Shaft (2000)

Director:

John Singleton

Writers (WGA):

Ernest Tidyman (novel)
John Singleton (story) ...

Release Date:

16 June 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

Still the man, any questions?

Plot:

New York City police detective John Shaft (nephew of the original 1970s detective) goes on a personal mission to make sure the son of a real estate tycoon is brought to justice after a racially-motivated murder.

Plot Keywords:

Detective | Drugs | Trial | Switzerland | Police

Awards:

1 win & 12 nominations

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 Fleming
Lynne Thigpen	...	Carla Howard
Philip Bosco	...	Walter Wade, Sr.
Pat Hingle	...	Hon. Dennis Bradford
Lee Tergesen	...	Luger
Daniel von Bargen	...	Lt. Kearney (as Daniel Von Bargen)

Also Known As:

Shaft - Noch Fragen? (Germany)
Shaft Returns (USA) (working title)
Shaft (Brazil) (Portugal) [pt]
Shaft (Canada: French title) (France) [fr]
Korkusuz (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Seft (Serbia) [sr]
Shaft (Finland) [fi]
Shaft (Denmark) [da]
Shaft (Croatia) [hr]
Shaft: El retorn (Spain: Catalan title) [ca]
Shaft: The Return (Spain) [es]

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence and language.

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

Germany | USA

Language:

English | German | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Canada:14A | Chile:14 | Colombia:12 | Denmark:15 | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:18 | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:M18 (re-rating) (uncut) | South Korea:18 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:18 | USA:R | Philippines:R-18

Filming Locations:

Broadway & 20th Street, Chelsea, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Munich Film Partners & Company (MFP) Shaft Productions

Trivia:

The cast features a former Commissioner Gordon (Pat Hingle) and a future Batman (Christian Bale).

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: The Trinidad and Tobago Flag hanging in Rasaan's apartment is upside-down (presumably because he didn't know any better).

Quotes:

Peoples Hernandez: Puta, why you flinch?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001)

Soundtrack:

Up and Outta Here

Unoriginal but entertaining

Thirty years is a long time to wait to make a sequel, especially when no one is clamoring for one. Director/Writer/Producer John Singleton decided it was about time. The result is a solid, but undistinguished crime drama. The elements of this story have been told so many times that they are becoming hackneyed. A tough, no-nonsense cop fights evil and corruption to bring justice to the streets while often disregarding the law. A spoiled rich kid is trying to get away with murder by hiring a drug dealer to snuff an eyewitness with the help of a couple of dirty cops. This is not vanguard material.

Singleton's direction is good in the action sequences (of which there are plenty) and adequate in the dramatic scenes. In this film, he doesn't bring much innovation to the screen, with very straightforward shots and mundane locations. In an overly reverent gesture to the original film, he brings back Richard Roundtree (the original Shaft) as the current Shaft's (Samuel L. Jackson) uncle and mentor. There is also a cameo appearance by Gordon Parks, the director of the original, and of course, Isaac Hayes theme song is back.

The film is elevated from mediocrity by the acting. Samuel L. Jackson is an outstanding actor and slips on the character of this tough, streetwise cop like a tailored glove. When he's bad, he's very very bad and when he is good, he's almost saintly. Christian Bale also gives a fine performance as the despicable rich kid who thinks his wealth puts him above the law. Jeffrey Wright is explosive as the egomaniac drug lord. The supporting actors are also excellent.

This is an entertaining film despite its lack of originality. I rated it a 7/10. Action junkies add a point or two. This film is extremely violent with a high body count.