When a mob boss's daughter is kidnapped super cool private eye John Shaft is on the case, "baby."
Shaft is a great look at early 1970's New York City in all its grubby glory before the city was cleaned up and turned into Disneyland for the out of town crowd. A lot of the film was shot on location which really contributes to the atmosphere.
Shaft was directed by Gordon Parks who was a noted still photographer for Life magazine. Parks may be good on atmosphere but is less good actually directing as in moving the actors around. The fight at the beginning of the film in Shaft's office is poorly staged and edited and most of the other action scenes leave a lot to be desired. Richard Roundtree is definitely mister private eye tough guy and it's fun to watch him call everyone "baby." Also a quick nod to Isaac Haye's still cool theme and background score.
Shaft is entertaining but just another private eye flick, baby.
100 minutes
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