June '00 : Shaft

PRODUCTION

Paramount Pictures presents a film by John Singleton
Starring Samuel L. Jackson

INTRODUCTION

Everyone remembers that photo of Richard Roundtree hanging from one hand on the rope firing his gun dressed in all black? That screen image may have been forgotten by many, but not this critic. Positive representations of Black men are important Shaft was one of the strongest characters ever presented to American audiences. He was handsome, tough and on the right side of the law. So blackfilm.com applauds John Singleton and Paramount for bringing Shaft back to life for more Americans to enjoy. Now, did they make a good movie though?

SYNOPSIS

The plot of this Shaft was no twisted-sister.

1. Rich kid kills black man
2. Rich kid gets away
3. Rich kid father is powerful man downtown
4. Shaft is on the case
5. Shaft solves case

I mean come on now. Couldn't they have mustered up some other ideas or made Shaft's involvement in the situation a little less automatic? I felt like the film was to market without considering that some people really were expecting something less Hollywood and more gritty like the original.

THESPIANS

• Samuel L. Jackson – solid but sometimes he seemed unauthentic. That's rare for Samuel L so I am wondering if he was intimidated by the mystique of the Shaft role.

• Christian Bale – Come on – he roughs up a big-dude in jail? From that one scene alone, I started to hate the way they were selling his character.

• Busta Rhymes – I could not get out of seeing Busta ala video style. It’s cool to see him on screen and his birthday party was really live in South Beach, but I would have preferred a different role Busta.

• Vanessa Williams – Sweet and nice but something about her performance smelled of – well, how can I say this, “played out.”
• Jeffrey Wright - Now his performance was quite impressive. Mr. Wright is building a solid repertoire of performances that have showed his range. Hollywood, WAKE UP and give this boy more work!!

DIRECTOR

Singleton's work was good but this was no Boyz In The Hood. I feel sorry for John because he will always be measured against his outstanding debut. Nevertheless, my advice to him is to keep making films and do not succumb to the pressures to make cookie cutter films.

CRITIQUE

Part of my problem with this film is that I was way too fired up for its release. I mean I placed the bar so high that it really had no chance to be a great film in my eyes. I remember when the new president of Coca-Cola introduced the New Coke - everyone hated it because he changed some of the most important ingredients. Now this Shaft was not a total wash and it didn't make me ill, but it sure did not measure up to the original. Its problems stem from trying to be too deft, too slick, too ny-city-cool, when all it really had to do was to be simple and good. At least that's what the original Coke was and that's why the New Coke is no where to be found. But I definitely recommend that you go and see it for yourself and decide on your own. Remember, I could be wrong.