Shaft (2000)

Director:

John Singleton

Writers (WGA):

Ernest Tidyman (novel)
John Singleton (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

16 June 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

Still the man, any questions?

Plot:

New York City police detective John Shaft (nephew of the original 1970s detective) goes on a personal mission to make sure the son of a real estate tycoon is brought to justice after a racially-motivated murder.

Plot Keywords:

Detective | Drugs | New York City | Murder | Police

Awards:

1 win & 12 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Tue. Nov. 17	1:15 AM	TMC
Sat. Nov. 21	3:05 AM	TMC

Cast

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 Fleming
Lynne Thigpen	...	Carla Howard
Philip Bosco	...	Walter Wade, Sr.
Pat Hingle	...	Hon. Dennis Bradford
Lee Tergesen	...	Luger
Daniel von Bargen	...	Lt. Kearney (as Daniel Von Bargen)
Francisco 'Coqui' Taveras	...	Lucifer
Sonja Sohn	...	Alice
Peter McRobbie	...	Lt. Cromartie
Zach Grenier	...	Harrison Loeb
Richard Cocchiaro	...	Frank Palmieri
Ron Castellano	...	Mike Palmieri
Freddie Ricks	...	Big Raymond
Sixto Ramos	...	Bonehead
Andre Royo	...	Tattoo
Richard Barboza	...	Dominican
Mekhi Phifer	...	Trey Howard
Gano Grills	...	Cornbread
Catherine Kellner	...	Ivy
Philip Rudolph	...	Uniform Sergeant
Angela Pietropinto	...	Mrs. Ann Palmieri
Joe Quintero	...	Assistant D.A. Hector Torres
Lanette Ware	...	Terry
Stu 'Large' Riley	...	Leon
Mark Zeisler	...	D.A. Andrew Nicoli
Capital Jay	...	Golem
Bonz Malone	...	Malik
Henry G. Thomas	...	Malik's Crew
Brian Oswald Talbot	...	Malik's Crew
Preston Thomas	...	Malik's Crew
Marshall T. Broughton	...	Malik's Crew
Ann Ducati	...	Aunt Toni DeCarlo
Lisa Cooley	...	News Anchor
Elizabeth Banks	...	Trey's Friend (as Elizabeth Maresal Mitchell)
Scott Lucy	...	Trey's Friend
Chris Orr	...	Walter's Friend
Christopher Orr	...	Walter's Friend
Evan Farmer	...	Walter's Friend
Will Chase	...	Walter's Friend
Jeff Branson	...	Walter's Friend
Jerome Preston Bates	...	Desk Sergeant
John Elsen	...	Uniform Cop in Metronome
Nadine Mozon	...	Abused Woman
Lawrence Taylor	...	Lamont
Caprice Benedetti	...	Karen
John Cunningham	...	Judge
Louie Leonardo	...	Pistolero
Tony Rhune	...	Pistolero
Fidel Vicioso	...	Pistolero
F. Valentino Morales	...	Enforcer
Myron Primes	...	Young Blood
Universal	...	Young Blood
Travis Brandon Rosa	...	Fighting Boy
Matthew Wallace	...	Fighting Boy
Luis Torres	...	Fat Man
John Wojda	...	Construction Worker
Ahmed Al-Khan	...	Bystander at Metronome
Amer Al-Khan	...	Bystander at Metronome
Rashid Feleyfel	...	Bystander at Metronome
Gordon Parks	...	Lenox Lounge Patron
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Joan Baker	...	Uncle John Shaft's girlfriend (uncredited)
William H. Burns	...	Arresting Officer (uncredited)
Doy Gabriel Castillo	...	(uncredited)
Nicholas J. Coleman	...	Bystander at Metronome (uncredited)
Johanna Estevez	...	Girlfriend (uncredited)
Todd Fredericks	...	Bystander at Metronome (uncredited)
Mary Ann Hannon	...	Walter Wade's Housekeeper (uncredited)
Isaac Hayes	...	Mr. P (uncredited)
Doug Hutchison	...	Plane Door Opener (uncredited)
Deirdre Lovejoy	...	Police Officer (uncredited)
Carl Low	...	Dominican #5 (uncredited)
Riley G. Matthews Jr.	...	Desk & Cell Officer (uncredited)
Mercedes Mercado	...	Waitress (uncredited)
Dorian Missick	...	Young Man (uncredited)
Kevin O'Donnell	...	Club Kid (uncredited)
Nik Pjeternikaj	...	Detective (uncredited)
Gloria Reuben	...	Sgt. Council (uncredited)
Roman Rivera	...	(uncredited)
Dawn Robinson	...	Lenox Lounge Patron (uncredited)
Mustafa Shakir	...	Protester (uncredited)
Cue Shepherd	...	Sexy girl (uncredited)
John Singleton	...	Bored Cop with Tea Cup (uncredited)
Boston Stergis	...	(uncredited)
Peter Stickles	...	Mickey Hunt (uncredited)
Al Thompson	...	Pistolero (uncredited)
Lou Torres	...	Fatman (uncredited)
Marc Yarrish	...	TV Anchor (uncredited)

Directed by
John Singleton

Writing credits (WGA)
Ernest Tidyman		(novel "Shaft")
John Singleton		(story) &
Shane Salerno		(story)
Richard Price		(screenplay) and
John Singleton		(screenplay) &
Shane Salerno		(screenplay)

Produced by
Paul Hall	....	executive producer
Steve Nicolaides	....	executive producer
Mark Roybal	....	producer
Scott Rudin	....	producer
Adam Schroeder	....	executive producer
John Singleton	....	producer
Eric Steel	....	co-producer

Original Music by
David Arnold

Cinematography by
Donald E. Thorin

Film Editing by
John Bloom
Antonia Van Drimmelen

Casting by
Ilene Starger

Production Design by
Patrizia von Brandenstein

Art Direction by
Dennis Bradford

Set Decoration by
George DeTitta Jr.

Costume Design by
Ruth E. Carter		(as Ruth Carter)

Makeup Department
Allan A. Apone	....	makeup artist: Samuel L. Jackson
Don Kozma	....	makeup artist
Christine Leiter	....	makeup artist
Bernadette Mazur	....	key makeup artist
Robert L. Stevenson	....	hair stylist: Samuel L. Jackson
Kenneth Walker	....	key hair stylist
Taurance F. Williams	....	assistant hair stylist

Production Management
Joseph E. Iberti	....	unit production manager
Ramona Sánchez-Waggoner	....	production supervisor
Andrew Zolot	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Julie A. Bloom	....	second assistant director
Vebe Borge	....	first assistant director: second unit
Naomi Cromwell	....	second second assistant director
Bac DeLorme	....	additional second second assistant director
Bruce Franklin	....	first assistant director
Nick Gillard	....	second unit director
Rosadel Varela	....	dga trainee
Rosada Yarela	....	dga trainee
Eric Yellin	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Joseph Alfieri	....	construction coordinator
Peter Allburn	....	scenic artist
James Bono	....	props
Karen Cusick	....	set decorating coordinator
Liba Daniels	....	art department researcher
Peter DeCurtis	....	set dresser
Gerald DeTitta	....	lead man
Warren Drummond	....	storyboard artist
Chip Eccles	....	shop craftsman
Denise Gurkas	....	camera scenic artist
Paul D. Kelly	....	assistant art director
Vinny Mazzarella	....	assistant property master
Mark Newell	....	on-set dresser
Chuck Potter	....	assistant set decorator
Jeremy D. Pratt	....	construction tracker
Michael Scarola	....	key construction grip
Fredda Slavin	....	assistant art director
Audrey Soodoo-Raphael	....	assistant art director
Irapaul Turner	....	construction shop manager
Timothy Main	....	carpenter (uncredited)
Michael Marcel	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
Bobbi Banks	....	adr editor
Michael Barry	....	sound re-recording mixer
Benjamin Cheah	....	sound effects editor (as Ben Cheah)
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist
Scott Curtis	....	foley editor
Lee Dichter	....	additional sound re-recording mixer
Tammy Fearing	....	foley editor
Sean Garnhart	....	sound effects editor
Lewis Goldstein	....	sound effects editor
Robin Harlan	....	foley artist
Chris Jenkins	....	sound re-recording mixer
Bobby Johanson	....	adr mixer
Skip Lievsay	....	sound re-recording mixer
Skip Lievsay	....	supervising sound editor
Jane McCulley	....	adr editor
Danny Michael	....	production sound mixer
Todd Milner	....	assistant sound editor
Sarah Monat	....	foley artist
Jamie Morris	....	apprentice sound editor
Frank Morrone	....	additional sound re-recording mixer
Bill Orrico	....	assistant sound editor (as Billy Orrico)
Nicholas Renbeck	....	dialogue editor
Fred Rosenberg	....	dialogue editor
Jac Rubenstein	....	dialogue editor
Randy Singer	....	foley mixer (as Randy K. Singer)
Thomas W. Small	....	supervising foley editor (as Thomas Small)
Paul Urmson	....	supervising sound editor
Roland Vajs	....	assistant sound editor
Joe White	....	sound
Paul J. Zydel	....	adr mixer (as Paul Zydel)
Allan Zaleski	....	sound effects librarian (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Steven Kirshoff	....	special effects coordinator (as Steve Kirshoff)

Visual Effects by
Randall Balsmeyer	....	visual effects supervisor
Don Canfield	....	motion control operator: title sequences
Kathy Kelehan	....	visual effects producer
Daniel Leung	....	CG supervisor
Matt McDonald	....	digital artist

Stunts
Bill Anagnos	....	stunts (as William Anagnos)
Roy T. Anderson	....	stunts
Jay Boryea	....	stunts
Michael Broughton	....	stunts
Douglas Crosby	....	stunts (as Doug Crosby)
Brennan Dyson	....	stunts
Kiante Elam	....	stunts
Roy Farfel	....	assistant stunt coordinator
David Filippi	....	stunts
Tim Gallin	....	stunts
Nick Gillard	....	stunt coordinator
Harry Harris III	....	stunts (as Harry Harris)
David S. Lomax	....	stunts (as David Lomax)
Jalil Jay Lynch	....	stunts (as Jay Lynch)
Angela Meryl	....	stunts
Charles Page	....	stunts
Stephen A. Pope	....	stunts (as Stephen Pope)
Jodi Michelle Pynn	....	stunts
Rose Sias	....	stunts
Keith Siglinger	....	stunts
Derrick Simmons	....	stunts
Manny Siverio	....	stunts
Al Thompson	....	stunts
Amy Yanagisawa	....	stunts
Chris Colombo	....	stunts (uncredited)
Kiante Elam	....	stunt double: Samuel L. Jackson (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
David E. Baron	....	first assistant camera: "c" camera, second unit
Sam Chase	....	rigging electrician
Jack Coffen	....	electrician
Joseph R. Collins	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Thomas Crown Affair	....	electrician
Jon Delgado	....	electrician
Chris Drechsler	....	lighting technician
David M. Dunlap	....	director of photography: second unit
Gene Engels	....	gaffer
Michael N. Green	....	rig electrician
James Harker	....	electrician
William Hines	....	best boy electric
Kevin Lowry	....	grip
Dwayne McClintock	....	aerial director of photography
Jim McConkey	....	Steadicam operator
Thomas O'Connor	....	rigging gaffer: second unit
Wayne Paull	....	camera operator: second unit
Leigh Rathner	....	second assistant camera
Eli Reed	....	still photographer
Lance Rieck	....	assistant camera
Chris Scarfi	....	generator operator
Joel Tishcoff	....	dimmer board operator
Joe 'Jody' Williams	....	assistant camera loader
Jim Galvin	....	electrician (uncredited)
Kyle Stephens	....	electrician (uncredited)

Animation Department
Gray Miller	....	animator

Casting Department
David H. Kramer	....	adr voice casting
Kim Miscia	....	casting associate
Theron Smith	....	extras casting associate
Janice Wilde	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sonya M. Andonov	....	wardrobe
Sandi Figueroa	....	wardrobe supervisor
Jill Graves Power	....	additional set costumer
Askia Won-Ling Jacob	....	costume supervisor
Carmen Rodríguez	....	wardrobe coordinator
Laura Sewrey	....	set costumer
Whitney Kyles	....	costume department assistant (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Adam Geiger	....	apprentice editor
Terel Gibson	....	assistant editor
Dan O'Grady	....	negative cutter
Jim Passon	....	color timer

Music Department
Bob Bornstein	....	music preparation
Jill Dell'abate	....	orchestra contractor (as Jill De)
Nicholas Dodd	....	conductor
Nicholas Dodd	....	orchestrator
Dina Eaton	....	music editor
Robert Fernandez	....	scoring mixer
Stephen Hilton	....	musician: programming and keyboards
Joe Lisanti	....	music editor (as Joseph Lisanti)
Nic Ratner	....	music editor
Lester Snell	....	additional orchestrator
Bill Stephney	....	music supervisor

Other crew
Keith Adams	....	location assistant: second unit
Randall Balsmeyer	....	title designer
David F. Bianculli	....	production assistant
Anthony Bodden	....	assistant to producer
Anthony Bodden	....	consultant: grassroots
Cassandra Butcher	....	publicity consultant
Jeff Caron	....	office staff
Al Cerullo	....	helicopter pilot
John A. Cohen	....	assistant: Scott Rudin
Patrick Corcoran	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin
Eben Davidson	....	executive assistant: Scott Rudin
Rob Dickerson Jr.	....	key production assistant: second unit
George Doherty	....	assistant production office coordinator
Jay Floyd	....	clearance administrator
Damon Michael Gordon	....	location assistant
Kali Harrison	....	key production assistant
Calvin Hart	....	production assistant
Andy Hernandez	....	production assistant
Jule Ann Jappe	....	assistant location manager: second unit
Maggie Kusik	....	production accountant
James D. Lee	....	assistant location manager
Kendra Levenberg	....	key craft service
David M. McGuire	....	location assistant: second unit
Gray Miller	....	title designer
Kiersten Pilar Miller	....	production assistant
Len Murach	....	location manager
Eric Myers	....	unit publicist
Shieed Pittman	....	production assistant
Joaquin Diego Prange	....	location assistant
Shabazz Ray	....	stand-in: Samuel L. Jackson (as Shabazz Richardson)
Guillaume Renberg	....	remote head technician
Shawn M. Richardz	....	adr loop group
Patrick R. Siembieda	....	first assistant accountant
Rene Smallwood	....	assistant: Adam Schroeder
Karen Koula Sossiadis	....	assistant coordinator
Robert T. Striem	....	location manager: second unit
Anita Sum	....	production coordinator: second unit
Leonard L. Thomas	....	assistant: Samuel L. Jackson
Rae Umsted	....	assistant production coordinator: second unit
Michael Vasquez	....	assistant auditor
Reid Warman	....	production secretary
Patty Willett	....	production coordinator
Tim Wilson	....	stand-in: Christian Bale
Arnold Yanovich	....	executive assistant: John Singleton
Mikayla Abromowitz	....	script supervisor (uncredited)
Tamsin Anstey	....	first assistant accountant (uncredited)
Harrison Cheung	....	assistant: Christian Bale (uncredited)
Rich Fellegara	....	set medic (uncredited)
Tommaso Rossellini	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Darryl A. Smith	....	payroll accountant (uncredited)
Tanisha Weeks	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Munich Film Partners & Company (MFP) Shaft Productions
• New Deal Productions
• Paramount Pictures
• Scott Rudin Productions
• Shaft Productions

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (2000) (USA) (theatrical)
• 01 Distribuzione (2002) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Filmes Lusomundo (2000) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• Sociedad General de Derechos Audiovisuales (SOGEDASA) (2000) (Spain) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2000) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2000) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2000) (Germany) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2000) (France) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2000) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (2000) (Japan) (theatrical) (Far East)
• CIC-Taft Home Video

Special Effects

• Makeup Effects Laboratories

Other Companies

• Balsmeyer and Everett  main and end title sequences designed and produced by (as Balsmeyer & Everett Inc.)
• C-5  sound post-production (as C5 Inc.)
• J.G. Films  negative cutting (as J.G. Films)
• LaFace Records  soundtrack released by
• Sound One  sound re-recording (as Sound One Corp.)
• Sylvia Fay/Lee Genick & Associates Casting  extras casting
• Temptu  tattoo design

Also Known As:

Shaft - Noch Fragen? (Germany)
Shaft Returns (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence and language.

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

Germany | USA

Language:

English | German | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Canada:14A | Chile:14 | Colombia:12 | Denmark:15 | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:18 | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:M18 (re-rating) (uncut) | South Korea:18 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:18 | USA:R | Philippines:R-18

Filming Locations:

Broadway & 20th Street, Chelsea, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Munich Film Partners & Company (MFP) Shaft Productions

Trivia:

The cast features a former Commissioner Gordon (Pat Hingle) and a future Batman (Christian Bale).

Goofs:

Continuity: At the beginning of the movie, the blood is on Walter's left hand when Shaft arrests him. In all of the flashbacks, the blood is on the right hand.

Quotes:

Peoples Hernandez: You play golf?
[Walter Wade Jr. nods]
Peoples Hernandez: Golf is phat... Tiger Wooo, Tiger Wooo, I like him.

Movie Connections:

References The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)

Soundtrack:

Bad Man

lively homage

Samuel L. Jackson seems to be having the time of his movie acting life portraying the title character in `Shaft,' John Singleton's take on the groundbreaking classic that, on its release in 1971, served as the blueprint for all the `blaxploitation' films that filled theatres throughout the early and mid 1970's. Unfortunately, the concept of a rogue black cop, defying the rules and doing things his own way, is not as fresh as it was back in the time of the original film, so this new version of `Shaft' has less to recommend it. Still, it is an efficient police procedural, filled with crowd-pleasing moments of adrenalin-pumping melodrama, hissable villains and a wisecracking, kickass hero who seems virtually indestructible – just the way we like our heroes to be in a movie like this.

Singleton pays affectionate homage to the original film in many ways. Jackson actually plays the nephew of the original Shaft and, indeed, Richard Roundtree makes a cameo appearance early on in the film as Jackson's seasoned mentor. Singleton wisely uses the original Isaac Hayes recording of the hit song as background for the film's opening credit sequence and backs up many of the action scenes with an impressive instrumental interpretation as well.

The story offers little that is new for this particular genre whose films often rise or fall based on the quality of the foils against whom the hero must ultimately contend. Luckily, the filmmakers are blessed with not just one but two impressive villains – Jeffrey Wright as Peoples Hernandez, a tough talking thug who wants to expand out of the little neighborhood kingdom he has established into the big time of upper class drug dealing, and Christian Bale as Walter Wade, Jr., the racist, spoiled-brat son of a New York City magnate whose hate crime killing of an innocent black man sets the plot in motion and serves as fodder for Shaft's personal vendetta. Bale proves definitively that the quality of subtle, soul-cringing evil he brought to his role in `American Psycho' was no fluke and that he can be as effective in a big budget extravaganza like this one as he is in a smaller scale, far more quirky work like `Psycho.' Vanessa Williams, on the other hand, who plays Shaft's partner and who is almost unrecognizable buried under a dark beret, fails to distinguish herself either in her role or in her performance.

Then we have Mr. Jackson himself. Here is a man who slides so effortlessly into the role that, despite the absurdity and incredibility of much that is going on around him, we never question the film's veracity for a moment. Whether tossing off wisecracks, shooting at unarmed criminals, pounding defenseless suspects into insensibility or consoling distraught witnesses, Shaft remains forever a hero, acting out the impulses we in the audience feel but are never able to fully act upon in our daily lives. Thus, this new `Shaft' works best as simpleminded good vs. evil melodrama – and even the most sophisticated movie watcher can use a bit of that once in a while.