Episode 129 - Shaft (2000)

Are you ready to be shafted? No? Well, how about...double-shafted?? Cause we're kicking off "Double-Shafted September," a two-episode series dedicated to both attempts to relaunch the iconic Blaxploitation franchise that started with 1971's Shaft. First up, we're looking at 2000's Shaft (yep, same name), directed by John Singleton, and starring Hollywood's biggest badass M'Fer, Samuel L. Jackson. In this updated version, Jackson plays John Shaft, the nephew of Richard Roundtree's original John Shaft, this time an NYC detective working to bring the wealthy perpetrator of a heinous race-crime (Christian Bale) to justice. But standing in his way is a vindictive local gangster (Jeffrey Wright)...and a troubled behind-the-scenes production which frustrated many involved with making the movie. Is this Shaft as sexy and cool as the original? Was Samuel L. Jackson the right man to inherit the role? And can a supporting performance be both problematic and still arguably the best thing about the movie? We discuss all this, and more!

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