Review of Super Fly (1972) by Isaac H — 15 Mar 2013

"Superfly" isn't what you expect from the title and is actually a pretty good story about a drug dealer trying to get off the streets and the odds against him. The movie has a really great and memorable score and soundtrack, including what is probably the first and best inclusion of "I'm Your Pusher Man". The music throughout feels really at home and the whole movie feels genuine. The dialogue doesn't feel scripted at all (credit to Phillip Fenty). That's the best part of the movie, the fact that throughout it all feels genuine. Our protagonist isn't some angel who's been forced on the streets, he's a bad guy that's smart enough to realise that he needs to get out of it before it's too late. He makes intelligent decisions and mistakes and you cheer for him. The film calls for drug use, nudity, swearing and violence and it doesn't try to deliver it in gratuitous amounts while still showing enough to feel real.

There are a few moments that don't really work. Some of the acting isn't great, particularly a small family who reacts really calmly to two men entering their house through a window and starting a fight and one actress (playing Cynthia) who gives a wooden performance. The fight choreography towards the end isn't very good either. For all of these bad moments though, there are a lot interesting characters, and the lead really does a good job with the material he's given. There are also quite a few moments that you won't see coming that are pretty smart and there's actually a lot of intelligence behind the picture. It actually gives some pretty good insight on the kind of people who live this lifestyle, how some are seeing it as a means to an end while others know how their business can only end in disaster but have simply decided to accept it as part of the deal.

Even if you have a hard time watching movies where the protagonist is a bad guy you'll be impressed by "Superfly" and how the lead character "enter name" will win you over despite his faults. Just because he does bad things doesn't mean he's a bad guy and he changes throughout the film to become a person you really cheer for. Check out "Superfly" and you'll see a movie about drugs and drug dealers that's actually a lot smarter than you expect. (Dvd, March 12, 2013).