiendo.
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A well-acted, inspiring story of female empowerment, the captivating “Roxanne Roxanne” is as much about survival and the bonds of family as it is about busting rhymes.
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.
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.
One presumes that Michael Lerner's sense of emphasis is meant to humanize Shanté, defining her apart from the fame she achieved, but this stratagem backfires as Roxanne Roxanne mires itself in scenes of speechifying domestic strife.
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.
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 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)
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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 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)
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Awards
Sundance Film Festival
• 1 Win & 2 Nominations
Black Reel Awards
• 2 Nominations
Guild of Music Supervisors Awards
• 1 Nomination
