Shaft 1971

J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader: Forty years of gumshoe noir collided with black power in this 1971 action classic, the most popular of the blaxploitation pictures. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: Parks isn't especially good at action direction, but the heart of a private-eye movie is in the mood scenes, anyway, and he supplies a scene in a bar and another one with the Harlem rackets boss that are very nice. Read more

Geoff Andrew, Time Out: A hip, cool, entertaining thriller. Read more

A.D. Murphy, Variety: Excellent cast, headed by newcomer Richard Roundtree, may shock some audiences with heavy dose of candid dialog and situation. Read more