Shaft (2000)

This Shaft is not a remake but technically really just a sequel to the original films since the original Shaft, played by Richard Roundtree as the original Shaft, is in the film. This film like the original does have tonal problems in this one is unsure if it wants to be about a legitimate crime story or if it just wants Shaft to be a badass action hero type. The film jumbles these elements rather oddly with many elements involving Jeffrey Wright's drug lord seeming to attempt to be a more realistic crime film, while the central thriller elements suggests otherwise. Samuel L. Jackson is more than suitable replacement Shaft as one would expect. Jeffrey Wright is effective enough as one of the villains though he's doing a harder to understand version of Al Pacino in Scarface I believe. Then Christian Bale, who I always forget was in this movie, certainly works as basically a more subtle version of Patrick Bateman, as the other villain. Do the competing sides of the film really come together? No they don't as there is plenty of tonal whiplash to be found throughout. However it works well enough as a badass action hero film, and a more down to earth crime film when it wants to be either.
3.5/5