SHAFT'S BIG SCORE (1972)
Label: Warner Archive
Region Code: Region-FREE
Rating: R
Duration: 105 Minutes
Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (2.40:1)
Audio: English DTS HD-MA 2.0 with Optional English Subtitles
Director: Gordon Parks
Cast: Richard Roundtree, Moses Gunn, Drew Bundini Brown, Joseph Mascolo, Kathy Imrie, Wally Taylor, Julius W. Harris, Rosalind Miles, Joe Santos
New York City private investigator John Shaft (Richard Roundtree, Earthquake) returns for the second of three films, this time around the leather-jacketed private investigator is out to uncover why his personal friend and client, funeral home director Cal Asby (Robert Kya-Hill, Death Wish), was the blown-to-smithereens in a bombing. It's a case that plunges the bad-ass P.I. into a gritty urban thrill ride pitting the gumshoe against Asnby's crooked partner Kelly (Wally Taylor, Night of the Creeps) and mob bosses Bumpy Jonas (Moses Gunn, Amityville II: The Possession) and the jazz-loving Guy Mascola (Joseph Mascolo, Jaws 2).
The sequel amps up the action and the set pieces, surpassing the original with plenty of fun action, and Roundtree is even more bad-ass this time around. The film has a pulse-pounding final sprint to the finish line with a helicopter sniper perusing Shaft through the streets, complete with a car chase, turning into a high-speed boat chase and eventually into an industrial park where it all culminates in blood and fire.
The few drawbacks of this sequel are that the bigger story translates to less Shaft onscreen than one would hope for, and director Gordon Parks himself did the score, resulting in a less dynamic score, the presence of composer Isaac Hayes is sorely missed, though he did contribute one song to the soundtrack.
Audio/Video: Shaft's Big Score (1972) arrives on Blu-ray from the Warner Archive framed in 2.40:1 widescreen, presented in 1080p HD. It looks solid, grain inherent to the filming is evident throughout the presentation, colors look good, but they definitely have a subdued 70's patina to them. Black levels are good, though some of the darker scenes are a bit murky due to poor lighting during filming, but exteriors and well-lit interior scenes generally look strong. Audio comes by way of an English DTS-HD MA 2.0 track that is strong and well-balanced, with the score from the multi-talented director Gordon Parks having some good presence, optional ALL CAPS English subtitles are provided. The only extras on the disc is a trailer for the film.
Special Features:
- Trailer (3 min) HD
Shaft's Big Score (1972) is an entertaining sequel that amps up the action and creates a bigger, if a bit muddled, story that definitive satisfied my 70's action itch. The A/V presentation from the Warner Archive is strong throughout, making this an easy recommend for fans of the Shaft film series and/or 70's action films in general.
