Exactly fifty years ago today (on Wednesday 23 June 1971) SHAFT premiered in Detroit (the Palms Theatre). Reports originally promoted a dual premiere with Chicago (The Roosevelt Theatre), but that opening actually took place one week later on 30 June. The Roosevelt ran showings from 8:45am through to midnight and the film reportedly grossed $108,000…
Tag: Samuel L Jackson
Film Review – STAR WARS: EPISODE III – REVENGE OF THE SITH (2005)
STAR WARS: EPISODE III – REVENGE OF THE SITH (2005, USA) ***½ Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi dist. Twentieth Century Fox; pr co. Lucasfilm / Pandora Films / CTV Services; d. George Lucas; w. George Lucas; exec pr. George Lucas; pr. Rick McCallum; ph. David Tattersall (DeLuxe. 35mm (anamorphic) (Kodak Vision 2383), 70mm (horizontal) (IMAX DMR blow-up)…
Film Review – STAR WARS: EPISODE II – ATTACK OF THE CLONES (2002)
STAR WARS: EPISODE II – ATTACK OF THE CLONES (2002, USA) *** Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi dist. Twentieth Century Fox; pr co. Lucasfilm / Recce & Production Services / Mestiere Cinema; d. George Lucas; w. George Lucas, Jonathan Hales (based on a story by George Lucas); exec pr. George Lucas; pr. Rick McCallum, Lorne Orleans; ph….
Film Review (re-watch) – SHAFT (2019)
After more than a year, I decided to give the new Shaft another go. Whilst I enjoyed it more, I still can’t get past its faults and haven’t changed my opinion that it was a wasted opportunity… SHAFT (2019, USA) **½ Action, Crime, Comedy dist. New Line Cinema, Warner Bros. (USA), Netflix (UK); pr co….
“Shaft” the original novel is 50 today
Today marks the 50th Anniversary of the publication of Ernest Tidyman’s novel Shaft. The book introduces us to black private eye John Shaft as he is hired by Harlem crime lord, Knocks Persons, to locate and rescue his kidnapped daughter who has been grabbed by the Mafia to force Persons to relent in a turf…
Shaft Digital and Blu-Ray retail release dates announced
Shaft, 2019 style, will receive its retail digital release on 10 September followed by a Blu-Ray release on 24 September. The Shaft Facebook page has posted a brief promo: https://www.facebook.com/ShaftMovie/videos/1122657238121988/
Film Review – GOODFELLAS (1990)
GOODFELLAS (USA, 1990) ****½ Distributor: Warner Bros.; Production Company: Warner Bros; Release Date: 17 September 1990 (USA), 26 October 1990 (UK); Filming Dates: 3 May 1989 – 9 August 1989; Running Time: 146m; Colour: Technicolor; Sound Mix: Dolby SR; Film Format: 35mm (Eastman 5384); Film Process: Spherical; Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1; BBFC Cert:…
Shaft 2019 style – a wasted opportunity
Four years ago it was announced that New Line had secured the rights from Warner Brothers to make a new Shaft movie. For fans of Ernest Tidyman’s hero and the original 1970s movies this was a welcome surprise. The key question was how would New Line treat the property? Gradually news filtered out that the…
Film Review – SHAFT (2019)
SHAFT (USA, 2019) *½ Distributor: New Line Cinema / Warner Bros. (USA), Netflix (UK); Production Company: Davis Entertainment / Khalabo Ink Society / Netflix / New Line Cinema / Warner Bros.; Release Date: 14 June 2019 (USA), 28 June 2019 (UK); Filming Dates: December 2017 – February 2018; Running Time: 111m; Colour:…
Shaft Trailer – First Impressions
Well, here it is at last – the trailer to Tim Story’s 2019 take on Shaft. When New Line announced the movie back in July 2015 it was promoted as an action comedy sending fans, including myself, running for the hills. As a Shaft purist – I mean the Shaft of the novels… Ernest Tidyman’s…