Super Fly

Movies 365: Day 53 – Super Fly

Yesterday’s movie Shaft has less in common with typical Blaxploitation films than today’s selection, Super Fly. Following the adventures of a drug dealer named Priest (Ron O’Neal) as he goes for one last big score before he leaves the game entirely (it’s always one last big score isn’t it?), all the while an excellent soundtrack comprised primarily of Curtis Mayfield tunes blasts along.

If it weren’t so serious, Super Fly would almost seem like parody. The characters are outrageously dressed, Priest is a karate student, rolls his pimp mobile through the streets of New York as soul music plays, women are practically begging for Priest to sleep with them, and though the main character is a violent drug dealer, the bad guys are of course the white cops a.k.a. The Man. All that said, Super Fly is a fairly engaging film, thanks to the direction of Gordon Parks Jr. (his father directed Shaft) and the music of Curtis Mayfield. Parks does a very nice job, especially during some of the films montages, it’s very well directed, though somewhat experimental. The soundtrack is really where it’s at though. Super Fly is one of the only films to be outgrossed by its soundtrack, and for good reason. The music is amazing, Mayfield’s soul concept album plays throughout the film, and sets the mood and tone for the whole film. Though entertaining at times, I’d recommend skipping the movie and getting your hands on a copy of the soundtrack immediately.

Last updated: 2010-03-05 00:53:25 by user05