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Samuel L. Jackson, Vanessa L. Williams, Jeffrey Wright, Christian Bale, Busta Rhymes ... see more see more... , Dan Hedaya , Toni Collette , Richard Roundtree , Ruben Santiago-Hudson , Josef Sommer , Lynne Thigpen , Philip Bosco , Pat Hingle , Lee Tergesen , Mekhi Phifer , Angela Pietropinto , Gordon Parks , Lawrence Taylor

This action drama puts a new spin on Shaft, one of the key "blaxploitation" films of the 1970s. John Shaft (Samuel L. Jackson), the namesake nephew of the legendary private eye (Richard Roundtree), is... read more read more... a street-smart police detective who with his partner Carmen Velez (Vanessa L. Williams) has been assigned to a racially motivated murder case, in which a black college student was killed in front of a restaurant by Walter Williams Jr. (Christian Bale), the sociopathic son of a New York construction tycoon, who then fled the country rather than face prosecution. Diane Palmieri (Toni Collette), a waitress on a smoke break, saw the murder, but she doesn't want to talk to the police. Two years later, Walter is forced to return to New York, but without Diane's testimony, the city doesn't have much of a case. Soon, Shaft, Walter Junior, and Walter Senior's goons are all looking for Diane, with Junior enlisting the help of Peoples Hernandez (Jeffrey Wright), a small-time drug dealer who will do anything to move into the big leagues. Shaft and Carmen find Diane, but discover that she had a good reason for being on the lam for the past two years. Amidst all this activity, John gets frequent advice from his uncle, with whom he ponders the idea of quitting the force and opening a detective agency. Shaft was directed by John Singleton, from a screenplay by Singleton, Richard Price, and Shane Salerno. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

45% liked it

62,584 ratings

Critics

68% liked it

110 critics

R, 1 hr. 38 min.

Directed by: John Singleton

Release Date: June 16, 2000

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DVD Release Date: December 12, 2000

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Stats: 1,811 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,811)

  • TheDudeLebowski65
    November 4, 2011
    TheDudeLebowski65
    Shaft is an unimpressive action film that is loosely based on the classic of the same name. I found it quite bad. Shaft didn't thrill me, and frankly, I was disappointed. I felt that the film could have been much better, and that it didn't anything to really entertain you. The th... read moreing is, Shaft has a poorly constructed script that is overly vulgar, and relies on that to try and entertain the viewer. Shaft is a pretty bland film and uses cliché upon cliché to create its story. Shaft doesn't differ from other cop films, and offers nothing new to the genre. The film is mediocre that really isn't entertaining. The cast is awful, and they don't do anything that elevates this film into being something really entertaining. The film is dull, boring and unimpressive. Shaft relies on its profanity to be "entertaining", unfortunately, it isn't entertaining. Shaft is a boring action film that is unimpressive to watch and frankly is a waste of time. I did not enjoy this film, and I thought that it was a missed opportunity to do something interesting. This is yet another remake that fails to capture the thrills of the original. The films flaws lies within a poorly written script, a bad cast and overall poor directing. Shaft is a mediocre film that misses the mark, and is definitely not everyone's cup of tea. The film is poorly conceived, and doesn't capture the elements which the original film a good, entertaining viewing experience. This remake fails to entertain and is marred with a bad script that is the film fatal flaw.
  • garyX
    March 23, 2011
    garyX
    Renegade tough guy cop John Shaft sets his sights on an over-privileged racist who murdered an innocent man and skipped bail using his father's influence. The hardest thing to swallow about this film is a bald Shaft, and to be honest it seems like a bit of a cheek to use the name... read more and Isaac Hayes' classic theme tune for what is essentially just another generic cop thriller. However, because of a nice homage to classic Blaxploitation soundtracks and a charismatic performance by SLJ who gamely kicks the ass of racist assholes and smart mouthed gangstas alike, Singleton manages to emulate the flavour of a 70s cop show just enough to make the first half of the film fairly enjoyable. Unfortunately by the end Busta Rhymes and Jeffrey Wright, who are both awful, are afforded far too much screen time and the plot reveals itself to be total garbage. It has enough in the way of decent moments to make it worth watching once, but I certainly wouldn't bother sitting through it a second time.
  • Chiefilms
    November 15, 2010
    Chiefilms
    Blows Shaft.
  • nelsonpickens
    May 26, 2010
    nelsonpickens
    An utterly terrible movie that deserves absolutely no praise or acclimation. While it works as a comedy it plays out as a police thriller which ultimately destroyed any credibly this movie could have had.The only reason to see this is to whiteness Christian Bale as the ultimate y... read moreuppie.
  • FilmFanatik
    January 15, 2010
    FilmFanatik
    This is a fun cop movie, even for a remake.
  • ythelastman89
    November 20, 2009
    ythelastman89
    A fun homage to black sploitation films of the 70s. Samuel L. Jackson did a great job and fit the role of John Shaft perfectly. Christian Bale was also quite good as a slimy over privileged villain.
  • matertenebraum
    October 17, 2009
    matertenebraum
    An enjoyable but nevertheless quite silly and average remake of the classic television show has the new John Shaft (Samuel L. Jackson) beating up a white racist (Christian Bale) and getting booted off of the police force. Everyone in this film is a racist - primarily the whites -... read more and this whole idea is way too forced. The language and violence is rough, yet the film itself is quite goofy, with not many good scenes and only a few mediocre action sequences. The moral is somewhat depressing: if someone wrongs you, or someone of your race, then beat them up and kill them once they reappear. Richard Roundtree's cameo helps a bit, but regardless, this SHAFT is still only "good" at best.
  • SirPant
    September 25, 2009
    SirPant
    Not really a remake, more a revamp on the name. Jackson was the man for the job but this isn?t a touch on the original. I liked it though and Richard Roundtree gave it his blessing!
  • StarCrossedVoyager
    March 15, 2009
    StarCrossedVoyager
    This film had really good prospects having Samuel L Jackson and Christian Bale but it didn't really happen. I mean it was good! It had some really great parts but there wasn't relly anything to set it apart from other action movies. Jackson was great though and I really hated Bal... read morees character. Good acting.
  • deano
    August 18, 2008
    deano
    This remake of the 1971 blaxploitation fave is like stretching the overwrought climex of New Jack City to feature length. The cast is strong, and director-co-scripter John Singleton concludes his tale with an unexpected moment of cynicism. Even given all these dynamic elem... read moreents, you would not be able to take your eyes off Samuel L. Jackson.

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Critic Reviews

Robert Horton
January 1, 2000
Robert Horton, Film.com

[Covers] too many bases.

Mick LaSalle
January 1, 2000
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

The surprise is that the movie doesn't just rely on Jackson. Shaft has everything. Full Review

Charles Taylor
January 1, 2000
Charles Taylor, Salon.com

Its sheer balls-out bravado is often brutally funny. Full Review

Robert Koehler
January 1, 2000
Robert Koehler, Variety

Few stars of late have displayed more sheer joy in a mainstream project than Jackson does here. Full Review

Tom Keogh
January 1, 2000
Tom Keogh, Film.com

A decent popcorn movie.

Owen Gleiberman
January 1, 2000
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

If nothing else, Shaft is spicy fast food. Full Review

James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

Singleton shows enough in Shaft to indicate he can make this kind of motion picture. Full Review

Jay Carr
January 1, 2000
Jay Carr, Boston Globe

Finally, someone has remembered how to remake a slick, bang-bang action movie.

Susan Stark
January 1, 2000
Susan Stark, Detroit News

Sleek, urgent, knowing, gleefully profane and above all ultra-cool, Shaft blows into the summer movie season like a breath of fresh air. Full Review

Louis B. Parks
January 1, 2000
Louis B. Parks, Houston Chronicle

It's fun and a good deal better than the fondly remembered original. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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    • John Shaft: It's my duty to please dat booty.
    • John Shaft: What's my name?
    • lounge customer: I don't know.
    • John Shaft: John Shaft!
    • lounge customer: What?
    • John Shaft: John Shaft! Say it!
    • lounge customer: John Shaft!
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Shaft : Watch Free on TV

Shaft Trivia

  • Who was originally going to play Shaft but ended up being replaced by Richard Roundtree?  Answer »
  • Who played Shaft in the remake?  Answer »
  • In Star Wars Episode IV, A New Hope, the rebels found a weakness in the deathstar, an exhaust shaft that was...  Answer »
  • What Oscar did the original "Shaft" (1971) win?  Answer »
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