Samuel L. Jackson is not cool
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Disraeli — 19 years ago(November 12, 2006 06:07 PM)
The problem with this movie isn't whether Sam Jackson is cool or not, cause, in my opinion, he is. But he's only Jules cool he's playing Jules when he should be playing Shaft. So many lines and deliveries in this movie are straight out of Pulp Fiction, and that's one major place where this film falters.
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ecarle — 19 years ago(November 13, 2006 10:04 PM)
Jackson is way cool with line delivery, and confidently portrays action heroes a lot (see: "Snakes on a MFin' Plane") but the fact is that John Shaft was originally conceived as a very sexy ladies man of a private eye and played by a very young and handsome actor, Richard Roundtree. Shaft '71 was almost the "black Cary Grant" in his portrayal by Roundtree.
I'm sure Samuel L. has sex appeal to certain fans out there,but his looks are not Roundtree-pretty.
The embarrassment in this film came with Jackson's gracious willingness to let Roundtree PLAY "the original Shaft" (Jackson is "the next generation" a nephew?) even a 60-something Richard Roundtree was more handsome and smooth than Jackson. I understand the producers finally elected to cut down on Roundtree's scenes because they distracted too much from Jackson. -
Minorda920 — 19 years ago(February 04, 2007 05:22 AM)
The embarrassment in this film came with Jackson's gracious willingness to let Roundtree PLAY "the original Shaft" (Jackson is "the next generation" a nephew?) even a 60-something Richard Roundtree was more handsome and smooth than Jackson. I understand the producers finally elected to cut down on Roundtree's scenes because they distracted too much from Jackson.
Actually it is possible for an uncle to be close in age with the nephew. In fact, it's possible for the uncle to be younger than the nephew. Richard Roundtree is only 6 years older than Samuel L. Jackson. However, we don't know if the younger Shaft is the same age as Jackson. The main point is that Jackson was never really supposed to play Shaft the same way as Richard Roundtree. -
webmaster-1892 — 19 years ago(February 11, 2007 11:48 AM)
Dude, this really show's how much you know about being cool. In Hollywood, there have always been 4 actors who have always been the personification of cool.
- John Wayne
- Dennis Hopper
- Jack Nicholson
- Samuel L Jackson
To some extent also Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, but their cool has always come from their demanding pressanse and the fact that they are beep mobsters.
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hanshotfirst1138 — 18 years ago(February 20, 2008 09:43 PM)
You forgot Humphrey Bogart, he was the pinnacle of cool.
Quite correct. My fault :).
Go to suggestions@criterion.com and ask them to work on the Apu trilogy and Sholay. -
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Mikey655321 — 19 years ago(March 09, 2007 11:05 PM)
The problem with what you're saying is you're comparing Richard Roundtree's portrayal of John Shaft to Sam Jackon's portrayal of John Shaft. This is wrong because they are not playing the same John Shaft. Sam is playing the other John Shaft's nephew. Completely different characters. Sam didn't need to act the same as Richard Roundtree did.
"This may hurt a little, but it's something you'll get used to" -
jiggajamesbs — 18 years ago(April 27, 2007 11:54 AM)
samuel l is the least coolest black actor today in my opinion. he is so overated and overused the i gives blacks like me a bad name. denzel in td was cool, but denzel in inside man and deja vu was completely bad a$$. so before you go dissing on denzel, i suggest you watch some of his movies, nutzach.
a-with the big bs you dont want the rest, if i ever saw tom selleck