Click to read the article
Shaft (2000)
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work ![]()
Reviews Counted: 108
Fresh: 74
Rotten:34
Average Rating: 6.1/10
Consensus: With a charismatic lead, this new Shaft knows how to push the right buttons.
Runtime: 1 hr 39 mins
Genre: Action/Adventure
Synopsis:
Crooked cops on the take … small-time drug lords … sleazy informers and sadistic rich kids ready to kill -- for police detective John Shaft, it’s just another night in the underbelly of New York...
Crooked cops on the take … small-time drug lords … sleazy informers and sadistic rich kids ready to kill -- for police detective John Shaft, it’s just another night in the underbelly of New York City, another shift facing down cops and criminals who want him dead and a legal system that thrives on money, not justice.
With Samuel L. Jackson in the starring role and John Singleton directing, "Shaft" is a new approach to one of the great film icons of the 1970s. He’s tough, he’s smart, he’s cool – just what you’d expect from a man whose uncle and mentor is John Shaft, who, now as then, is played by Richard Roundtree. Also starring in the Paramount Pictures presentation are Vanessa Williams, Jeffrey Wright, Christian Bale, Dan Hedaya, Busta Rhymes and Toni Collette.
When spoiled college kid Walter Wade (Christian Bale) kills a young black student, John Shaft (Jackson) makes the arrest. Walter skips bail and flees the country, and after two years of waiting, Shaft hauls him back into custody as Walter secretly returns to the States. But when Walter’s wealthy father posts bail once again, Walter is back out on the streets and looking to put Shaft in a body bag. So are two of Shaft’s corrupt colleagues (Dan Hedaya and Ruben Santiago-Hudson) as well as a Dominican drug lord (Jeffrey Wright) who wants revenge on Shaft for humiliating him in the neighborhood he rules.
For backup, Shaft has only his two closest pals: Carmen (Vanessa Williams), a colleague on the police force; and his streetwise confidant, Rasaan (Busta Rhymes). Meanwhile, Shaft has got to track down the one murder witness (Toni Collette) who can put all of his enemies away for good even as the toughest killers in the city close in on him.
Samuel L. Jackson stars in “Shaft,” a Paramount Pictures presentation of a Scott Rudin/New Deal Production. John Singleton directs the film, which also stars Vanessa Williams, Jeffery Wright, Christian Bale, Dan Hedaya, Busta Rhymes with Toni Collette and Richard Roundtree. Scott Rudin and John Singleton are the producers. The executive producers are Adam Schroeder, Paul Hall and Steve Nicolaides, and the co-producer is Eric Steel. Paramount Pictures is part of the entertainment operations of Viacom Inc.
Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Christian Bale, Vanessa Williams, Jeffrey Wright
Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Christian Bale, Vanessa Williams, Jeffrey Wright, Busta Rhymes, Richard Roundtree, Philip Bosco, Toni Collette, Dan Hedaya, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Lawrence Taylor
Director: John Singleton
Director: John Singleton
Screenwriter: Richard Price, John Singleton
Producer: Scott Rudin, John Singleton
Composer: David Arnold
Get This Movie
Reviews for Shaft
Shaft quickly splits into two different movies, and only one of them fully succeeds.
The primary focus of the film, and the real reason we're here, is to watch Samuel Jackson sink his teeth into the Shaft's trash-talking dialogue.
Samuel L. Jackson, who broke out of the pack in Pulp Fiction, fits the role and his leather Armani coat as though it's tailor-made. He's the man, and we can dig it.
Despite a fairly intriguing first hour that captures the original film's leisurely pace and street-smart mood, what finally conks Shaft's afro is a third act that lacks a compelling, forward-moving plot.
Latest News for Shaft
March 13, 2008:
Top Ten Death Proof Exploitation Films: the films that wouldn’t die.
Exploitation films are B-grade gold for those who like it rough, sleazy and thrill-packed. More...
December 08, 2005:
Singleton to Drive Paramount's "Convoy"
The Hollywood Reporter brings news of director John Singleton's next project, an auto-intensive action thriller called "Convoy." More...
August 11, 2005:
Critical Consensus: Brotherly Love, A Not So Great “Raid,” A Skeletal “Key,” and Schneider’s Latest
This week at the movies gives us four brothers with vigilante justice on their minds, a woman who discovers the frightening secrets of an old house on the bayou, a band of... More...
July 14, 2005:
Fox Gets "Reckless" With Salerno
Variety reports that screenwriter Shane Salerno and producer John Davis have signed a deal with Fox to bring "Reckless" to the big screen. Described as a "Fatal... More...
Related Forums for Shaft
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
79% 79% |
Gran Torino |
30% 30% |
12 Rounds |
23% 23% |
Confessions of a Shopa… |
|
The Code |
39% 39% |
Inkheart |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
22% 22% |
Push |
12% 12% |
The Unborn |
RT On Current TV
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
Sponsored Links
Fresh Links
Featured

MSN's David Fear and Frank Paiva go head to head discussing the pros and cons of Bruno star Sacha Baron Cohen.

The AV Club's Scott Tobias takes a second look at David Lynch's cult classic, Lost Highway.

TIME takes us on a 25-year long journey into the superstar's career, giving us a look at his 10 best roles.

BuzzSugar reports on Paramount's plans to rebirth the iconic TV show as a comedy film.



Top Critic

