Shaft 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

Shaft 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov June 22, 2022

Gordon Parks' "Shaft" (1971) arrives on 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the disc include archival interviews with the director; archival program with Richard Roundtree; archival program Isaac Hayes; exclusive new program with costume designer Joseph G. Aulisi; archival promotional materials; and a lot more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

In terms of entertainment value, Gordon Parks’ Shaft is awfully difficult to praise. The bulk of it has the right attitude and definitely the perfect soundtrack to complement its visuals, but most of the time it feels like it runs on fumes. It is not because Richard Roundtree is miscast and cannot lead as needed either. Roundtree looks every bit as good as Fred Williamson does in blaxploitation gems like Hell Up in Harlem and Hammer, and definitely a lot better than Rudy Ray Moore in Dolemite. The problem with Shaft is that it does not tell a particularly good story, or perhaps not the right type of story to be as wildly entertaining as some of its blaxploitation counterparts.

I revisited Shaft a couple of nights ago for the first time in many years, and then decided to make a complete Shaft marathon with the two sequels, Shaft's Big Score! and Shaft in Africa. (Shaft’s Big Score is included as a bonus feature on this release, but if you wish to see Shaft in Africa you will have to pick up Warner Archive’s release). Well, guess what? After my marathon ended, I could honestly say that I had a much, much better time with the sequels. Initially, I was a bit surprised, but once I started comparing the three films, I was quickly able to identify the exact reasons why the two sequels offered better entertainment. The biggest and most obvious reason is the looser nature of these films. In both Roundtree is placed in wilder situations and faces wackier opponents, so his troubles were more interesting, producing superior action as well. I think that these films are sexier too, though this is a ‘quality’ that is open for interpretation and I realize that its value would be judged differently by different people. My point is that Shaft’s Big Score and Shaft in Africa offer a greater variety of genre thrills, and this is what I usually expect from good blaxploitation films.

The other very big reason is the type of connection the three films have with reality. In the original film, Roundtree is hired by a powerful black crime boss (Moses Gunn) to track down the people who have kidnapped his beloved daughter. He goes to work and soon after becomes involved with the Mafia and some black guerilla fighters willing to help him in exchange for cash. Roundtree’s unorthodox working methods create a few decent fireworks, but do not push the film in that wild territory where some of the most entertaining blaxploitation gems like to spend their time. Shaft’s Big Score and especially Shaft in Africa are much more adventurous films whose looser sense of humor basically transforms their realities into big playgrounds where anything goes. (Oddly enough, when Shaft opens and Isaac Hayes begins singing “Who's the black private dick that's a sex machine to all the chicks?”, it seems like it is only a matter of time before it becomes precisely that kind of an adventurous film. Instead, the cheekiness that Hayes’ lyrics suggest is quickly brushed aside and Shaft gets stuck in the same territory where the overwhelming majority of conventional gangster films that emerged during the 1970s are set). Needless to say, the particular connection with reality the three films have ultimately ends up defining their identities.

Of course, the historical significance of Shaft is undeniable, which I think is the main reason it should be seen. The spotlight is very much on Roundtree and he leads from start to finish, completely unopposed by other characters. At the time, there were quite simply no other films with an African-American protagonist doing what Roundtree was doing before Parks’ camera.

*A few years after its theatrical premiere Shaft had its network television premiere. However, CBS edited more than twenty minutes of original footage on the TV version.

Shaft 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Criterion's release of Shaft is a 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack.

The following text appears inside the leaflet that is provided with this release:

"This new digital transfer was created in 16-bit 4K resolution from the 35mm original camera negative. Some footage that was damaged in the original camera negative had been replaced using a duplicate negative. For these sections, the original yellow, cyan, and magenta separation masters were independently scanned and recombined to replace the inferior duplicate footage. The original monaural soundtrack was remastered from the two-inch, 24-track dialogue, music and effects track. On the 4K Blu-ray, the feature is presented in Dolby Vision HDR (high dynamic range). On the Blu-ray, it is presented in high-definition SDR (standard dynamic range).

Digital scanning: Company3 Los Angeles.
Colorist: Lee Kline, Giles Sherwood/Criterion Post, New York."

Please note that all screencaptures that appear with this article are taken from the 4K Blu-ray and are downscaled to 1080p. Therefore, they do not accurately reflect the quality of the 4K content on the 4K Blu-ray disc, including the actual color values of this content.

Screencaptures #1-10 are from Shaft Blu-ray.
Screencaptures #13-21 are from Shaft 4K Blu-ray.
Screencaptures #24-30 are from Shaft's Big Score!

4K BLU-RAY DISC

After the recent 4K makeover, Shaft looks gorgeous in native 4K. Some of the outdoor footage, in particular, is so striking it is pretty hard to believe that the film recently celebrated its fiftieth anniversary. I expected that it would look really, really good, but to be honest, I did not expect this type of quality. Delineation, clarity, and depth tend to fluctuate a bit, especially during darker indoor and nighttime footage where shadows create various natural contrasts, but I thought that the overall quality of the visuals was still outstanding. Some darker nuances and shadow could be a tad too prominent at times, but it is awfully difficult to tell whether the effect was avoidable because the original cinematography can be very fluid at times. With Dolby Vision enabled, the dynamic range of the visuals immediately becomes superior. This is a difference that becomes very easy to appreciate when you compare the native 4K presentation and the 1080p presentation from the Blu-ray. Some darker nuances are expanded as well, though the fast moving camera makes direct comparisons a bit tricky. The lighter nuances benefit as well, so the superiority of the improved dynamic range remains consistent. Fluidity is excellent in native 4K. (In 1080p there are a few sequence where the quick camera movement isn't quite as smooth). There are no traces of problematic degraining adjustments. In native 4K the visuals look predictably tighter, which is a quality that is reflected in the strong density levels. Image stability is outstanding. All in all, the new 4K makeover and native 4K presentation of Shaft are pretty spectacular, so I think it is fair to conclude that the 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack will remain its definitive home video release. (Note: The 4K Blu-ray release is Region-Free).

BLU-RAY DISC

I think that the main discrepancy between the native 4K and 1080p presentations is in the dynamic range of the visuals. This is a difference that is also noticeable on other 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo packs, but on Shaft it is extremely easy to see and appreciate. I think that the manner in which the new 4K master was graded has a lot to do with it, but so does the original cinematography because it produces plenty of material that unintentionally exacerbates the difference. I found this very interesting because grain exposure and delineation remain very convincing on the 1080p presentation as well. In some darker areas shadow definition is a tad more convincing in native 4K as well, but I don't think that the difference is too big. The rest looks just as solid as it does in native 4K, but in certain areas you can just tell that 1080p has its limits. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Shaft 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this release: English LPCM 1.0. and English LPCM 2.0 (Stereo). Optional English SDH surtitles are provided for the main feature.

I viewed the entire film with the Mono track and thought that was excellent. It was clean, clear, sharp, and nicely balanced. The shootouts later into the film sound pretty good too, though the dynamic variety that you would get from more recent films is clearly missing. I tested the Stereo track during a few of the action scenes and while separation is obviously the main attraction, I would not say that it offers a dramatically different experience. But you should test is as well to decide which of the two tracks you prefer. I did not encounter any anomalies to report in our review.

Shaft 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

4K BLU-RAY DISC

• Bonus content - there are no bonus features on the 4K Blu-ray disc. All bonus features are placed on the two Blu-ray discs. They are detailed below.

BLU-RAY DISC ONE

• Revisiting "Shaft" - in this exclusive new program, curator Rhea L. Combs, film scholar Racquel J, Gates, filmmaker Nelson George, and music scholar Shana Redmond discuss Shaft and its historical and cultural significance. Also included are excerpts from archival interviews with director Gordon Parks. The program was produced for Criterion in 2022. In English, not subtitled. (33 min).

• Soul in Cinema: Filming "Shaft" on Location - this short program was shot on location and in the recording studio during the production of Shaft in 1971. It features Gordon Parks, Richard Roundtree, and composer Isaac Hayer, among others. In English, not subtitled. (11 min).

• Richard Roundtree - this archival interview with Richard Roundtree was filmed at the National Film Theatre in London on September 26, 2010. The bulk of the comments address the casting process and production of Shaft. In English, not subtitled. (13 min).

• Isaac Hayes - this archival episode of the French television series Point chaud, directed by Albert Raisner, features an interview with Isaac Hayes in which the composer discusses his background and career and contribution to Shaft. The episode was broadcast in 1974. In French and English, with English subtitles where necessary. (35 min).

• The Soul Sound - in this new program, music scholar Shana L. Redmond discusses some of the soul traditions that are represented in Isaac Hayes' score for Shaft. In English, not subtitled. (12 min).

• Styling Shaft - in this new program, costume designer Joseph G. Aulisi recalls his work with Gordon Parks on Shaft. In English, not subtitled. (16 min).

• Promotional Spots -
  
  1. Trailer
  2. Teaser
  3. Radio Spot

BLU-RAY DISC TWO

• Shaft's Big Score! (1971) - presented here is the sequel to Shaft's Big Score!, the sequel to the original film. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles. English LPCM 1.0./1080p (106 min).

• Listen to a Stranger: An Interview with Gordon Parks - in this archival program, Gordon Parks discusses his youth, career, and success in the film industry. In English, not subtitled. (20 min).

• A Complicated Man: The "Shaft" Legacy - this three-part program, directed by Constantine Nasr, takes a closer look at the character John Shaft and the Shaft franchise. The series were program was produced in 2019. In English, not subtitled. (45 min).
  
  1. A Bad Mother Born
  2. No Questions Asked
  3. A Legend in His Time.

• John Shaft and the Black Detective Tradition - in this new program, scholar Kinohi Nishikawa and writer Walter Mosley discuss where the black detective and the noir detective meet and the former's representation in cinema. In English, not subtitled. (26 min).

• Behind the Scenes - presented here is footage that was shot during the production of Shaft's Big Score. In English, not subtitled. (10 min).

• Trailer - presented here is a vintage trailer for Shaft's Big Score. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Leaflet - an illustrated leaflet featuring critic Amy Abugo Ongiri's essay "Power Moves" and technical credits.

Shaft 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The cultural and historic significance of Shaft is undeniable. However, I find the other two films featuring the straight-talking detective with the chic leather jacket, Shaft's Big Score! and Shaft in Africa, more entertaining because they are looser and wilder. (One of these films is included as a bonus feature on this release). Criterion's new 4K makeover of Shaft is gorgeous, so if you want the very best presentation of it in your collection, you absolutely have to pick up this 4K Blu-ray/Blu-ray combo pack. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.