A detective carrying on the legacy of John Shaft works in New York City, attempting to bring down a privileged racist killer. Samuel L. Jackson takes on the role of this detective, and he’s trying to locate a crucial witness while navigating interactions with both a powerful gang leader and dishonest police officers; Vanessa Williams appears as an officer offering assistance. This 2000 film is intended to be a stylish crime story that brings back the series after a nearly three-decade absence from the original movies starring Richard Roundtree, who also makes an appearance as Shaft’s older relative. The acting and production quality are acceptable, but the weak plot holds it back. The initial crime presented feels contrived. Christian Bale portrays someone born into wealth, yet his sudden outburst of racist behavior at a nightclub seemed unbelievable; he seems to get along with Black people throughout the rest of the movie. Similarly, Toni Collette’s character's actions don't seem genuine as a bartender. The writers appeared to force a stereotypical villain when a more nuanced approach would have been better. Despite that significant issue, there are still some exciting moments to enjoy, particularly Jackson’s portrayal of the tough hero and Jeffrey Wright’s depiction of the drug lord. It’s also nice to see Vanessa Williams. The film has a running time of one hour and thirty-nine minutes and was filmed in New York City and Newark. GRADE: C-

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