Shafts Big Score -1972
Director
Gordon Parks

Writer
Ernest Tidyman

Cast
Richard Roundtree
Moses Gunn
Drew Bundini Brown

Review by Wayne Malin

Better than the original,

I hated the first “Shaft”. It was very low-budget with flimsy sets, a lousy script and a horrible lead performance by Richard Roundtree. But this first sequel was a big surprise.

The budget was upped considerably, the script is well-written and moves quickly and there are heavy, enjoyable jolts of action, violence and the obligatory female nudity. Roundtree’s acting is still bad but it doesn’t really matter–this film is heavy on action and violence. The basic plot is about Shaft going out to avenge a friends murder and getting involved in a gang war.

This is just a movie to sit back and turn your mind off. And there’s an incredible chase finale.

One of the best black films of the 70s. I give it an 8.