Don't Mess with "Shaft" by Homer Yen (c) 2000
When Detective Shaft (Samuel L. Jackson) says, "don't make me chase you," the bad guy better be able to escape. When Detective Shaft is involved in a shoot out, the bad guy better not miss. When Detective Shaft is on a mission, you better stay out of his way. If you don't, he'll come at you with the fury of a tornado. He's a man to be reckoned with, and he'll do whatever it takes to get things done.
Shaft will have to take matters into his own hands if he is to find closure with his latest case, which involves the death of a young, black man at a local club. Arrogantly confessing to the crime is Wade (Christian Bale), son of a wealthy and well-respected community member. He gloats about what he did and chuckles to Shaft that he'll be released on bail and that nothing will ever happen to him. Because no witnesses will testify and Wade has squirrelly lawyers, he easily posts bail and walks away.
Shaft is incensed. He wonders how justice can be so blind. But he knows what to do. He must find a witness to the murder. Using his unique brand of sleuthing skills, which means invariably demanding favors or threatening people, he is able to locate Diane (Toni Collette). She was a bartender at the club that night who actually saw the crime take place. She has been silent, fearing that testifying against such a powerful person would be extremely dangerous. Shaft promises to keep her safe, but when Wade finds out about Diane's intentions, he wants to have her permanently silenced.
"Shaft" (the man and the movie) is mostly about attitude and style. Jackson is very confident, sporting a wicked goatee while clad in leather pants, a leather overcoat, and sleek sunglasses. The women just love him ("it's my duty to please your booty," he says to one of them). He talks tough, walks tall, and never let's you down. Meanwhile, the film showcases the nostalgic look and feel of a 70's film. It has a soundtrack unique to that era, features Richard Roundtree (who was the original Shaft), and includes Isaac Hayes (who sang the original) singing the opening song.
Yet, about two-thirds of the way into the film, the glaze of the "Starsky & Hutch"-like soundtrack and Shaft's penchant to insult and intimidate may begin to bore you. You discover that the film is spiritlessly plotted and lacks a rewarding dramatic arc. It also becomes oddly chaotic as it approaches the final climactic scenes. New people seem to come out of nowhere, and there is a very busy shoot out sequence where dozens of bad guys are crammed into a small apartment.
There are heroes that use intelligence to best their opponents and there are heroes that use weapons to defeat their enemies. But Detective Shaft (Samuel L. Jackson) virtually taunts them into submission. He reminds us that fighting crime is a tough business, and it requires an equally rugged individual to get things done. He stares down his opponents, spews threats like a volcano spews lava, and takes matters into his own hands when he thinks, for example, that a pistol whipping might get the point across more effectively. This guy is one tough mutha.
Grade: C+
S: 1 out of 3 L: 3 out of 3 V: 2 out of 3
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