Shaft (2000)

Time for the finale of “Shaft Month” with the last sequel in this series, “Shaft,” released in 2000. Let’s see…JohnR. McEwen said in his review, “Nope — there's nothing in Isaac Hayes's song about a believable plot, so I guess Shaft does its job.” Samuel L. Jackson is as fascinating as anyone would want, John Singleton’s directing is action-packed and full of New York atmosphere, and the music is extremely street-cool. Also the people, even those other than the famous title character, are interesting and varied, featuring excellent performances by co-villains Christian Bale and Jeffrey Wright.

However, the movie suffers from some fundamental slides in the story department, and while this is not a fatal flaw, it certainly brings the old credibility rating down a few points. McEwen guesses, “Perhaps the problem stems from having too many cooks in the kitchen during the writing process.” The screenplay is by Richard Price, adapted from a story by himself, director Singleton, and Shane Salerno, based upon the 1971 novel by Ernest Tidyman, who won an Oscar for “The French Connection” that same year. McEwen says, “But I doubt that Tidyman's novel included the part about John Shaft quitting the force and then being allowed to pursue his case without having to obey the law. It seems unlikely.”

After the racially motivated murder of a black man, killer Walter Wade, played by Bale, leaves the country before he can be prosecuted. He is apparently able to do this because his father, played by Philip Bosco, is a wealthy, influential politician. However, the ever-vigilant Shaft catches him the moment he tries to re-enter the country (two years later) and throws him in jail. While serving his time, Wade meets Peoples Hernandez, played by Wright, a local drug lord whom Shaft had previously thrown in prison for carrying an ice pick with no ice. McEwen mentioned, “I think it's called "possession of ice paraphernalia."” Although Wade has already clearly shown his hatred for certain racial groups, he and the Hispanic Hernandez become friends, and he asks Peoples to grow his business to contract killing. You see, there was one eyewitness to the murder, a waitress named Diane, played by Toni Collette, who Shaft had been avoiding for two years, and although she is restrained to testify, Wade knows she’ll be even better at being quiet if she’s dead.

Soon Wade is on the street again, so Shaft turns in his badge in order to more professionally break the law. Soon, he is engaging in one gunfight after another, aided by his friend Rasaan (rapper Busta Rhymes), and his ex-partner Carmen (Vanessa L. Williams), who is still a cop but is willing to risk her career to join in the lawbreaking. While attempting to rescue Diane from her overprotective family (Richard Cocchiaro, Ron Castellano and Angela Pietropinto) and draw her into the career of gunfight, they are exchanging fire with Peoples, his goons, and some cops who turned goon when they found the money was better. So you’ve got the standard cops/goons conflict. The question is, now that Shaft turned in his badge, is he a cop or a goon? McEwen says, “Whatever he is, he's also an excellent marksman, because he repeatedly kills the bad guys with one shot fired around corners, without ever even being nicked by the constant hail of lead raining down on him from all directions.”

Without all the problems of the plot, “Shaft” allows Jackson, Bale and Wright the chance to display their talent, not to mention Collette, who was nominated for an Oscar the previous year for the best supporting actress in “The Sixth Sense.” Also there is a cameo by the original Shaft, Richard Roundtree himself.

Definitely check this movie out because, as I stated last week, it’s the best of all the sequels. You will absolutely love this film, just like how you fell in love with the first movie.

Thanks online readers for joining in on “Shaft Month.” I hope all of you enjoyed it and hopefully I gave a good recommendation to everyone in saying to check out this series. Check in next month to see what I will review next. See you then.