Crooked cops on the take … small-time drug lords … sleazy informers and sadistic rich kids ready to kill -- for police detective John Shaft, it’s just another night in the underbelly of New York City, another shift facing down cops and criminals who want him dead and a legal system that thrives on money, not justice.
With Samuel L. Jackson in the starring role and John Singleton directing, "Shaft" is a new approach to one of the great film icons of the 1970s. He’s tough, he’s smart, he’s cool – just what you’d expect from a man whose uncle and mentor is John Shaft, who, now as then, is played by Richard Roundtree. Also starring in the Paramount Pictures presentation are Vanessa Williams, Jeffrey Wright, Christian Bale, Dan Hedaya, Busta Rhymes and Toni Collette.
When spoiled college kid Walter Wade (Christian Bale) kills a young black student, John Shaft (Jackson) makes the arrest. Walter skips bail and flees the country, and after two years of waiting, Shaft hauls him back into custody as Walter secretly returns to the States. But when Walter’s wealthy father posts bail once again, Walter is back out on the streets and looking to put Shaft in a body bag. So are two of Shaft’s corrupt colleagues (Dan Hedaya and Ruben Santiago-Hudson) as well as a Dominican drug lord (Jeffrey Wright) who wants revenge on Shaft for humiliating him in the neighborhood he rules.
For backup, Shaft has only his two closest pals: Carmen (Vanessa Williams), a colleague on the police force; and his streetwise confidant, Rasaan (Busta Rhymes). Meanwhile, Shaft has got to track down the one murder witness (Toni Collette) who can put all of his enemies away for good even as the toughest killers in the city close in on him.
Samuel L. Jackson stars in “Shaft,” a Paramount Pictures presentation of a Scott Rudin/New Deal Production. John Singleton directs the film, which also stars Vanessa Williams, Jeffery Wright, Christian Bale, Dan Hedaya, Busta Rhymes with Toni Collette and Richard Roundtree. Scott Rudin and John Singleton are the producers. The executive producers are Adam Schroeder, Paul Hall and Steve Nicolaides, and the co-producer is Eric Steel. Paramount Pictures is part of the entertainment operations of Viacom Inc.
(15 votes)
2.
Samuel L. Jackson makes a gleefully updated John Shaft in John Singleton's homage (not remake) to the early 1970s action classic, picking up where Richard Roundtree's legendary Shaft left off. The Manhattan-set film features excellent performances, dynamic action scenes and witty one-liners (Jackson's Shaft: "It's my duty to please the booty"--although the line's deceptive: there's a surprising lack of sex in the film). Unfortunately, it's offset by a surprisingly uninspired, predictable, one-dimensional story, penned by Singleton, Richard Price and Shane Salerno. The story, in which Shaft investigates the murder of a young African American, is without suspense, since from the start the audience knows that rich white boy Walter Wade (Christian Bale) did the deed and that Shaft is going to kick his ass, big time. That said, charismatic performances--from Jackson (who, in keeping with the times, is more volatile and fiery than his predecessor), Toni Collette (as a frightened witness), the villainous Bale and the utterly amazing Jeffrey Wright (Basquiat)--make the film enticing and watchable. Look for a cameo by the original Shaft's director, the legendary Gordon Parks, and fans of the original should note that a still stunningly handsome Roundtree briefly appears as Jackson's uncle. --N.F. Mendoza, Amazon.com
(13 votes)
3.
When spoiled college kid Walter Wade kills a young black student, John Shaft makes the arrest. Walter skips bail and flees the country, and after two years of waiting, Shaft hauls him back into custody as Walter secretly returns to the States. But when Walter's wealthy father posts bail once again, Walter is back out on the streets and looking to put Shaft in a body bag. So are two of Shaft's corrupt colleagues as well as a Dominican drug lord who wants revenge on Shaft for humiliating him in the neighborhood he rules. For backup, Shaft has only his two closest pals: Carmen, a colleague on the police force; and his streetwise confidant, Rasaan. Meanwhile, Shaft has got to track down the one murder witness who can put all of his enemies away for good even as the toughest killers in the city close in on him.
Samuel L. Jackson plays the title role in this revved-up, gritty action thriller directed by John Singleton (Boyz N The Hood).
(13 votes)
4.
Your Next Stop... Is Hell
When the elevator in the 102-story Millennium Building starts to malfunction the management sends in a mechanic to solve the problem, but not everyone is happy about it-especially the elevator. After several of New York's finest are killed, the government, fearing terrorism, seals off the building. Now it is up to the mechanic and a reporter (Naomi Watts) to face an enemy whose bloodthirst is only met by its unpredictability...an enemy that is determined to fight off any intruder looking for the dark secret that lurks inside the belly of The Shaft.
(10 votes)
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