Shaft (2000) (R) No Rating

Since "The Brady Bunch," Donny and Marie and disco have escaped from the

1970s time capsule, it was inevitable that the decade’s ultimate black

hero blasted into the New Millennium.

Story

More a delayed sequel than a remake, this chapter of the Blaxploitation

series begun back in 1971 introduces us to the original John Shaft’s

nephew (Samuel L. Jackson), a police detective with a fierce sense of

justice. When a racist rich kid ("American Psycho’s" Christian Bale)

fatally bludgeons a black man, Shaft must track down and protect the

lone witness ("The Sixth Sense’s" Toni Collette) from the murderer,

corrupt cops and a vicious, low-rent drug lord.

Acting

Jackson wears cool like he wears Shaft’s ultra-stylish Armani wardrobe.

Though, like the film, the actor never sacrifices depth for flash. The

actor manages to convey more with a glance than a decade’s worth of

catch-phrase-spouting action stars. Jeffrey Wright masterfully manages

to be alternatingly comical and threatening as Shaft’s criminal

counterpart, while Vanessa L. Williams sheds all traces of beauty queen

and balladeer for her turn as the armed woman-behind-the man. Add

Collette, Bale and Richard Roundtree (the original Shaft) to the cast

list, and you know this isn’t your standard shoot-‘em-up flick.

Direction

Though the film has been criticized for the main man’s lack of trademark

womanizing, director John Singleton should be credited for focusing on

action, crime and character. We finally have a summer action film built

on sharp dialogue, vivid characters and genuine adrenaline rushes.

Bottom Line

Get the Shaft!