DVD Movie Rating for: Shaft

4 out of 5

Movie Plot of: Shaft

Cool and deadly NYPD detective John Shaft arrests Walter Wade, Jr. in a racially-motivated slaying. The eye witness disappears, Wade jumps bail for Switzerland, and Shaft is livid. Two years later, Wade returns to face trial, confident his father's money and influence (and racial politics) guarantee an innocent verdict. Shaft looks hard for the witness, so Wade wants someone to kill her. He turns to a ghetto drug king, Peoples Hernandez, who's willing to kill for money, use Wade as a route to rich drug customers, and shaft Shaft. Can Shaft find the witness, convince her to testify, and shepherd her through the hail of bullets that Peoples is sure to let fly?

DVD Production Details of: Shaft

Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Vanessa L. Williams

Director: John Singleton

Format: Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen, Dolby

Studio: Paramount Home Video

DVD Release Date: December 12, 2000
DVD Features:
Theatrical trailer(s)

Exclusive cast and crew interviews

"Shaft: Still the Man" Making of Featurette

"Theme from Shaft" Isaac Hayes Music Video

"Bad Man" R. Kelly Music Video

Widescreen anamorphic format

Cast of the movie: Shaft

• Samuel L. Jackson .... John Shaft
• Vanessa L. Williams .... Carmen Vasquez (as Vanessa Williams)
• Jeffrey Wright .... Peoples Hernandez
• Christian Bale .... Walter Wade, Jr.
• Busta Rhymes .... Rasaan
• Dan Hedaya .... Detective Jack Roselli
• Toni Collette .... Diane Palmieri
• Richard Roundtree .... Uncle John Shaft
• Ruben Santiago-Hudson .... Jimmy Groves
• Josef Sommer .... Curt Fleming
• Lynne Thigpen .... Carla Howard
• Philip Bosco .... Walter Wade, Sr.
• Pat Hingle .... Judge Dennis Bradford
• Lee Tergesen .... Luger
• Daniel von Bargen .... Lt. Kearney

Photo Gallery of the movie: Shaft

Click on one of the thumbnails to see the full size, high resolution wallpapers of the movie Shaft

Reviews of the movie: Shaft

Samuel L. Jackson makes a gleefully updated John Shaft in John Singleton's homage to (not remake of) the early '70s action classic, picking up where Richard Roundtree's legendary Shaft left off. The Manhattan-set film is highlighted by excellent performances, dynamic action scenes, and witty one-liners (Jackson's Shaft: "It's my duty to please the booty"--although the line's deceptive: there's a surprising lack of sex in the film). Unfortunately, it's offset by a surprisingly uninspired, predictable, one-dimensional story, penned by Singleton, Richard Price, and Shane Salerno. The story, in which Shaft investigates the murder of a young African American, is without suspense, since from the start the audience knows that rich white boy Walter Wade (Christian Bale) did the deed, and that Shaft is going to kick his ass, big time. That said, charismatic performances--from Jackson (who, in keeping with the times, is more volatile and fiery than his predecessor), Toni Collette (as a frightened witness), the villainous Bale, and the utterly amazing Jeffrey Wright (Basquiat)--make the film enticing and watchable. Look for a cameo by the original Shaft's director, the legendary Gordon Parks, and fans of the original should note that a still stunningly handsome Roundtree briefly appears as Jackson's uncle

Jackson Takes It Downtown
SPOILER ALERT A racially motivated, cold-blooded killing starts the wheels turning in the hard-hitting, action-packed `Shaft,' directed by John Singleton. When a young black man is killed outside of a restaurant by the son of wealthy businessman, NYPD cop John Shaft (Samuel L. Jackson) takes him down; but the kid, Wade, (Christian Bale), gets bail, then proceeds to skip to Switzerland for the next two years. Meanwhile, the only witness to the murder, a waitress named Diane (Toni Collette), disappears. When Shaft gets a tip that Wade is coming back to town, he makes it his business to see that justice is done, and meets him at the airport. When Wade gets bail again, Shaft resigns from the force, to take the matter into his own hands, and to do it on his own terms. First, he has to find Diane; without her, they have no case. During his pursuit, he runs afoul of drug lord Peoples Hernandez (Jeffrey Wright), whom Wade has hired to kill Diane. Making things even more difficult for Shaft are two wrong cops (Dan Hedaya, Ruben Santiago-Hudson), who are in league with Peoples. But Wade and Peoples soon find out they have their hands full dealing with Shaft, who is backed in his play by Uncle John (Richard Roundtree), and Carmen (Vanessa Williams), another of NYPD's finest. Jackson is outstanding as Shaft, a role that it seems he was born to play. He plays Shaft as one cool, in-your-face, intimidating you-know-what; savvy and fearless. This is one guy you do not want to get on the wrong side of. He's got the attitude, the manner, the whole package, and it all adds up to total credibility. Bale, as well, is excellent as Wade, to whom he lends a subtle, almost psychotic bravura, which aptly demonstrates his versatility as an actor. Another notable performance is turned in by Wright, who brings just enough menace to Peoples, without overplaying a role that would've been easy to take over the top. A lot of credit has to go to John Singleton, who doesn't miss a beat here. He knows this territory, and it shows; he captures the language, rhythms, and mood of the environment with which he's dealing perfectly, and keeps it all moving right along. Collette does well with her Diane, a pivotal, but rather minor character. She doesn't have a lot of screen time, but makes the most of it when she's on; her fear, and the anxiety wrought of her situation, is palpable. The supporting cast includes Busta Rhymes (Rosen), Josef Summer (Fleming), and Philip Bosch (Mr. Wade). There's something satisfying about watching Shaft do his thing; a self-assuredness and lack of political correctness he employees in the pursuit of real justice that is refreshing to behold. Most importantly, `Shaft' delivers on it's promise of action, and plenty of it, and with the added benefit of having story enough to support it. Singleton and Jackson definitely deliver the goods in this one, and of course there's the familiar Isaac Hayes theme on hand to underscore the proceedings, and it's every bit as effective now as it was in the original version. If you want to get the adrenalin pumping, check this one out. I guarantee you'll be glad you did.