Film Snail

6.0

Shaft

R·2000·99m

Action

Adventure

Crime

Thriller

Action

Adventure

Crime

Thriller

Summary

New York police detective John Shaft arrests Walter Wade Jr. for a racially motivated slaying. But the only eyewitness disappears, and Wade jumps bail for Switzerland. Two years later Wade returns to face trial, confident his money and influence will get him acquitted -- especially since he's paid a drug kingpin to kill the witness.

Cast

Samuel L. Jackson

John Shaft

Vanessa Williams

Carmen Vasquez

Jeffrey Wright

Peoples Hernandez

Christian Bale

Walter Wade, Jr.

Busta Rhymes

Rasaan

Dan Hedaya

Jack Roselli

Toni Collette

Diane Palmieri

Richard Roundtree

"Uncle" John Shaft

Ruben Santiago-Hudson

Jimmy Groves

Josef Sommer

Curt Flemming

Lynne Thigpen

Carla Howard

Philip Bosco

Walter Wade Senior

Pat Hingle

Judge Dennis Bradford

Lee Tergesen

Luger

Daniel von Bargen

Lt Kearney

Francisco 'Coqui' Taveras

Lucifer

Sonja Sohn

Alice

Peter McRobbie

Lt. Cromertie

Zach Grenier

Harrison Loeb

Richard Cocchiaro

Frank Palmieri

Ron Castellano

Mike Palmieri

Freddie Ricks

Big Raymond

Sixto Ramos

Bonehead

Andre Royo

Tattoo

Richard Barboza

Dominican

Mekhi Phifer

Trey Howard

Gano Grills

Cornbread

Catherine Kellner

Ivy

Philip Rudolph

Uniform Sergeant

Angela Pietropinto

Mrs Ann Palmieri

Joe Quintero

Asst DA Hector Torres

Lanette Ware

Terry

Stu 'Large' Riley

Leon

Mark Zeisler

DA Andrew Nicoli

Capital Jay

Golem

Bonz Malone

Malik

Henry G. Thomas

Malik's Crew

Brian Oswald Talbot

Malik's Crew

Preston Thomas

Malik's Crew

Marshall T. Broughton

Malik's Crew

Ann Ducati

Aunt Toni DeCarlo

Lisa Cooley

News Anchor

Elizabeth Banks

Trey's Friend

Scott Lucy

Trey's Friend

Chris Orr

Walter's Friend

Christopher Orr

Walter's Friend

Evan Farmer

Walter's Friend

Will Chase

Walter's Friend

Jeff Branson

Walter's Friend

Jerome Preston Bates

Desk Sergeant

John Elsen

Uniform Cop in Metronome

Nadine Mozon

Abused Woman

Lawrence Taylor

Lamont

Caprice Benedetti

Karen

John Cunningham

Judge

Louie Leonardo

Pistolero

Tony Rhune

Pistolero

Fidel Vicioso

Pistolero

F. Valentino Morales

Enforcer

Myron Primes

Young Blood

Universal

Young Blood

Travis Brandon Rosa

Fighting Boy

Matthew Wallace

Fighting Boy

Luis Torres

Fat Man

John Wojda

Construction Worker

Ahmed Al-Khan

Bystander at Metronome

Amer Al-Khan

Bystander at Metronome

Rashid Feleyfel

Bystander at Metronome

Gordon Parks

Lenox Lounge Patron

Joan Baker

"Uncle" John Shaft's Girlfriend (uncredited)

William H. Burns

Arresting Officer (uncredited)

Gabe Castillo

(uncredited)

Nicholas J. Coleman

Bystander at Metronome (uncredited)

Johanna Estevez

Girlfriend (uncredited)

Todd Fredericks

Bystander at Metronome (uncredited)

Carson Grant

Police Officer (uncredited)

Mary Ann Hannon

Walter Wade's Housekeeper (uncredited)

Isaac Hayes

Mr. P (uncredited)

Doug Hutchison

Plane Door Opener (uncredited)

Deacon Ledges

(uncredited)

Deirdre Lovejoy

Police Officer (uncredited)

Carl Low

Dominican #5 (uncredited)

John E. Mack

Paramedic (uncredited)

Selena Mars

Protester (uncredited)

Riley G. Matthews, Jr.

Desk & Cell Officer (uncredited)

Thomas Mejia

Peoples Crew (uncredited)

Mercedes Mercado

Waitress (uncredited)

Dorian Missick

Young Man (uncredited)

Kevin O'Donnell

Club Kid (uncredited)

Nik Pjeternikaj

Detective (uncredited)

Gloria Reuben

Sgt. Council (uncredited)

Roman Rivera

(uncredited)

Dawn Robinson

Lenox Lounge Patron (uncredited)

Christina Rouner

Lenox Lounge Patron (uncredited)

Mustafa Shakir

Protester (uncredited)

Cue Shepherd

Sexy Girl (uncredited)

John Singleton

Bored Cop with Tea Cup (uncredited)

Peter Stickles

Mickey Hunt (uncredited)

Al Thompson

Pistolero (uncredited)

Lou Torres

Fatman (uncredited)

Crew

Director, Screenplay, Story

John Singleton

Novel

Ernest Tidyman

Screenplay

Richard Price

Screenplay, Story

Shane Salerno

Reviews

John Chard

July 6, 2015

I know cats who'd take out whole zipcodes for that kind of cheese.

Remakes do work occasionally, case in point Shaft, John Singleton's update of the 1971 Blacksploitation movie that starred Richard Roundtree as the title character. Roundtree gets a part in this one as well, playing the uncle of Samuel L. Jackson's title character, John Shaft.

It's the perfect role for Jackson, lashings of cool and menace, on his bulky shoulders dose the film easily rest. Plot finds Shaft turning in his badge after the law proves useless to let racist murderer Walter Wade Junior (Christian Bale a sneering villain but awesome looking in a tux) out on the streets. Shaft vows to bring Wade to justice, by any means necessary. Though he also has other things on his plate, namely Latino drug lord Peoples Hernandez (Jeffrey Wright a riot) and some less than honourable police officers.

The screenplay is a little trite, but as an action movie, one with the coolness and sparky humour, it really hits the required spots of those just after such easy minded fare. The support cast is a roll call of sound performers with the likes of Vanessa Williams, Dan Hedaya and Toni Collette fronting up, while the awesome ebullience of Busta Rhymes is very infectious.

Isaac Hayes gloriously famous theme tune is still in place, pumped up by composer David Arnold, which ensures the feel of the original isn't lost, and Donald E. Thorin's photography is pin sharp and in turns gorgeous (night shots) and streetwise gritty. Shaft, the 2000 version, still bad-ass and sadly under appreciated. 7/10