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Lunch » Tags » Movies » Reviews » Shaft

Shaft

1 rating: 5.0

A movie

Samuel L. Jackson stars as detective John Shaft, a new-generation "black private dick who's a sex machine with all the chicks" in this stylish, action-packed update of the classic blaxploitation trilogy (SHAFT, SHAFT'S BIG SCORE!, and SHAFT … see full wiki

Tags: Movies, Action, Adventure

Cast: Busta Rhymes

Release Date: 2000

MPAA Rating: R

1 review about Shaft

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How 'Bout I Workshop My Foot Up Your . . .

Jul 4, 2000

by Candice923
posted in Movie Hype

Rating:

Pros: SAM JACKSON!!!! Excellent Direction; Great Stunts; Good Script; Excellent Pacing

Cons: Some flaws with the script

There's a reason we don't see Samuel Jackson in as many bad movies as Kevin Costner and Mel Gibson: He chooses only the scripts worth doing. From A Time To Kill to Die Hard With A Vengeance. You know that whatever movie Sam Jackson is in is definitely going to be worth seeing.

Shaft is the best Sam Jackson movie I have ever seen, even surpassing his gut-wrenching performance in A Time To Kill.

John Shaft (Jackson) is a tough homicide detective in the New York Police Department. When assigned to a homicide dealing with Walter Wade, Jr. (Christain Bale) - son of a real estate tycoon - and a young black man named Trey (Mikhai Pfeiffer), Shaft is out for justice. Unfortunately, Wade makes bail and is off and running. Shaft makes it his mission to find and arrest Wade, and ultimately make him pay for his crime.

There's even an eye witness, Diane Palmieri (Toni Collette), that Shaft can use to his advantage. . .Should he be able to find her. there are tons of twists and turns in this film that I dare not give away, including an absolutely incredible (and unexpected) ending.

John Singleton (Boys In The Hood, Higher Learning) really out-does himself with Shaft. If you pay attention, you can even see Singleton make a cameo appearance! His direction is flawless, although there are some mistakes in the script. (ie- someone being able to get up and walk around after being shot point blank in the chest while wearing a kelvar vest.)

Busta Rhymes, who plays Rasaan, is hysterical! Sure, he had a small role in Higher Learning, but Shaft really allows Rhymes to demonstrate his acting ability. I usually don't care for Vanessa Williams (who plays Carmen Vasquez) because of her choices of roles. however, she was pretty good in this film. Toni Collete also played an excellent hapless victim.

Let's talk about Sam, shall we? Sam Jackson absolutely became John Shaft. his mannerisms, facial expressions, vocal tone, everything was just Shaft. Richard Roundtree, who plays Uncle John Shaft very well (duh), couldn't have done a better job that Sam Jackson.

Big ups go to the Second Unit! (For those of you that don't know, the Second Unit is in charge of stunts.) The fight scenes are wonderful. The opening foot chase is absolutely incredible. The car scenes - especially the climax - are amazing. You can really tell a lot of work and money went into the making of this movie.

if there is one movie you see this summer, Shaft should definitely be it. Do I recommend it? HELL YEAH!!! Shoot, tell me when you want to go, and I'll see it with you.

Recommended:
Yes

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