Shaft (1971)

The critic calls the film a quintessential blaxploitation work and a vivid snapshot of a bygone era. He praises its portrait of New York, soulful music, and social commentary.

The review is strongly positive, calling the film an entertaining debut with strong box-office prospects. It praises Gordon Parks’s feel for the story’s grit and humanity, while noting that the film slows slightly toward the climax.

The headline presents the film as an enjoyable Saturday-night movie. The accessible page provides no further critical verdict or specific point of praise.

The review describes the film as hip, cool and entertaining. It singles out Isaac Hayes’s score and the film’s significance as a commercially successful story about a Black private eye.

The page identifies this as part of Penelope Gilliatt’s Current Cinema review, but provides no verdict. It offers no praise or criticism of the film.

Pulver regards the original as a landmark and a fascinating snapshot, though its quality dips beyond the iconic opening song. He praises its low-budget filmmaking and depiction of early-1970s New York, while noting the script is thin.

Newman finds the film less cool and compelling than its introduction promises. He praises Isaac Hayes’s soulful theme but criticizes the trite plot and Shaft’s humorless characterization.