see, Shaft is both his name AND his game

Great shots, incredible score, horny, blah blah blah. Brass tacks. Shaft's sweater and skincare game are out of this world. I need a commentary track from the wardrobe and makeup teams. Where's the Vulture article that explains what kinda moisturizer and face wash is gonna make me smooth as Ricky Roundtree

a funk update on the noir genre with richard rountree walking around and investigating a gorgeously-lit, grimy 70s new york in turtlenecks and leather jackets to a killer, moody soul score by isaac hayes. a movie seemingly more about the vibe than the ideas regarding race, authority, community, etc which makes it a breeze to watch but is also sorta the issue? it's so cool it's honestly just a relaxing surface going through the expected plot motions after awhile with almost no tension or complication or even any real character dilemma (morally or psychologically) despite both the genre and subject calling for it. but perhaps there's an argument to be made that that chill quality is exactly how shaft moves through the world so of course his movie reflects that feeling so who knows?

A guy describes a woman as having "groovy boobs" in this movie

There is no documentation anywhere of John Shaft’s middle name. But personally, he strikes me as a John P. Shaft (stylized as johnpshaft).

This Shaft guy seems pretty cool.

That intro with John Shaft just casually walking across a busy street and expecting cars to just stop for him, builds his character perfectly. No exposition or flashbacks needed; just a bloke walking across a road. Shaft is indeed a bad mother-fucker and he owns his city.

Great dialogue, terrific NYC locations, full of great fleshed-out characters, THAT score by Chef and The Bar-Kays, the final rescue, Richard "I'm a handsome fucker" Roundtree.

Cool as fuck.

The "Soul in Cinema: Filming 'Shaft' on Location" extra on my DVD was pretty damned fine as well and includes Isaac Hayes and The Bar-Kays recording the score.

Whoever decided to put Richard Roundtree in turtlenecks and leather jackets...thank you.

There exists few greater pleasures known to man than that of a fly-ass jacket.

as if shaft wasn’t already cool enough they had to go and give him the coolest apartment of the 1970s