Still the man, any questions?|Jun. 15, 2000|Germany | United States|99 Min.|R
Genre: Action;Adventure;Crime;Thriller
Description: In 1998, NYPD Detective John Shaft II, a relative of the famous private investigator John Shaft I, is assigned to investigate a brutal assault on Trey Howard outside a restaurant. Shaft arrests Walter Wade Jr., the son of a wealthy real estate tycoon, after spotting blood on him. Wade claims self-defense, but Trey’s friend reveals that Wade racially harassed Trey earlier. After Trey embarrassed Wade and left the restaurant, Wade followed him outside. Shaft notices a waitress, Diane Palmieri, observing Wade but is unable to get a statement from her as she claims to have seen nothing and leaves. When Wade mocks Trey after he dies in the ambulance, Shaft punches him, resulting in his suspension and transfer to another precinct. Later, Wade taunts Shaft over the phone, revealing that the punch led to his bail and subsequent escape to Switzerland.
Two years later, Wade returns to the U.S., and Shaft arrests him again. At a celebratory party, the elder Shaft warns John that Wade’s wealth gives him an advantage in court. While detained, Wade befriends Peoples Hernandez, a Dominican drug lord previously arrested by Shaft. During Wade’s bail hearing, the judge allows him to be released again on the condition he surrenders his passport. Frustrated, Shaft resigns from the police force, vowing to bring Wade to justice on his own terms. Concerned about the missing eyewitness, Wade hires Peoples to locate and eliminate her.
Shaft continues searching for Diane with the help of his friends, Detective Carmen Vasquez and taxi driver Rasaan. While questioning Diane’s uncooperative mother, Shaft and Carmen realize they are being trailed by officers Jack Roselli and Jimmy Groves, who were bribed by Peoples to follow Shaft. Disguised, Shaft and his former colleague, Detective Luger, rob Wade of the money he had gathered to pay off Peoples by selling some of his late mother’s jewelry.
Cast director: John Singleton
Cast actor: Samuel L. Jackson, Vanessa Williams, Jeffrey Wright, Christian Bale, Busta Rhymes, Dan Hedaya, Toni Collette, Richard Roundtree, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Josef Sommer
Original name: Shaft