Shaft Review
By Joe Lozito
Bleech 'sploitation
I'm about as white as they come, but even I know that John Singleton's reworking of "Shaft" misses the point. The most egregious example may be cited by the opening strains of Isaac Hayes' classic theme song: "Who's the black private dick that's a sex machine to all the chicks?" The answer, of course, is Shaft, John Shaft. Why, then, does the year 2000's Shaft - played stylishly by Samuel L. Jackson in "Pulp Fiction" mode - not have one romantic scene with a woman? The only pitiful pickup scene has Mr. Jackson forced to utter the cringe-worthy line "it's my duty to please that booty." This new Shaft isn't even a private eye, he's a cop. And, in fact, by the end of the film, he's a Charles Bronson-esque vigilante.
In 1971, "Shaft" was shocking for its time. It had a black hero (Richard Roundtree) as a strong sexual character, standing up against racism and crime in New York City. The plot was simple: crime lord Bumpy Jonas needs Shaft to find his kidnapped daughter. The low production values gave the film the feeling of a bad Kojak episode. But that wasn't important, the message shined through. Conversly, the new "Shaft" seems concerned only with its production values (and it does look great) but it also comes off like a bad TV show - or maybe a commercial for sunglasses.
The moments of racism in the film are forced at best. For example, Shaft is seen telling off his woefully undeveloped stuffed-shirt captain by asking how he can afford to live in a posh house with a restricted country club. Meanwhile, Mr. Jackson has already worn three different pairs of sunglasses in the first ten minutes of the film. No, really. But I suppose it makes sense that he goes through shades very quickly - after all, he keeps taking them off and putting them back on.
Maybe what's missing from the new film (aside from a plot that's even worth mentioning) is that the original "Shaft" was about style, not fashion. Yes, Mr. Jackson looks great, but we miss the under-used Mr. Roundtree (in a cameo, still wearing his trademark turtlenecks) because he reminds us of Gordon Parks' 1971 original, which spawned two sequels, a short-lived TV series and, some would say, started a genre which gave us such classics as "Foxy Brown" and "The Mack". This new version may spawn a new interest in black rubber jackets, but that's it. Too bad it was released during the summer.
Mr. Singleton's version is not exactly a remake since Mr. Roundtree all too briefly reprises his role as "Uncle" John Shaft to ostensibly pass on the torch to a new generation. But it's possible that this generation doesn't need a new Shaft. Or perhaps it doesn't know what to do with one. The original will do just fine, thank you.
