Review of Shaft (1971) by Frederick B — 13 Jan 2012

I'm definitely a novice when it comes to the blaxploitation sub-genre, but my interest in these fast-paced, action-filled street melodramas is growing at an equally lightning rate. I had known the Isaac Hayes title song to Shaft since I was in elementary school--TV is a mish-mash or references and parodies of the movie.

In high school I listened to Isaac Hayes' soundtrack, and could just pick up the smooth, yet bad-ass vibe from the music, even without having seen the movie. Until recently, this movie (along with Superfly) were always in the back of my mind, readying themselves for my "movies I must see" list.

Unfortunately, these movies (and other blaxploitation films) are more scarce than you'd think. But, I figured I'd get around to seeing Shaft at some point. Lo and behold, my library did in fact have a copy.

So, I lunged and grabbed it, took it home and had even more fun with this movie than I originally thought (and I had already predicted licking up all the cool action scenes and classic 70's ebonics.

) Everything about this movie clicks for me, and is crafted in just the way it should be. Richard Roundtree is suave, but also slippery and from what I can decipher, rockets a minority into power. He also does what most guys would love to do--kick ass, and be a sarcastic dick to the people who shove shit at him.

From the opening scene with Shaft strutting down the streets of Harlem and flipping off a taxi driver, the movie automatically drips a righteous vengeance (even with Roundtree in the role of a "good guy".

) The plot of this film is very film-noir, and could be told in any crime-ridden city. Detective John Shaft must find the kidnapped daughter of mob lord, Bumpy Jonas. The film starts out honest enough with Shaft on the hunt for prime suspect (and old crony) Ben Buford, but when Shaft, Buford and his gang are cornered in a cardboard apartment building with a machine gun, hell-bent vengeance rises.

It's the mafia that has Bumpy's daughter and Shaft is out with a license to kill. Throughout the film, you have a perfect mix of hard-boiled coolness, break-neck action, old-fashioned sensuality, and authentic street grit.

I can also compare this movie to the 1980 Flash Gordon (my all-time favorite movie) in many ways, but the theme song alone is a prime example (you have the Black Moses at work on this one, and the Princes of the Universe on Flash.

) Anyways, I could go on for eons about this movie, but everything I have to see is positive. I'm sweating like a jock strap, waiting to see Truck Turner (Hayes' turn hand at being a cool-ass wrecking machine,) and the two Shaft sequels, along with other blaxploitation movies.

If you wanna see Shaft, ask yo mama!