After an assault-turned-homocide by a playboy, Walter Wade (Christian Bale,) who walks and jumps bail, John Shaft (Samuel L Jackson) is transferred to narcotics. Two years later, Wade returns to a pair of handcuffs. During an unscheduled drug bust in Peoples Hernandez's (Jeffrey Wright) territory, he comes up empty due to Peoples being tipped off by an insider in the unit. When Shaft insults Peoples, and arrests him, he ends up sharing a cell with Wade. After Wade walks again, Shaft quits the force and tracks down the only witness to the murder, Diane (Toni Collette). But Shaft isn't the only one searching for her. Wade is hot on her trail with Peoples backing his play.
From the furious drumsticks to hi-hat that signifies the start to Issac Hayes' soulful ballad, to the all-busines-all-attitude swagger of Samuel L. Jackson's John Shaft, the vintage action show feel is all there, man. And this one feels smooth from the beginning. The photography is clear, sleek and gritty, just like our titular character. The music is sleek, sexy and soulful illustrating the emotion of the piece and the attitude of the main character.
The characters are well fleshed out. Samuel L. Jackson, as much as Richard Roundtree before him, was born to be John Shaft. His ever-present sense of cool, with a great wardrobe (I want his jacket!!!) and the right cadence to line delivery is off the hook!! Christian Bale's chilling, apathetic performance of Wade is a bit of Jack Kelly (holla back, Newsies fans!!) shaken over Bruce Wayne (Batman) with more than a slice of Patrick Bateman (American Psycho.) Jeffrey Wright's Peoples is brilliantly researched, the accent alone is brilliant. So different to the other roles I've seen him in, adds a splash of color to his resume.
This one's not deeply meaningful, nor does it explore any aspect of humanity and it does not inspire some personal change. What it does do, with distinction, is give the audience that respite, inviting us to kick up our feet and unplug. From start to finish, the action is compelling, the story is tight and the package is smooth. It's cool, baby...can you dig it?
****
In: Samuel L. Jackson
Out: Toni Collette
Coming Soon: The Sixth Sense
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