Shaft (2000)

Directed by John Singleton. Starring Samuel L. Jackson, Jeffrey Wright, Christian Bale, Vanessa Williams, Toni Collette, Richard Roundtree, Busta Rhymes, Dan Hedaya, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Daniel von Bargen. [R]

Reboot of the iconic blaxploitation franchise (or is it a far-flung sequel?) with Jackson as John Shaft’s nephew, a detective focused on taking down smug, murderous “rich kid” Bale. Connections to the original series are tenuous; Roundtree shows up in character, but Jackson rarely exhibits the same silky swagger that the private eye was known for (it’s just the typical cruise-control Sam Jackson performance). Perhaps in a nod to changing audience sensibilities, the “sex machine to all the chicks” is more or less neutered here (all the lovin’ takes place offscreen or during the messily-stylized opening credits), but he still roughs up and guns down his fair share of punks. Wright and Bale at least manage to leave impressions as the main villains (though the latter is sidelined for most of the second half). Singleton brings energy but not much style or coherency to the project; Isaac Hayes’ title song is milked for all its worth, but a good tune is a good tune. A few famous faces can be spotted making cameos, including Gordon Parks, who directed the original; Mekhi Phifer, Gloria Reuben and Elizabeth Banks have bit parts.

50/100