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SHAFT

Date: Sep 14 2000

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

Plot: A New York police detective, John Shaft (Samuel L. Jackson), goes on a mission to bring down Walter Wade, Jr. (Christian Bale). Wade is the suspect in the killing of a black man outside a restaurant. The corrupt police system tries to protect Wade. This makes Shaft angry, so he quits his job and tries to get Mr. Wade by himself.
Clip: This is the beginning of the movie. A young black man has been killed in front of a nice restaurant. Shaft is interrogating Wade about it because he has a bloodstain on him. Shaft suspects him to be the killer and Wade is cocky.

Dialog

1. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Shaft

Wade

Shaft: How’d you get that blood on yourself?

Wade: What? What blood?

Shaft: I’m gonna ask you again. How did you get that blood on yourself?

Wade: It was like, “He started it. And I finished it.”

Shaft: Mmm hmm…

Wade: Look, I was razzing the guy. He couldn’t take a joke.

Shaft: Ah, so you cracked his head open. Didn’t you?

Wade: He left all pissed off. I followed him out to apologize. Next thing I know he’s coming at me with a silver bat. I wa… I was defending myself.

Shaft: Anybody see you?

Wade: No officer, it was just me and him out back. Do you know who my father is?

Shaft: No. Do you? (To the other officer) Take him out.

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Discussion

This is a good scene. Both characters know that Wade did it. Wade is not scared of Shaft because his father is a powerful businessman who can save him. Shaft wants to prove that the law is more powerful than money. BACKGROUND The character of Shaft is not new. The first Shaft movie was made in 1971. It starred Richard Roundtree and was one example of “Blaxploitation Movies.” Samuel L. Jackson’s Shaft is the nephew of the original Shaft. For more background on the original Shaft and the Blaxploitation period click here. This is a fun movie to watch, but not as good as the original. It could have done a better job of matching the style of the original Shaft movies. But, maybe the director (John Singleton) didn’t want it to be exactly the same. If you’re in the mood for a good old-fashion “Good guys vs. Bad Guys” movie, you should see this. Others people to see in the movie include Busta Rhymes, Vanessa Williams and Dan Hedaya. I give it a 7 out of 10 Have you seen SHAFT and you want to share your opinion? Or maybe you have seen another movie recently you want to talk about? Well, come to the “Movie Madness” message board and tell us about it! From the front row, Señior Movie Snob