7tavern: Shaft

Shaft

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Sound (4)
3.4
Plot (4)
3.3
Cast (4)
3.3
Special Effects (3)
2.6
Length & Pace (4)
3.2
Cinematography (4)
3.2

Directors: John Singleton,

Writers: Ernest Tidyman (novel), John Singleton (story) ...,

Release: 6 June 2000 (USA)

Tagline: Still the man, any questions?

Plot: New York City police detective John Shaft (nephew of the original 1970s detective) goes on a personal mission to make sure the son of a real estate tycoon is brought to justice after a racially-motivated murder.

Cast: Samuel L. Jackson - John Shaft, Vanessa Williams - Carmen Vasquez, Jeffrey Wright - Peoples Hernandez, Christian Bale - Walter Wade, Jr., Busta Rhymes - Rasaan, Dan Hedaya - Jack Roselli, Toni Collette - Diane Palmieri, Richard Roundtree - Uncle John Shaft, Ruben Santiago-Hudson - Jimmy Groves, Josef Sommer - Curt Fleming, Lynne Thigpen - Carla Howard, Philip Bosco - Walter Wade, Sr., Pat Hingle - Hon. Dennis Bradford, Lee Tergesen - Luger, Daniel von Bargen - Lt. Kearney (as Daniel Von Bargen)

Runtime: 99 min

Country: Germany

Language: English

Company: Munich Film Partners & Company (MFP) Shaft Productions

Links: IMDb Profile

Categories: Action, Crime, Thriller

Main

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BartonRoberts
Reviews: 56
Points: 0 (Level 1)
Reviewer

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Length & Pace:
Cinematography:

2.5

Movies 365: Day 52 – Shaft

Shaft, 1971 Directed by Gordon Parks

Perhaps best known for it’s Academy Award winning theme song, 1971’s Shaft was more of a crossover hit than yesterday’s film Sweet Sweetback’s Baadassssss Song, and also a much better film. When private detective John Shaft (Richard Roundtree) is ambushed at his office by two hired goons, he throws one out the window and is taken in by police. Though he maintains that the man fell, the police don’t fully believe him, he is allowed to return to the streets for 48 hours. Shaft quickly hunts down Bumpy Jonas (Moses Gunn), a gangster who controls Harlem and who sent the goons to see Shaft. Bumpy informs Shaft that his daughter has been kidnapped and hires Shaft to track her down. Initially suspecting a Black Panther-like organization, haft quickly realizes that they didn’t kidnap the girl, and instead focuses his attention on the Italian Mafia.

Shaft is a good movie, and has little in common with Sweetback other than the fact that both protagonists are apparently irresistible to women, though to be fair, the theme song warns that Shaft is a “sex machine to all the chicks.” Richard Roundtree is really great as the titular “black private dick” it’s no wonder that John Shaft has left a large cinematic legacy in his wake. He’s a cool dude, and Roundtree plays the part well. The mystery at the heart of the film is well done, though not terribly indecipherable, but it’s ok, as the movie is still highly entertaining, and unlike Sweetback it actually holds up. Shaft is a legitimately good movie, not just a cultural artifact or curio. One can’t finish their review without talking about Isaac Hayes’ legendary score, which is excellent, from the first “wah-wah” of the guitar in the opening theme, to the end credits, the music in Shaft is excellent, and though certainly dated, it doesn’t feel like a stereotype. Shaft is a good movie, and one I enjoyed a whole hell of a lot, here’s hoping the rest of the films this week continue to be as good as Shaft.

Last updated: 2010-03-05 00:56:09 by user05

2010-03-05 00:55:29

malikaziz
Reviews: 47
Points: 0 (Level 1)
Reviewer

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Cast:
Special Effects:
Length & Pace:
Cinematography:

3.5

3.4

3.7

2.7

3.6

3.3

Most Important Black Films – #8 Shaft

Relevance: Directed by Kansas native Gordon Parks (who also cameos in the film), Shaft was both a pop culture and a financial success (made for a little more than a million, it grossed 12). More than some of the indie black films that preceded, it showed Hollywood there was money to be made by making films for black audiences. And the floodgates known as the blaxploitation era officially opened…

Legacy: Take your pick. The classic theme song from Isaac Hayes? The two sequels (Sequels to a mainstream black film?!? How many times has that happened since then?!?) Bringing black pride to the masses? The remake starring Samuel L. a generation later? Any and all of these could be worthwhile arguments.

Craft: Some of the techniques and art design are clearly dated now, but Gordon Parks was always as real as it gets, and Shaft is a film. Not a parody of another film or style, but a film on its own regard. Compared to some of its brethren in the blaxploitation genre, and it’s easy to see why Shaft is still regarded as one of the best films from that era.

Crossover: As much as the song and the artist have been parodied (including self parody, Chef), let’s not forgot that the theme from Shaft won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. The song and the movie were genuine crossover hits.

Apollo: I think everyone has their own favorite Apollo moment from this film, so I’ll just tell you mine. The fake laugh. Maybe it was in the script, maybe it was just the way Roundtree delivered the lines, but there’s something that gets me every time at the end of the first sequence:

Nerdy Cop: “Hey Shaft, where you going?”

Shaft: “To get laid, where you going? A HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”

And on that note, come back later as the film countdown continues with another iconic film. Want a hint? Maybe next time…shitty! A HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

(Read Less...)

Last updated: 2010-01-18 14:35:50 by malikaziz

2010-01-12 07:55:36

BartonRoberts
Reviews: 56
Points: 0 (Level 1)
Reviewer

Movies 365: Day 52 – Shaft

Shaft , 1971 Directed by Gordon Parks Perhaps best known for it’s Academy Award winning theme song, 1971’s Shaft was more of a crossover hit than yesterday’s film Sweet Sweetback’s Baadassssss Song , and also a much better film. When private detective John Shaft (Richard Roundtree) is ambushed at his office by two hired goons, he throws one out the window and is taken in by police. Though he maintains that the man fell, the police don’t fully believe him, he is allowed to return to the streets for 48 hours. Shaft quickly hunts down Bumpy Jonas (Moses Gunn), a gangster who controls Harlem and who sent the goons to see Shaft. Bumpy informs Shaft that his daughter has been kidnapped and hires Shaft to track her down. Initially suspecting a Black Panther-like organization, haft quickly realizes that they didn’t kidnap the girl, and instead focuses his attention on the Italian Mafia. Shaft is a good movie, and has little in common...

(Read More...)

2010-03-05 00:55:29

malikaziz
Reviews: 47
Points: 0 (Level 1)
Reviewer

Most Important Black Films – #8 Shaft

When you start talking about the iconic films of black cinema, it won’t be long before you get to Shaft. Made in 1971, this film stars Richard Roundtree as a black private eye in Harlem who gets dragged into a private war between the Italian mob and the black gangsters of the city. Yes, I opened a review of Shaft by talking about the actual plot of the film. Now that we got that out of the way, on to the tale of the tape… Relevance : Directed by Kansas native Gordon Parks (who also cameos in the film), Shaft was both a pop culture and a financial success (made for a little more than a million, it grossed 12). More than some of the indie black films that preceded, it showed Hollywood there was money to be made by making films for black audiences. And the floodgates known as the blaxploitation era officially opened… Legacy : Take your pick. The classic theme song from Isaac Hayes? The two sequels...

(Read More...)

2010-01-12 07:55:36

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