I’ve been into movies since I was about 7, and ever since, I’ve been addicted. The turning point, though, came in seventh grade. Before then, I was just a casual fan of movies – catch ‘em when they were on TV, see a movie at the theater if I was bored.

Then, one rainy day, my friend Steve Scozzari and I went out and rented a movie.

The year, 1971.

The director, Gordon Parks.

The movie?

“Shaft.”

From the first strains of Isaac Hayes’ theme, I knew this was going to be a movie like none I’d ever seen before. Effortlessly cool protagonist, decked out in a funky leather jacket, kicking ass all over New York? Funk and soul soundtrack blaring over every frame? It was mind-blowing. I knew, right then, right there, sitting in that room on that rainy day, that I’d never be the same person.

The whole thing, the whole movie – it was just too cool. Ordinary movies could never compare.
John Shaft kicked ass and looked good doing it. He took no shit from anyone, be they Harlem gangsters or racist white cops. He was effortless with women, had impeccable taste and was completely untouchable. Yeah, sure, I know everyone says Steve McQueen is the King of Cool, but for me, it was John Shaft.

After that, I sought out every single blaxploitation movie I could find. “Blackula,” “Slaughter,” “Truck Turner,” “Coffy,” “Foxy Brown,” “Cotton Comes to Harlem” – the list goes on. From there, I moved on to other movies from the ’70s, from classics like “The French Connection” and “Taxi Driver,” to more obscure fair, like “Get Carter,” and from there on to my second favorite genre, the British gangster movie.
But that’s for another time.

Now, as I sit back having seen my fair share of movies, one movie above all others opened my eyes to see what could, and should be.

And, I’m sure by now, some of you are saying, “Shaft?”

All I have to say is, “You’re damn right.”