New York police detective John Shaft arrests Walter Wade Jr. for a racially motivated slaying. But the only eyewitness disappears, and Wade jumps bail for Switzerland. Two years later Wade returns to face trial, confident his money and influence will get him acquitted -- especially since he's paid a drug kingpin to kill the witness.
Acting
Christian Bale's spoiled rich boy villain is deliciously punchable.
Score
Isaac Hayes' theme still slaps 30 years later.
Costume
Shaft's turtleneck collection deserves its own credit.
Director
John Singleton
Samuel L. Jackson
John Shaft
Vanessa Williams
Carmen Vasquez
Jeffrey Wright
Peoples Hernandez
Christian Bale
Walter Wade, Jr.
Busta Rhymes
Rasaan
Dan Hedaya
Jack Roselli
Toni Collette
Diane Palmieri
Richard Roundtree
"Uncle" John Shaft
Ruben Santiago-Hudson
Jimmy Groves
Josef Sommer
Curt Flemming
Lynne Thigpen
Carla Howard
Philip Bosco
Walter Wade Senior
Pat Hingle
Judge Dennis Bradford
Lee Tergesen
Luger
Daniel von Bargen
Lt Kearney
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Richard Roundtree, the original Shaft from 1971, plays Jackson's uncle—making this a legacy sequel disguised as a remake.
John Singleton fought to make Shaft explicitly confront racial dynamics, something the slick 1971 original mostly danced around.
US
