Runtime: 99 minutes
Directed by: Ivan Dixon
Starring: Robert Hooks, Paul Winfield, Ralph Waite, William Smithers, Paula Kelly
From: 20th Century Fox
The original Mr. T
Before those movies leave the Criterion Channel at the end of this month, I needed to watch at least one of those, so I picked one that is hard to track down otherwise, has an awesome soundtrack/score from the legendary Marvin Gaye, and has a lead only known as MR. T. He does not act like the 80's icon; instead, T is a “problem solver” who from a base of a local pool hall helps those in the Black community of the Los Angeles area. He has many licenses, including that of a private detective so he can legally carry around “a piece”. Of course, Whitey along with people in a crime syndicate set him up for the fall in a scheme to try and wipe out a competing syndicate.
Writer John D.F. Black was responsible for the script to Shaft and there definitely are similarities here: the crime rackets, a lukewarm relationship that the lead has w/ law enforcement, multiple romantic partners, a lead that is effortlessly cool... for me this was a lot of fun. It's a memorable world filled w/ craps games held all over the area, great threads, amazing 70's décor, & characters with names such as Chalky, Big, and Texas Blood.
Robert Hooks was quality as T, a character far more understated than John Shaft. Instead of black leather outfits and plenty of loud bravado, T is more careful with his words, never loses his temper and wears 300 dollar suits. Also delivering memorable performances were familiar faces such as Paul Winfield, Ralph Waite, & Julius Harris. The story is more rooted in noir stylings than the typical blaxploitation picture; if you're a genre fan don't let that dissuade you from racking up the movie and cracking it open with a cue ball.
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