REVIEW: SHAFT

3/5

Damn Right.

122 Mins. Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Jessie T. Usher, Regina Hall, Alexandra Shipp, Titus Welliver, Method Man & Richard Roundtree. Director: Tim Story.

Cancel culture would have a field day with Netflix's new 'Shaft' movie. Too bad they are breaking funny bones over Dave Chappelle's off-Broadway 'Sticks and Stones' special for the streaming service. I lost count tallying up hearing the word "p####" more times here than I did as a kid on the playground and to say this dabbles in casual misogyny (and let's leave out the homophobia 'Brothers Helping Brothers'), is to say that Chappelle likes to court controversy...sometimes. There's a moment were Shaft pulls out a piece ready to put slugs in someone when a woman draws a Louisville slugger from out under her desk ready to bop heads. And when his son Shaft junior protests. How does the as the late, great Isaac Hayes calls it on the iconic title theme, remixed here for a recap and logo straight out the seventies, "black private dick that's a sex machine to all the chicks" respond? "I'm not being misogynistic. You're being misogynistic. I'm an equal opportunities ass whooper". Yep that's how far we have come socially and culturally in this progressive 2019. But we're talking about 'Shaft'. And the man Samuel L. Jackson who redefined him along with using the word "motherf#####" like punctuation and literally being in every other film you ever see. Millennials need to brush off the snowflakes this Autumn on this Summer sleeper and see why Samuel L. Jackson is famous for wearing a leather trenchcoat like Kangol. And we aint talking about Nick Fury (there's even a meta hilarious real life satirical put down to those who keep confusing him with a certain 'Matrix' character). The first time I saw him strolling into Tony Stark's penthouse for the first Marvel post credits scene legend telling Robert Downey Jr's 'Iron Man' about the Avengers Initiative I was like, "who shot Shaft in the eye?" Let's hope it isn't cancelling critics. Because besides, like dancing along to Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan declaring 'War' and what it's dance off good for in 'Rush Hour', to bonding over Keanu Reeves' 'John Wick' killing everyone with a pencil, whilst Mum pops out for a few hours this is another time for this writer and his pop to enjoy a boys night film together before I make a move to the Far East of Tokyo, Japan. Because watching him leave it all at the door and laugh with abandon and glee when I won't get to see this everyday in a matter of weeks is a pure joy. Adding, "that was one of the most silliest and fun films I've seen in ages," for the review of this generation game fitting, father and son story...and we just watched Chapter 3, 'Parabellum'. You can't tell me anything else motherf#####! Shake and stir that! Black James Bond? As Samuel says, "if that motherf##### was real, he'd wish he was me"!

Damn right! Now the only confusion should be in this Netflix movies 'Fast and Furious' DVD ordering like exact same title of the 2000 remake of the Richard Roundtree blaxploitation classic trilogy by the late, great '2 Fast, 2 Furious' director John Singleton almost 20 years later. And this year it's 'Ride Along', 'Fantastic Four' and 'Barbershop' director Tim Story who is a cut above the rest as he stretches to riding shotgun to this flame hot franchise that is the "other" gun to Sam Jackson's big-three of Marvel, 'Star Wars' and Tarantino or Spike Lee series of films. Not to mention the Mr. 'Glass' they call him in one of his biggest years here that also saw him de-age and get his eye back for 'Captain Marvel' as this year's biggest superhero is a sixty something man with a mouth fouler than a chicken farm you mishear as they all go cluck. The biggest year for the Hollywood star if Hollywood stars whose probably had his biggest year or decade for as long as most have been alive. But in this fun flick that's jokes land (according especially to my father) surprisingly as well as the rolling with the punches, blunderbuss of action on the meat and potatoes New York streets, because of his delivery, it looks like the most enjoyment the legendary L. Jackson (that's what the "L" stands for right? If it was Samuel M.F. Jackson, you know what that would mean) has had in years. And although he may go to the Ice Cube school of smiles he always still seems in a playing it all perfectly good mood. And here he settles back into the Shaft jacket almost two decades later like he's been wearing it for the last twenty something M.C.U. movies. Turtlenecks are back like leather with the strap. And you know those shoes-as he strolls across the street to stubbing yellow cabs beeping their horns as he Denzel in 'Training Day' walks on without a look or care-came from the fact that he had enough of those "motherf##### snakes on that motherf###### plane." Hey if Sam's Shaft is going to offend everyone he may aswell offend the vegans too. Especially when he takes his first sip of coconut water. But if you don't think this whiskey drinking cop isn't on the whole straight and narrow health trip kick then just you wait until you see his Pilates instructor. Now he's still the man who would risk his neck for that. Can you dig it?

Busta Rhymes, Batman (Christian Bale of all Caped Crusaders too) and Jeffrey Wright's cult legendary Peoples (*pauses as the expelled turd plops in the toilet water*) Hernandez were all in the last 'Shaft'. But here there's no Mekhi Phifer. There is however an Usher for your 8701. Yeah! A Jessie T. Usher. And the young 'Starz' player really is a star. If he was good enough to play Will Smith's son in the 'Independence Day' sequel (yeah...that one really did go quietly into the night didn't it?), then he's good enough for a Samuel L. Jackson 'Shaft' resurgence playing his junior. Here taking on stereotype and toxic masculinity and hitting his top marks in action and buddy cop comedy acting. He cracks a crack cast that includes 'The Hate U Give' and 'Scary Movie' actress Regina Hall who would be queen like King and 'Bosch' cop character actor vet Titius Welliver who has also been a Marvel lore part of Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury, Avenger, 'Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.' initiative if you ever saw the 'Avengers Station' in New York's Discovery Times Square. The storm of new generation 'X-Men' and 'Love Simon' star of the future and right now Alexandra Shipp-who was so good as Aaliyah-keeps it Marvel in house too like the M.C.U. wish they only could Tom Holland. And you know you can't f### with M.E...T.H.O.D. maaaaan when it comes to the Wu Tang Clan rap God acting. From films like '187' with Jackson (maybe his underrated best), to most recently and notably the launderettes of 'Paterson' rapping and trading rhymes with the opposite to Mace Windu, Kylo-Ren himself in Adam Driver's poetic movie. But the realness to 'Shaft' comes with the original as Richard Roundtree is back like 'Shaft's Big Score' as we visit his home that looks like the halfway house between an MTV Crib and Mahershala Ali's from 'Green Book'. Complete with elephant 'Shaft In Africa' Easter Eggs for the comic like cult following of this original superhero to those whose memories are Hayes and not a purple haze. Still in a moment and big three, generation to generation finale that the trailer should have just teased and not spoiled for bringing out the big guns, 'Shaft' shows it's all about a Diesel like family affair and legacy...even if this move could do the right thing and look after there's and in entertainment turn ours a little better. Still who else but Samuel L. Jackson to be seventy and still having this much fun like it was the seventies? Pistol whipping men half his age into shape, making sons out of us all? Now that's one bad...you know the rest. And to those critics who say 'Shaft' is a bad motherf###### film...SHUT YOUR MOUTH! TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Shaft (2000)', 'Rush Hour', 'Bad Boys For Life'.