R E V I E W S

Shaft (2000)

Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Vanessa L. Williams, Jeffrey Wright, Christian Bale
Director: John Singleton
Rating: R

Studio: Paramount

Review Posted: 6.18.00

Rating: 4/5

By Paul Perkins.

In the 1970 there was one cop who was the man, who didn't take crap from anyone as well as being the cool cat. His name was John Shaft the movie was called Shaft and the star was Richard Roundtree he was the coolest cat. It been 30 years, and since it is a new century we need to see a new shaft get born but first we need a good director to make the film. John Singleton takes the helm and does a great job he is a talented director with a lot of great film under his belt like Boys N The Hood, Rosewood and Higher Learning.

Then you have to find an actor who could take the helm of John Shaft and take it a new level the actor is Samuel L. Jackson who made shaft shine like Roundtree did in the 70's. Who is a great actor who also has a lot of films under his belt?

Third you need a story here the story 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.

Well, this is a good remake of a classic movie with the directing of John Singleton who is a great director and Shaft can be added to the list of films he made. One thing about the way John did it, he made Shaft look like a new version of a classic movie and kept the 1970s theme in it.

To keep it good if also take an Actor to do it Samuel L. Jackson who was great in it but he is usually good in most of his films. He was a great new John Shaft who is the Nephew of the original John Shat and he shows he is the man and the coolest cat. Roundtree should be happy that Samuel did a great job of playing him and did not hurt the name and keep the style that Roundtree had in the 1970s.

The supporting cast was great also there was a lot of big names in this movie and the music business. There was Vanessa L. Williams who played Carmen one of Shaft's co-workers and friend, Jeffrey Wright as Peoples Hernandez who was the local drug dealer and hit man who was funny in the movie.

Christian Bale as Walter Wads the rich boy psycho Christian plays psychos very good like his last film American Psycho, Dan Hedaya as Jack Roselli who plays the crooked cop, Busta Rhymes as Rasaan who is Shaft's Sidekick. He was good in the film, Toni Collette as Diane who was the waitress who witnessed a murder and who is on the run, and Richard Roundtree as Uncle John who is the original Shaft and he is still the man.

Overall, Shaft is a great film. A lot of action and comedy. It shows Samuel is the man. Everyone go see this film and dig it. Any Questions?

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