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Movie Review: ‘Thelma’
(L to R) June Squibb and Fred Hechinger in ‘Thelma’, a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

Arriving in theaters on Friday June 21st, ‘Thelma’ is combines fun action moments, a winning star turn from June Squibb and some knowing talk about the vagaries of aging, all wrapped up in a confident, humorous tale.

Not to be confused with the 2017 European movie about a psychokinetic young woman, this ‘Thelma’ is instead more like a cross between a ‘Mission: Impossible’ movie and ‘The Straight Story’, about an aging person on a quest.

Related Article: Richard Roundtree, Best Known for Playing the Lead in ‘Shaft’, Has Died at the Age of 81

Is ‘Thelma’ a Possible Mission?

(L to R) Richard Roundtree and June Squibb in ‘Thelma’, a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

A crowd-pleasing hit out of the Sundance Film Festival, ‘Thelma’ is a movie that works on various different levels, to differing levels of success. But the whole is more than the sum of its parts, and this makes for a refreshing take on action comedy blended with honest emotion and observation.

And if you’ve ever wondered whether Tom Cruise might still be looking to do the sort of stunts for which he’s become famous via the ‘Mission: Impossible’ franchise (a direct influence here, referenced early on) in his later years, June Squibb provides the answer. Admittedly, she’s not jumping motorbikes off cliffs or hanging from planes as they take off, her stunts more limited to some nifty scooter driving, a gentle roll across a bed or hilarious moments wielding a gun, but she certainly gives it her all to a degree that Cruise would surely offer a thumbs up to.

Script and Direction

‘Thelma’ director Josh Margolin. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

Writer/director Josh Margolin infuses real emotion and truth into his story since it is partly based on his interactions with his own grandmother (also named Thelma and glimpsed in real-life video during the end credits).

It all powers a story that feels real while also making for a truly entertaining experience. Margolin’s screenplay also works like a finely-crafted watch, setting up concepts that pay off perfectly down the line –– a subtle reference to a class at Ben’s (Richard Roundtree) retirement community that ends up paying off, and a literal example of the Chekhov’s gun idea (even if it ends up going off long before the final act).

Margolin has also concocted truly watchable characters, the role of Thelma herself a gift for any actor, but perfectly tailored to Squibb’s particular vibe. Don’t go into the movie expecting a pulse-pounding thriller, this is much more a deliberate, quietly-paced comedy drama with a keen eye for small details that add up and creative a convincing world.

Beyond the driving –– literally in several moments –– central plot of an elderly woman looking to get her money back after she falls victim to a scam, there are carefully observed touches such as Thelma constantly thinking she knows people around town, being befuddled by modern technology and dealing with her anxious family.

Yet there is no mockery of those at a later stage of life: while she’s introduced trying to get to grips with the confusing world of a computer, Thelma and her fellow pensioners are portrayed as smart, fearless and using the valuable experience gathered in a lifetime to solve problems, including the smart use of a lifeline emergency tracking gadget to evade discovery and real tenacity in the face of danger.

The resulting film is a real delight, shot unfussily but with real style in a few places, happily spoofing some action movie angles, and, in one pyrotechnic moment, the whole concept of lead actors walking away from an explosion without looking back (in this case, also not being able to hear it). Margolin lets his actors do their jobs without needing to jazz up the frame.

Performances

(L to R) Parker Posey, Fred Hechinger and Clark Gregg in ‘Thelma’, a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

This is most definitely June Squibb’s film. The actor, who was 93 when she shot the movie, fully engages with the fact that this is her first leading role in a movie. And on the evidence of this (and, let’s be honest, performances in movies such as ‘Nebraska’), it was long, long overdue.

Squibb brings Thelma to life perfectly, channeling Margolin’s script and working to bring the character to the screens in believably fun ways. And her interactions with the rest of the cast are just as memorable.

Richard Roundtree –– the man who was Shaft back in the day –– is warm and involving as Thelma’s slightly estranged friend Ben, who she ropes into her mission mostly because she needs his motorized scooter. Roundtree, in his final performance, has easy chemistry with Squibb and the pair play well off of each other.

Fred Hechinger is also solid as her grandson Danny, a young man still searching for his place in life, who is fresh off a breakup and can’t seem to find the right gear (unless he’s driving). Hechninger has a fun vibe with Squibb, and also his own arc.

While Parker Posey and Clark Gregg don’t have the same screentime, and the nervy family subplot doesn’t always offer the same compelling reason to watch, they’re always entertaining and put their all into the roles.

Final Thoughts

(L to R) Richard Roundtree and June Squibb in ‘Thelma’, a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

A truly original film that deserves to see success, ‘Thelma’ is well-written and superbly performed.

Action stars rarely see awards love, and even given the mid-year release, we wouldn’t be surprised if Squibb in particular ends up in the Oscar conversation for a nomination at the very least.

‘Thelma’ receives 8.5 out of 10 stars.
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What’s the story of ‘Thelma’?

The action comedy follows Thelma Post (June Squibb), a feisty 93-year-old grandmother who gets conned by a phone scammer pretending to be her grandson Danny (Fred Hechinger) and sets out on a treacherous quest across Los Angeles, accompanied by aging friend Ben (Richard Roundtree) and his motorized scooter, to reclaim what was taken from her.

Who else is in ‘Thelma’?

The cast also features Parker Posey as Thelma’s daughter Gail, Clark Gregg as son-in-law Alan, and Malcolm McDowell as Harvey, the scammer she ultimately confronts.

Theatrical one-sheet for ‘Thelma’, a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

Other June Squibb Movies and TV Shows:
- ‘Scent of a Woman‘ (1992)
- ‘The Age of Innocence‘ (1993)
- ‘In & Out‘ (1997)
- ‘Meet Joe Black‘ (1998)
- ‘About Schmidt‘ (2002)
- ‘Far from Heaven‘ (2002)
- ‘Welcome to Mooseport‘ (2004)
- ‘The Big Year‘ (2011)
- ‘Nebraska‘ (2013)
- ‘Ralph Breaks the Internet‘ (2018)
- ‘Toy Story 4‘ (2019)
- ‘Palm Springs‘ (2020)
- ‘Soul‘ (2024)
- ‘Godmothered‘ (2020)
- ‘Palmer‘ (2021)
- ‘Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead‘ (2024)
- ‘Inside Out 2‘ (2024)
Buy June Squibb Movies on Amazon
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June 21, 2024
Best Richard Roundtree Movies

2019 ‘Shaft’s Richard Roundtree.

Legendary actor and Hollywood icon Richard Roundtree passed away in 2023 after a long battle with cancer at the age of 81.

Best known for playing the iconic character John Shaft in five movies including the original ‘Shaft‘ and the 2000 reboot starring Samuel L. Jackson, Roundtree also appeared in the groundbreaking TV series ‘Roots‘, as well as popular movies like ‘Earthquake‘, ‘Se7en‘, ‘George of the Jungle‘, ‘Brick‘, and ‘Speed Racer‘.

Roundtree’s final film is the action-comedy ‘Thelma,’ which also stars Oscar-nominee June Squibb and opens in theaters on June 21st. Roundtree’s final performance is already earning the late actor some of the best reviews of his long career.

In honor of ‘Thelma’s release, Moviefone is counting down the 20 best movies of Richard Roundtree’s legendary career, including his last.

Let’s begin!

20. ‘Corky Romano‘ (2001)

(L to R) Peter Berg, Chris Penn and Chris Kattan in ‘Corky Romano’. Photo: Buena Vista Pictures Distribution.

Corky Romano (Chris Kattan) is a bumbling, simpleton, veterinarian and the youngest, outcast son of an aging gangster, named Pops Romano (Peter Falk), who calls upon Corky to infiltrate the local FBI and retrieve and destroy evidence being used to incriminate Pops for racketeering charges.
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19. ‘Steel‘ (1997)

When a renegade military reject puts new superweapons in dangerous hands, John Henry Irons (Shaquille O’Neal) becomes Steel. Wearing body armor, wielding a fearsome electrohammer and riding a gadget-packed motorcycle, he’s ready to wage war… if he can fix the untimely glitches in his untested gear.
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18. ‘Man Friday‘ (1975)

Englishman Robinson Crusoe (Peter O’Toole), stranded alone on an island for years, is overjoyed to find a fellow man, a black islander whom he names Friday (Roundtree). But Crusoe cannot overcome the shackles of his own heritage and upbringing and is incapable of seeing Friday as anything other than a savage who needs Crusoe’s brand of cultural and religious enlightenment. Friday attempts to share his own more generous and unashamed culture, but ultimately realizes that Crusoe can never see him as anything but an inferior being. With that awareness, Friday sets out to turn the tables on Crusoe.
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17. ‘George of the Jungle‘ (1997)

Deep in the African jungle, a baby named George (Brendan Fraser), the sole survivor of a plane crash, is raised by gorillas. George grows up to be a buff and lovable klutz who has a rain forest full of animal friends: Tookie, his big-beaked toucan messenger; Ape, a witty talking gorilla; and Shep, a peanut-loving pooch of an elephant. But when poachers mess with George’s pals, the King Of Swing swings into action.
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16. ‘Escape to Athena‘ (1979)

During the World War II, the prisoners of a German camp in a Greek island are trying to escape. They not only want their freedom, but also seek an ineffable treasure hidden in a monastery at the summit of the island’s mountain.
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15. ‘Shaft‘ (2019)

(L to R) Samuel L. Jackson and Richard Roundtree in 2019’s ‘Shaft’. Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.

JJ, aka John Shaft Jr. (Jessie T. Usher), may be a cyber security expert with a degree from MIT, but to uncover the truth behind his best friend’s untimely death, he needs an education only his dad can provide. Absent throughout JJ’s youth, the legendary locked-and-loaded John Shaft (Samuel L. Jackson) agrees to help his progeny navigate Harlem’s heroin-infested underbelly.
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14. ‘What Men Want‘ (2019)

Magically able to hear what men are thinking, a sports agent (Taraji P. Henson) uses her newfound ability to turn the tables on her overbearing male colleagues.
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13. ‘Game for Vultures‘ (1980)

The South African businessman David Swansey (Richard Harris) is delivering illegal German helicopters to Rhodesia That makes the patriot Gideon Marunga (Roundtree) an angry man.
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12. ‘Earthquake‘ (1974)

Various interconnected people struggle to survive when an earthquake of unimaginable magnitude hits Los Angeles, California.
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11. ‘Maniac Cop‘ (1988)

Innocent people are brutally killed on the streets of New York by a uniformed police officer. A young cop, Jack Forrest (Bruce Campbell), finds himself marked as the chief suspect after his wife is murdered.
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10. ‘Shaft’s Big Score!‘ (1972)

Richard Roundtree in ‘Shaft’s Big Score!’. Photo: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

John Shaft (Roundtree) is back as the lady-loved black detective cop on the search for the murderer of a client.
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9. ‘City Heat‘ (1984)

(L to R) Burt Reynolds and Clint Eastwood in ‘City Heat’. Photo: Warner Bros.

Set in Kansas City in 1933, Clint Eastwood plays a police lieutenant known simply by his last name, Speer. Burt Reynolds plays a former cop turned private eye named Mike Murphy. Both Speer and Murphy served on the force together and were once good friends, but are now bitter enemies. When Murphy’s partner is slain they team up again to fight the mob.
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8. ‘Moving On‘ (2023)

(L to R) Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda star in director Paul Weitz’s ‘Moving On.’

Two old friends (Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin) reconnect at their friend’s funeral, and decide to exact revenge on the widower who wronged all three of them decades earlier.
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7. ‘Shaft in Africa‘ (1973)

(Right) Richard Roundtree in ‘Shaft in Africa’. Photo: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

Detective John Shaft (Roundtree) travels incognito to Ethiopia then France to bust a human trafficking ring
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6. ‘Speed Racer‘ (2008)

(L to R) Christina Ricci, Susan Sarandon, John Goodman, Kick Gurry and Emile Hirsch in ‘Speed Racer’. Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.

Speed Racer (Emile Hirsch) is a young and brilliant racing driver. When corruption in the racing leagues costs his brother his life, Speed must team up with the police and the mysterious Racer X (Matthew Fox) to bring an end to the corruption and criminal activities.
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5. ‘Shaft‘ (2000)

(L to R) Samuel L. Jackson and Jeffrey Wright in 2000’s ‘Shaft’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.

New York police detective John Shaft (Samuel L. Jackson) arrests Walter Wade Jr. (Christian Bale) for a racially motivated slaying. But the only eyewitness disappears, and Wade jumps bail for Switzerland. Two years later Wade returns to face trial, confident his money and influence will get him acquitted — especially since he’s paid a drug kingpin (Jeffrey Wright) to kill the witness.
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4. ‘Brick‘ (2005)

(Left) Joseph Gordon-Levitt in ‘Brick’. Photo: Focus Features.

After a phone call from his ex-girlfriend (Emilie de Ravin), teenage loner Brendan Frye (Joseph Godron-Levitt) learns that her dead body was found. Vowing to solve her murder himself, he must infiltrate high-school cliques that he previously avoided. His search for the truth brings him before some of the school’s roughest characters.
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3. ‘Se7en‘ (1995)

(L to R) Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman in ‘Se7en’. Photo: New Line Cinema.

Two homicide detectives are on a desperate hunt for a serial killer whose crimes are based on the “seven deadly sins” in this dark and haunting film that takes viewers from the tortured remains of one victim to the next. The seasoned Det. Sommerset (Morgan Freeman) researches each sin in an effort to get inside the killer’s mind, while his novice partner, Mills (Brad Pitt), scoffs at his efforts to unravel the case.
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2. ‘Thelma‘ (2024)

(L to R) Richard Roundtree and June Squibb in ‘Thelma’, a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

Deceived by a phone scammer pretending to be her grandson, a 90-year-old woman (June Squibb) sets out on a quest to reclaim what was taken from her.
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1. ‘Shaft‘ (1971)

Richard Roundtree in 1971’s ‘Shaft’. Photo: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

Cool black private eye John Shaft (Roundtree) is hired by a crime lord to find and retrieve his kidnapped daughter.
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June 18, 2024
‘Shaft’ Actor Richard Roundtree is Dead At 81
(L to R) ‘Shaft’s Samuel L. Jackson, Jessie T. Usher and Richard Roundtree.

Preview
- Actor Richard Roundtree, best remembered for playing detective John Shaft, has died.
- Roundtree was 81 and had been suffering from pancreatic cancer.
- Co-stars and those influenced by him have paid tribute to his memorable work.
Actor Richard Roundtree, who will be forever linked to cult movie detective John Shaft from 1971’s ‘Shaft,’ has died. He was 81.

Roundtree, a famous breast cancer survivor, was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and died surrounded by family at his bedside.

His agency, and manager Patrick McMinn, released a statement about his death:

“Artists & Representatives Agency mourns the loss of our friend and client Richard Roundtree. His trailblazing career changed the face of entertainment around the globe and his enduring legacy will be felt for generations to come. Our hearts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time.”

“Trailblazing” is as good a term as any for Roundtree, who portrayed the first Black private detective on screen. Yet while he’ll most closely be identified with his Blaxploitation career and particularly the iconic Shaft character, the actor enjoyed a long run of work on screens big and small.
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Early life

Richard Roundtree as John Shaft in 1971’s ‘Shaft.’ Photo: MGM.

Richard Roundtree was born in New Rochelle, New York, played football for Southern Illinois University and did some modeling before the acting bug bit.

He was drawn to theater and joined New York’s acclaimed Negro Ensemble Company, then starred as Jack Johnson in ‘The Great White Hope’ off-Broadway before the role of John Shaft presented itself –– a lucky break secured after Sidney Poitier refused to screen test for the role, leading director Gordon Parks to cast Roundtree instead.

The role of John Shaft, the “hotter than Bond, cooler than Bullitt” private detective, changed Roundtree’s life and the course of Hollywood by introducing him as an unapologetic protagonist and subterranean fighter of crime.

He went on to play the role in the sequels ‘Shaft’s Big Score!’ and ‘Shaft in Africa’ as well as the short-lived 1973 ‘Shaft’ TV series.

The actor’s many film credits include 1981’s ‘Inchon’, ‘City Heat‘ (1984) as well as ‘Se7en’, ‘George of the Jungle’, ‘Body of Influence’, ‘Amityville: A New Generation’, and ‘What Men Want’. He was last seen in Paul Weitz’s comedy ‘Moving On’.

Related Article: Suzanne Somers of ‘Three’s Company’ and ‘Step By Step’ Dies At Age 76

TV roles

(L to R) Leslie Uggams and Richard Roundtree in ‘Roots.’ Photo: Warner Bros Television.

On the small screen, Roundtree had one of his best opportunities in the breakthrough miniseries ‘Roots’, playing a handsome, well-groomed carriage driver with whom Kizzy (Leslie Uggams) falls in love until she sees that when the master (George Hamilton) calls, Roundtree grovels.

Roundtree starred in the miniseries ‘AD’ and had a supporting role in the series ‘Outlaws’ (CBS, 1986-1987) as Ice McAdams. He was part of the cast of the short-lived multi-racial NBC daytime drama ‘Generations,’ playing a doctor forced to live in hiding for 15 years for a murder he did not commit. He also appeared in a number of sitcoms and other series, including ‘Being Mary Jane’.

Tributes from co-stars

‘Shaft’s Richard Roundtree.

Roundtree reprised his most famous role in the 2000 John Singleton movie ‘Shaft’, starring Samuel L. Jackson, and the 2019 Tim Story-directed sequel.
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Jackson took to Instagram to pay tribute:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CyzcJOspbAT/

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Gabrielle Union, who worked with Roundtree in ‘Being Mary Jane’, tweeted her own tribute:

Working with Richard Roundtree was a dream. Getting to hang with him & our Being Mary Jane family was always a good ass time with the best stories & laughs. He was ALWAYS the coolest man in the room with the BEST vibes & ppl would literally run over to come see him. He was simply… pic.twitter.com/1N8fHVDsA6

— Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) October 25, 2023

Richard Roundtree as John Shaft in 1971’s ‘Shaft.’ Photo: MGM.

Richard Roundtree Movies:
- ‘Shaft‘ (1971)
- ‘Shaft’s Big Score!‘ (1972)
- ‘Shaft in Africa‘ (1973)
- ‘Earthquake‘ (1974)
- ‘Man Friday‘ (1975)
- ‘Escape to Athena‘ (1979)
- ‘The Big Score‘ (1983)
- ‘City Heat‘ (1984)
- ‘Maniac Cop‘ (1988)
- ‘Se7en‘ (1995)
- ‘George of the Jungle‘ (1997)
- ‘Steel‘ (1997)
- ‘Shaft‘ (2000)
- ‘Corky Romano‘ (2001)
- ‘Boat Trip‘ (2002)
- ‘Brick‘ (2005)
- ‘Speed Racer‘ (2008)
- ‘What Men Want‘ (2019)
- ‘Shaft‘ (2019)
- ‘Moving On‘ (2023)
Buy Richard Roundtree Movies On Amazon

To watch our exclusive interviews with Samuel L. Jackson, Jessie T. Usher and Richard Roundtree about 2019’s ‘Shaft,’ please click on the video player below.
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October 25, 2023
Ms. Moviefone and the Cast of ‘Shaft’ Are Just Talking About Shaft (Can You Dig It?)

The Oscar-winning theme song to “Shaft” is is a bad mother–shut your mouth. Our very own Ms. Moviefone definitely couldn’t get it out of her head while watching the newest film in the franchise from director Tim Story, so she celebrated the iconic jam with Story and stars Samuel L. Jackson, Richard Roundtree, Jessie Usher, Regina Hall, and Alexandra Shipp.

Enjoy the latest episode of The Ms. Moviefone Show below and see “Shaft” in theaters now!

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June 14, 2019
New ‘Shaft’ Featurette Unites 3 Generations of Stars, Talks Legacy

Warmer Bros. Pictures

The new “Shaft” hits theaters this month, so it’s time to look at what it means to be John Shaft.

Warner Bros. Pictures has released a featurette focused on the legacy of Shaft, and it brings together the three men whose characters go by some variation of John Shaft: original “Shaft” star Richard Roundtree (John Shaft), and his movie nephew and grandnephew, Samuel L. Jackson (John Shaft II) and Jessie Usher (John “JJ” Shaft Jr.). In the upcoming film, they unite to uncover the truth about a murder.

The trio, along with co-star Regina Hall, all discuss the meaning of Shaft.

“Shaft is legendary,” Jackson says in the featurette. “He’s the best dresser, he’s the toughest guy.”

There’s also footage from the upcoming action flick. Watch below.

Roundtree starred in 1971’s “Shaft” and two sequels. Jackson’s “Shaft” came in 2000, and now the latest film in the franchise is due to hit theaters on June 14.
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June 6, 2019
‘What Men Want’ Review: Taraji Deserves Better

Paramount

In 2000’s “What Women Want” it might have been snarkily revolutionary, if way late even then, to suggest that members of the so-called “fairer sex” are complex, fierce and formidable. But 20 years and a gender-swapped premise later, “What Men Want” advances a depressing argument that guys are with few exceptions as competitive, sexist and simple-minded as they always were — but now, women are evidently changing to become more like them. Taraji P. Henson’s fearlessly committed performance almost rescues this story of a desperately ambitious woman gifted with the ability to hear men’s innermost impulses, but director Adam Shankman’s predilection for the broadest and dumbest possible execution of any given idea undercuts any comedic bite, genuine insight or emotional resonance the film potentially had.

Henson (“Hidden Figures”) plays Alison “Ali” Davis, an Atlanta sports agent growing increasingly tired of white, male colleagues getting praised and promoted while her own accomplishments are repeatedly undermined and disregarded. But while cutting loose at her friend’s bachelorette party, Ali drinks some funky tea given to her by a fortune teller named Sister (Erykah Badu) and ends up hitting her head, gaining the ability to hear her male colleagues’ thoughts. But after being promised the opportunity to make partner if she signs Jamal Barry (Shane Paul McGhie), the next basketball superstar, Ali discloses these newfound abilities to her long-suffering assistant Brandon (Josh Brener) and hatches a plan to outwit her competitors.

Unfortunately, Jamal’s future is being carefully controlled by his unpredictable father Joe “Dolla” (Tracy Morgan), whose thoughts reveal an unchecked id but little for Ali in the way of insights on how to win his confidence. But when Joe admits that he’s put off by Ali’s workaholic independence, she unwittingly enlists a recent one-night stand, Will (Aldis Hodge), and his six-year-old son Ben (Auston Jon Moore) to pretend to be her family in the hopes of scoring Jamal’s highly-coveted contract.

Paramount

Even before the first male thought is revealed on screen by writers Tina Gordon (“ATL,” “Drumline”) and Peter Huyck and Alex Gregory (shared alumni of “Veep,” “Frasier” and “The Larry Sanders Show”), the prospect of what little there is to be learned from that inner monologue feels like a joke whose punchline we already know. Consequently, the only revelations that Ali discovers are that (a) her colleagues are keeping her out of the loop, and (b) when she muscles her way back in, they know better how to strategize, coddle and outmaneuver fragile egos, both male and female, than she does. Though the panorama of perspectives that she soon becomes aware of occasionally includes an amusing non sequitur or unexpected earwig, most of those voices are effectively confirming not just what she already knows about her bullying, sexist colleagues, but what we (the audience) do as well.

What eventually becomes more of a priority to those screenwriters and Shankman as director is both empowering Ali and reminding her that in the boy’s club she desperately wants to be a part of, it’s better to be a woman who is not beholden to their expectations. But this unfortunately requires the character to shuffle through some painful rom-com cliches where Henson has to battle her way through some embarrassing, not especially funny scenarios, and eventually Ali learns life lessons at the expense of people she cares about the most. Thankfully, and in spite of the schizophrenic pendulum-swing of the main character’s behavior, the supporting cast strikes a comfortable equilibrium between the story’s sillier and more serious elements: Wendi McLendon-Covey (“The Goldbergs”), Phoebe Robinson (“I Love Dick”) and Tamala Jones (“Castle”) play Ali’s chorus of hilarious, exasperated BFFs, while Max Greenfield (“New Girl”), and Richard Roundtree (“Shaft”), as a work colleague and Ali’s father, respectively, supply some real talk about men (or at least themselves) that doesn’t require mind-reading.

Though Hodge plays a charming, convincingly saintly alternative to most of the rest of the men in Ali’s life, and Brener’s Brandon provides her with a suitably anxious sounding board-slash-Jiminy Cricket to fret over each new morally dubious gambit, the movie’s secret weapon is Badu, who defies its worn-out conventions and embraces the ethereal (and ridiculous) extremes of its premise. But even built on the sad continuing reality of disproportionate opportunities and pay between men and women (much less women of color), Henson’s flailing, frustrated character exposes few new truths about her male counterparts, and the movie as a whole says a lot less about gender disparities or the business world than it thinks. Ultimately, “What Men Want” showcases the kind of mainstream, multiracial comedies that audiences seem to want, but as a vehicle for a talented, hard-working performer like Henson to lead, it’s less than she deserves.
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February 7, 2019
Samuel L. Jackson Returns in First ‘Shaft’ Trailer: Can Ya Dig It?

New Line

Shaft is back, baby.

New Line released the first trailer for the new “Shaft” movie, which sees Samuel L. Jackson reprising his role in the 2000 outing and follows up on the 1971 original.

This sort-of reboot/sequel not only reintroduces Jackson as John Shaft II but brings back Richard Roundtree as his father, the original John Shaft. Then there’s young John Shaft Jr. (Jessie Usher), so there’s three generations of incredibly cool private investigators strolling the streets of New York City.

The action comedy finds John Shaft II and Junior teaming up to infiltrate the Harlem underworld. Junior isn’t quite as slick as his dad, though he’s much more modern (he tries to teach Dad about misogyny). But all three generations definitely know how to kick ass.

Regina Hall, Alexandra Shipp, Matt Lauria, Titus Welliver, and Cliff “Method Man” Smith also star.

“Shaft” opens in theaters June 14.

February 7, 2019
Who Should Play the New ‘Shaft’?

Ed Barth (L) and Richard Roundtree in “Shaft”

A reboot of the 1970s cult hit “Shaft” is under development by New Line Cinemas, according The Hollywood Reporter.

Can ya dig it?

It will reportedly have a comedic bent in its latest incarnation. The eponymous character was first portrayed by Richard Roundtree in 1971 as a private detective hired by a crime lord to retrieve a missing young girl. Roundtree continued the character with two sequels and a short-lived TV version.

In 2000 Samuel L. Jackson carried the franchise as Shaft’s nephew in a John Singleton-directed action-thriller that co-starred Vanessa Williams, Toni Collette, Jeffrey Wright and Christian Bale.

So far, no actors have been attached to take on the titular role. Leave your suggestions below.
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July 28, 2015