Review of Cleopatra Jones (1973) by Frog B — 10 Mar 2010

"Cleopatra Jones" is one of the most action packed "Blaxploitation" films I have ever seen, not to mention well written in terms of dialogue, and well acted. The movie focuses on a secret agent by the same name, played by Tamara Dobson, who is assigned to eliminate drug traffickers. After she is sent to destroy a poppy field in Turkey, a drug-lord by the name of Mommy, played by Shelley Winters, seeks to put an end to Cleopatra. I love Shelley Winters in this movie, she is such a drama queen. To watch her throw a fit in just about every scene is just hilarious.

In many "Blaxploitation" movies much of the dialogue is spent on showing the "blackness" of the individuals and the acting is usually slightly over the top to also emphasize this point. While I certainly understand as to where these movies are coming from and I do appreciate it to some degree, I feel that there is sometimes too much emphasis put on this point and it tends to slow down the stories. "Cleopatra Jones" on the other hand does not drag the story. Though it be a simple, cheesy one, it focuses on the plot and flows very nicely. All and all, it is a great movie. Go rent it, go buy it.