
Shaft ’19
Contrary to the mythology, Samuel L. Jackson is indeed the “Son of Shaft”, not his nephew, which works out just fine for this 2019 follow-up to the 2000 sequel of the original 1971 smash hit about an irascible “black private dick that’s a sex machine to all the chicks.” Speaking of irascible, Jackson fits the bill and then some as “John Shaft II” who does his best to live up to the Issac Hayes theme song. Directed by Tim Story, the movie is a worthy successor to the adventures of dear Uncle John (Richard Roundtree, who reprises his original role as Shaft the First). Jessie T. Usher plays John “JJ” Shaft III.
About Michael Schlesinger
Michael Schlesinger was widely acknowledged as the dean of classic film distributors, having worked for more than 25 years at MGM, Paramount and Sony, keeping hundreds of vintage movies in theatrical release (and later DVD), and instigating the restoration of many more, including the completion of Orson Welles' 1942 documentary It's All True some 50 years later. Behind the camera, he wrote and produced the American version of Godzilla 2000, co-produced such Larry Blamire parodies as The Lost Skeleton Returns Again and Dark and Stormy Night, and has written, produced and directed several short films featuring the faux-1930s comedy team of Biffle and Shooster. No power on Earth would have ever convinced him that It's A Mad Mad Mad Mad World was not the Greatest. Movie. Ever. Sadly, Michael passed away on the morning of January 9, 2025.