Hey folks, Harry here. Man... Ya know what? This review is kinda scary. It's a pretty decent review of the film, and gives it a basic thumbs up... but I was having a conversation with some filmmakers back during SXSW (gosh... I guess that'd just be LAST WEEK) where the various film folk expressed their adoration for Sam Jackson, but then pointed out that while Sam is the ultimate bad ass... He ain't no sex machine. When we began thinking about it... Sam Jackson has never really been sexually active in a film. Never slick with the chicks. I kept saying that, "No no noooo... Sam's the man, MAN! That's why he took on the role of Shaft, so he'd gather up that ol sex appeal." BUT then comes this review that goes on to detail that basically... Shaft never scores!?!?!?!? What the hell is that? That's like having Bond never hit the sheets. Shaft is a powerful sexual icon as well as being just your typical machismo black super-action god. I don't know... but I'd sure as hell film Shaft getting on with some gratuitous loving. It's the man's modus operandi! Shaft and Score just go together, like Martin and Lewis, like Astaire and Rogers, like Lorenzo and Incompetence! Well... this is an early cut, and there is plenty of time to just throw in smatterings of sex all over the place. Hehhehehe... Boy, I'm gonna take some shit for this. Hehehehehe... Watch out for some spoilers, here ya go...
Harry,
Dale Cooper here. A lot of you remember me from my Mission to Mars review, and I hope that now that many of you have seen it, I am partially vindicated in calling it the piece of shit that it truly is (sorry Harry, but it sucked).
Anyway, the reason I am writing tonight is because I got to see Shaft at a preview screening here in New York. It was a very early print, no credits, temp track, etc. Let me just start the review by saying I never saw the original, so I have no point of reference to that film. This might skew my review, but the film should stand on its own anyway.
I will try to avoid spoilers, so let me just summarize. Shaft investigates a murder of a black man by a spoiled, rich white kid (Christian Bale). The white kid skips the country on bail after being arrested. He returns two years later, and Shaft is there at the airport to pick him up and make sure he is brought to justice. But things aren't that easy, since daddy is a rich man with powerful connections. The kid gets let out on bail again, and Shaft quits the police force. The kid has a bigger problem than Shaft, however: a waitress who witnessed the murder. It's a race to see who can get to her first - Shaft or the kid.
That's the setup, and the basic story. Shaft is trying to bring this racist punk to justice. I found the story extremely weak, and constantly wondered why the kid didn't leave the country again when it looked like things weren't going to go his way.
The other bad thing, before going on to the good: there is no sex in this film. There might be a mention of it here or there, but we never get a feel for what a badass Shaft is with the ladies. I have heard enough about the original, plus know the song, to know that Shaft gets his groove on. It just wasn't here, and I was disappointed. It really takes something away from the film.
That being said, let me just say that Sam Jackson is the baddest motherfucker on the planet. From the moment he walks on screen, you know it and the people in Shaft's world know it. The guy is amazing. I'm sorry that he didn't get to fuck in the film, but he sure kicks a lot of ass, and the ass kickin' is great.
The other main performance to watch out for is by Jeffrey Wright. I had no idea this was the guy from Basquiat and Ride With The Devil until I got my evaluation card. This is such a different role for him, and proves what an immense talent he is.
Vanessa Williams is mostly wasted as a cop helping Shaft, and Busta Rhymes appears as a guy who owes Shaft a few favors. He is funny, which was a surprise. I'd like to see what else he can do.
The action in this film is first rate, with a couple of really cool gun battles. Shootouts tend to get old, but these were handled real well by John Singleton.
Like I said, the drawbacks are lack of sex and a strong story. But Jackson is so mesmerizing that you go along for the ride. The action works, and Shaft is one cool motherfucker. He had me from the start, and I would definitely like to see another movie, maybe one with a more complex story.
Go see it. It's fun. You'll have a good time, and when you walk out of the theater, for a few seconds, you feel like you could kick some ass the way Shaft does.
Dale Cooper out.
