And indeed, when they pop up, they infuse the movie with fresh rhythm. According to an Oct 1972 LAT article, Var had reported that by Sep 1972, Super Fly was third behind The Godfather and Play It Again, Sam (see above for both) in the list of top-grossing films of 1972. And that robs Superfly of the dramatic flavor a good underworld drama needs. Which isnt to say that the film lacks for racial consciousness. American Film Institute 2021 North Western Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90027-1657. "Superfly", a song on The O.C. | When they reached out to me, I was like Tell me what you got? Priest confides in his second-in-command Eddie that he wants out of drug-dealing, and has a plan. Working with his reluctant friend, Eddie (Carl Lee), Priest . Common Sense and other associated names and logos are trademarks of Common Sense Media, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (FEIN: 41-2024986). Writing Credits Phillip Fenty . Later on in the story hes dressed in a bejeweled jacket and splashy watch where hes like Ive now got the dough and Im going to put it on my back. [5] Large companies produced many of the blaxploitation films, and Super Fly is no exception. Priest turns to Scatter (Julius Harris), an older and retired dealer who now runs a popular bar and grill, for help in getting Scatter's supplier. Their stuff isnt even carried in the U.S. but its really well made, very slim and lean. How are remakes similar to and different from the originals? Super Fly is a 1972 American blaxploitation neo-noir crime drama film directed by Gordon Parks Jr. and starring Ron O'Neal as Youngblood Priest, an African American cocaine dealer who is trying to quit the underworld drug business. When I get out what am I gunna do? Its initial success transcended the African American audience it was made for at a time when African American actors were hardly ever given lead roles in movies. Soon after, Priest and Eddie are joined by one of their low-level dealers and Freddie, who turns over the money he stole and agrees that the beef between the men is settled. Espaol (prximamente) - volver al inicio, Best Movies on Netflix, Disney+, and More, Common Sense Selections for family entertainment, Best TV Shows on Netflix, Disney+, and More, Growing Up Queer: Thoughtful Books About LGBTQ+ Youth, Check out new Common Sense Selections for games, Teachers: Find the best edtech tools for your classroom with in-depth expert reviews. [13] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale, while PostTrak reported filmgoers gave it a 68% overall positive score. Deputy Commissioner: You're working for me until I tell you to quit. It has good protection but is ahead of the control surfaces for better 3d flying (vs placed at the trailing edge). Priest demands his half of their profits, and when Eddie protests that they should keep selling, Priest asserts that Scatter was murdered by the police, and that they also are in danger. She upends the stereotype by digging into the role with relish. The new HBO film dramatizes the effect of culture and politics on the most intimate extremes of a persons lifeand how particularly distorting and damaging this collective power has been for women. Jackson does cool almost too well. [12] It was the highest-grossing blaxploitation film at the time.[13]. One day, Priest confronts Fat Freddie, one of his clients, about money that Freddie owes and threatens to force Freddies wife into prostitution unless he robs a competitor. Note that you can actually plug a . SuperFly Now Playing: Superfly: Character Piece-Scatter Summary: The movie is a remake of the 1972 blaxploitation film Super Fly. ', Messam fondly remembers taking in the stylish street energy emanating from the original 1972 Super Fly. matplotlib is a Python package used for data plotting and visualisation. | The film was directed by Director X, written by Alex Tse and stars Trevor Jackson, Jason Mitchell, Michael K. Williams, Lex Scott Davis, and Jennifer Morrison. He still owns many of the suits, shoes and fedora hats. "Scatter" Stephens Was A Cleveland Street Legend & The Real Superfly 2 years ago Scott Burnstein You are unauthorized to view this page. Yet its timeliness appears, instantly, merely symbolic, as daily news reports surpass the movies horrors faster than it can pile them on. Priest's white mistress, Cynthia, is dismayed to learn that Priest does not return her love and is planning on quitting the business. 2023. For all its tossed-off flash, Superfly goes beyond the mere intricacy of its audacious plotting to suggest the cruelty, the horror, and the deceit at the heart of the American body politic. When I pulled out a jacket that establishes Priests character, X said Is that Alexander Wang? He did a promo for them so he recognized the jacket right away.. The more Priest tries to wriggle out of the life, the more it wraps its tentacles around him. Understand the basics of the Matplotlib plotting package. So he didnt spend as much time rehearsing this, but hes a pro. There's also marijuana and cigarette smoking and drinking. Controversy continued to swirl around the Academys decision to exclude the song, with the executive committee of the music branch convening to discuss the songs ineligibility. If this wing can do ok in 10-12mph winds, I'm in. His Priest is controlled and invincible, a leonine street king with two girlfriends, one African-American (Lex Scott Davis) and one Latina (Andrea Londo); when he takes a shower with both of them, its a misty porny daydream that ends as an erotic Piet. Most drug dramas are set in New York or L.A. (at this point, a dated cinematic reflex), but what matters is forging a vivid sense of place. He has a luxurious apartment, two girlfriends, and lots of money. Although a Sep 1971 HR article listed Shores company Plaza Productions as the films intended production company, Superfly, Ltd. is listed onscreen and by copyright materials. They seem to have come straight out of other movies. Frequent profanity, including the "N" word . Using his knowledge of karate, Priest overcomes his foes, then reveals that he knows who Reardon is. The roomier scenario of this remake has the potential to yield a decent thriller, but Superfly too often prioritizes showy sequences for dubious reasons. Producer Sig Shore, who plays Deputy Commissioner Reardon, is billed in the cast credits as Mike Richards. Youngblood Priest: He is inside listening to Curtis, his sapphire ring he brings the moon with him, this cat, and his eyes glow like mellow stones at my superfly threads. By signing up, you agree to our User Agreement and Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement. Director X has a larger budget and a more expansive milieu to deal with here. Priest demands his half of their profits from Eddie. All rights reserved. Eddie: I went along with that thing of yours about getting out cause I had nothing else. Frequent profanity, including the "N" word, "motherf----r," and "f--k." Lead character uses the word "f--got." . The film was directed by Director X, written by Alex Tse and stars Trevor Jackson, Jason Mitchell, Michael K. Williams, Lex Scott Davis, and Jennifer Morrison. Taking design cues from Pharrell Williams fashion line Billionaires Boys Club, she dressed one Snow Patrol member, played by rapper Big Bank, in fluffy fur coat and fedora. Its comments on the lack of legitimate opportunity for African Americans in the inner city remains relevant -- relevant enough to bring on a remake of the movie 46 years after the original film's release. He lives with his two girlfriends, Georgia and Cynthia. Photograph by Quantrell D. Colbert / Sony Pictures Entertainment, The New Yorker Interview with David Remnick, Everything Is Cinema: The Working Life of Jean-Luc Godard. Quotes.net. [6], At the time of its release, there were many African-Americans that were displeased with the images of themselves portrayed in films such as Super Fly, Sweet Sweetbacks Baadassssss Song, and Shaft. In addition, the picture marked the first screenplay written by Philip Fenty. But one of those minions, Juju (Kaalan KR Walker), seethes with resentmenthe wants to do away with Priest and take over his business, and, without Qs permission, takes a shot at Priest outside the club, but instead hits a bystander. Theres a bit of old school dandy to Scatter but at the same time hes into martial arts, so I wanted to combine those two worlds, Messam explains. Priests white mistress, Cynthia, also sells to her friends, although she is dismayed to learn that Priest does not return her love and is planning on quitting the business. Producer Sig Shore, who plays Deputy Commissioner Reardon, is billed in the cast credits as Mike Richards. His competition is a flamboyant and much larger outfit known as the Snow Patrol, led by Q (Big Bank Black) and recognized by their all-white attire. Film Review: 'Superfly'. This page was last edited on 19 February 2023, at 20:33. Manthiahas Diawara suggested that the film's glorification of drug dealers served to subtly critique the civil rights movement's failure to provide better economic opportunities for black America and that the portrayal of a black community controlled by drug dealers serves to highlight that the initiatives of the civil rights movement were far from fully accomplished. ONeal, Shore and Parks, Jr. vehemently defended the film many times, with ONeal, in an Oct 1972 LAHExam interview, pointing out that the picture presented a true slice of Harlem life and that Priest triumphs at the end by using his wits, not just physical force. The American Film Institute is grateful to Sir Paul Getty KBE and the Sir Paul Getty KBE Estate for their dedication to the art of the moving image and their support for the AFI Catalog of Feature Films and without whose support AFI would not have been able to achieve this historical landmark in this epic scholarly endeavor. Yet all the threats and double-crosses are, in a word, standard. And he was there a week ahead of time doing the work and getting the choreography down. Although the timid Freddie abhors violence, he agrees and accompanies a member of Priests family of lower-level dealers to commit the robbery. Common Sense is the nation's leading nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of all kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in the 21st century. AFI champions progress in visual storytelling to empower storytellers, inspire story lovers and further the limitless power of the moving image. While controversial among civil rights groups for its portrayal of African Americans as negative and antiheroes, this film has stood the test of time as a classic of the "blaxploitation" genre. The first film titled Super Fly (two words instead of one) was a low-budget affair with a gritty look and a claustrophobic feel. Official Sites A 1972 Blaxploitation film directed by Gordon Parks Jr. Ron O'Neal stars as Priest, an up-and-coming successful cocaine dealer in New York City. Hoping for one last score, Priest and his partner travel to Mexico to arrange a deal. https://www.quotes.net/movies/super_fly_142696, https://www.quotes.net/movies/super_fly_quotes_142696. To stay up to date with the The Credits, subscribe to our newsletter. Among the films many critics was Junius Griffin, the then-president of the Hollywood branch of the NAACP. To revisit this article, select My Account, thenView saved stories, To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. The career criminal now finds himself trying to outmaneuver the cartel, two corrupt police officers and all the double-crossers that threaten his path to freedom.CREDITS:TM \u0026 Sony Pictures Entertainment (2018)Cast: Esai Morales, Michael Kenneth Williams, Trevor JacksonScreewriter: Alex TseDirector: Director XWatch More: Fresh New Clips: http://bit.ly/2taDWqW Classic Trailers: http://bit.ly/2qTCxHF Hot New Trailers: http://bit.ly/2qThrsF Clips From Movies Coming Soon: http://bit.ly/2FrP8VL Indie Movie Clips: http://bit.ly/2qTZMRE Deleted Scenes: http://bit.ly/2ARbLPJ Bloopers: http://bit.ly/2qYmBnc Celebrity Interviews: http://bit.ly/2D4tzw4Fuel Your Movie Obsession: Subscribe to MOVIECLIPS: http://bit.ly/2CZa490 Watch Movieclips ORIGINALS: http://bit.ly/2D3sipV Like us on FACEBOOK: http://bit.ly/2DikvkY Follow us on TWITTER: http://bit.ly/2mgkaHb Follow us on INSTAGRAM: http://bit.ly/2mg0VNUThe MOVIECLIPS channel is the largest collection of licensed movie clips on the web. The powerless Reardon then watches as Priest stalks off, giving the policemen one final glare before driving off to join Georgia. But the experience of watching these movies is very differentas different as night and day. All rights reserved. Theyre led by the roly-poly, hard-as-rusty-nails Q (Big Bank Black), the closest thing this movie has to an authentic hoodlum, but its when Priest is attacked by Qs hothead-sociopath protg, Juju (Kaalan KR Walker), that he realizes the time has come for him to take the money and run. According to a 17 Sep 1972 NYT article, the project was initially brought to Shore by first-time screenplay writer Philip Fenty after Fenty and actor Ron ONeal, a longtime friend, had worked together to develop the story. The remake runs twenty minutes longer than the originaltwenty minutes that detail Priests audacious maneuverings and their grim effects in milieux left unexplored by the earlier film. New York City--Harlem New York United States. Youngblood Priest: Man, you white around the nose as a Georgia mule. He can get there and make it happen pretty quickly. Featured image:Jason Mitchell and Trevor Jackson in SUPERFLY. On Freddies Dead, a song on the 1972 soundtrack album (its not sung in the film itself), Mayfield calls out Another junkie plan/Pushing dope for the Man, vocalizing in a tone that the critic Greil Marcus (in his great book Mystery Train) called incredulous and disgusted.. That night, Priest enjoys a romantic bath with his girl friend Georgia, although she disapproves of his drug usage. Those released in the previous decade could probably be counted on one hand. THE STORY OF THE REAL SUPERFLY CAME FROM CLEVELAND - The characters "Scatter" and "Priest" in the classic Blaxploitation flick, Superfly, were both inspired by infamous Cleveland Black crime boss and. . (screenplay by) Cast (in credits order) complete, awaiting verification Produced by Music by Curtis Mayfield Cinematography by James Signorelli . As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Hes wearing the jacket as he counts stacks of money. Priest plays good guy by handing the victims friends a wad of cash and giving them the name of the best local trauma center. But in this films 21st-century Atlanta, The Man never really manifests. Gritty, mature cop story with violence and nudity. "Future to Co-Produce Director X-Helmed 'Superfly' Remake", "What's filming in Atlanta now? The film was shot by director of photography James Signorelli, who would go on to become the film segment director for Saturday Night Live. Juju, a member of rival gang Snow Patrol, hits on Cynthia and, shooting at Priest, accidentally hits a bystander. Police rough up one of the lead characters, punching him repeatedly during an interrogation. .st1{display:none;fill:#FFFFFF;} Soon after, the drugs are sold by Priest and Eddie's "family." One of the groups formed specifically to fight the film and other similar exploitations films, according to a Sep 1972 Var article, called itself Blacks Against Narcotics. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Production began in December 2017, with Future announcing the project and confirming Director X as director. Reardon threatens Priest that he must continue selling drugs as long as he is ordered to, but when Priest replies defiantly, the policemen begin to beat him. HR news items add the following information about the production: Warner >>, James M. Cain's novel Double Indemnity was serialized in Liberty magazine. While this new development excites Eddie, Priest is still determined to get out of dealing and decides to commit to his girlfriend Georgia (Sheila Frazier). Both movies tell the story of Youngblood Priest, a coke dealer looking to make one last big score and then get out. The film is best known for its soundtrack, written and produced by soul musician Curtis Mayfield. "Super Fly Quotes." Priest explains that as a child, he thought he wanted all the trappings of success and wealth, including a lover like her, but now wants a simpler life and will be ending their relationship. We also have the scene at a strip club where Georgias wearing a micro mini, but when shes in her gallery with the mayor, there needs to be a feeling of strength there: I am the owner of this gallery and not just a club girl. With such a big score, they will be able to retire comfortably and find other employment, although Eddie protests that crime is the only option left to them by The Man. Priest is determined, however, and that night, approaches Scatter, a retired dealer who started Priest in the business. After the men leave, Priest finds his partner, Eddie, and asks him how much cash they currently have. Why do you think Hollywood often seems to prefer putting out remakes of old movies rather than releasing something new? [1] It dropped to $3.4 million in its second weekend, finishing eighth, and after being pulled from 1,064 theaters in its third week made $1.3 million, finishing 12th. That night, after picking up the kilo from Scatter, Priest and Eddie are apprehended by several policemen. It holds your attention yet leaves you with nothing. Both enraged and scared, Priest gives the information on Reardon and an envelope of cash to two mafia men and takes out a $100,000 contract on "the Man's" life. Youngblood Priest: I ain't bullshittin' you, captain. We're out here building a new nation for black people. Curtis Mayfield as Curtis Mayfield, Julius Harris as Scatter, and Al Kiggins as Policeman. * Remember Me Forgot Password Tags: Members Only Previous Feds Get First Co-Defendant In Philly Mob Case To Cop Plea, Tony Meatballs Admits Booking Bets It ended up grossing $6.9 million in its opening weekend (a five-day total of $9 million), finishing sixth at the box office. One lengthy sex-in-the-shower scene between the characters played by Mr. Jackson, Ms. Londo and Ms. Davis has a nearly risible box-checking quality. The original red and black Warner logo is replaced by the updated AOL/Warner logo used at the time of DVD release. Curtis Mayfield's soundtrack is also considered to be a classic. Priest thanks Eddie for his help and prepares to leave the country with Georgia. [4] The film was financed by two directors: Gordon Parks, who had directed the 1971 film Shaft and Sig Shore, who produced Super Fly, and played Deputy Commissioner Riordan, or "The Man" in the film. Georgia: Look maybe you should get out now now before something really bad happens. After the announcement, Warner Bros. issued an apology for its erroneous submission of the song for consideration. Priest manages to get to terms with him just before some henchmen are going to throw him from a private jet. How Do I Protect My Young Child from Cyberbullying? [10] The filmmakers maintain that it was their desire to show the negative and empty aspects of the drug subculture. Later on I found out, Big Boi has that hat, Bank has that hat, King Luther has that hat. Trevor Jackson in Superfly, a remake of the 1972 film by Gordon Parks Jr. Director X narrates a sequence from the film featuring Trevor Jackson and Michael Kenneth Williams. Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners. Sakall." Parks, Jr. would make only three more films before his death in 1979 in an airplane crash. Messam put together the wardrobe guided by Director X, who previously shot music videos for Rihanna, Drake and Kendrick Lamar before rebooting the 1972 blaxpoitation classic. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1998. Killed while trying to hunt down Priest. The brightly littered Manhattan streets, the cozy squalor of the bars and drug dens, even the cruddiness of the apartments: All fuse into a bombed-out yet strangely liberated mood that lets you know why the hero would choose the life of a cocaine kingpin, because its the only way he has to leave behind the racist prison of a jive job with chump change, day after day. The atmosphere told the story, and so did Curtis Mayfields music (Im a pusher man), and so did Ron ONeals suavely furious performance. That night, after picking up the kilo from Scatter, Priest and Eddie are apprehended by several policemen. The lieutenant reveals that he is Scatter's supplier and that they can have as much "weight," as they want, and will be extended both credit and protection. 26 Jan 2023 07:44:06 What are some other movies with unforgettable soundtracks? He also has a run-in with the Snow Patrol, a rival crew of coke dealers who dress in white. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. If you go back and watch a vintage blaxploitation film like Super Fly (1972), it has a time-capsule quality that only enhances the low-rent documentary scuzziness of its atmosphere. It was also noted that Mayfield had accused the Academy of a racial bias, although he was declining to file suit because the title song from Super Fly had been considered for the Oscar balloting. I remember Curtis Mayfields great music and the way Ron Neal carried himself. Cynthia is killed, and Priest and Georgia set fire to the mansion. In the middle of the film, a sequence of still photographs, taken by director Gordon Parks, Jr., illustrates how the thirty kilos of cocaine purchased by Youngblood Priest and Eddie is prepared, distributed and used. Filming & Production Priest discusses his plan to buy thirty kilos of high-quality cocaine with the $300,000 he and his partner Eddie have, which they can sell for $1,000,000 within four months. Priest has anticipated Eddies duplicity, however, and gives the briefcase carrying the money to a disguised Georgia in exchange for one full of rags. He died in 1986 of an overdose. Priests clothes are predominantly dark and subtle because Priest doesnt want to bring attention to himself, Messam says. The Snow Patrol members leave while Priest gives the victim money and directs them to the trauma center. He yearns to go straight, despite the fortune he makes. What does it mean, and how is Super Fly an example of the genre? A remake of the 1972 blaxploitation classic trades in its drug-dealer-as-outlaw-capitalist mythology for a glossy, slammed-together genre flick. Super Fly (1972 film) Quotes. | Variety is a part of Penske Media Corporation. The Atlanta locale of Superfly seems like the perfect high-low setting, but though Director X exploits a number of colorful locations (a hair salon that turns into a drive-by slaughter, a mansion that looks as big as Versailles), the film has very little visual texture or sense of place. He confides to a lieutenant, Eddie (Jason Mitchell), that he wants out. The parents' guide to what's in this movie. One day, Priest confronts Fat Freddie, one of his clients, about money that Freddie owes and threatens to force Freddies wife into prostitution unless he robs a competitor. Priest, so-called because the tip of the cross he wears is fasioned in the shape of a spoon, with which he frequently samples his wares, yearns to leave the life and go straight, despite the money he makes. Youngblood Priest: [while Reardon's pointing a gun at him] Kill me, Reardon! Fighting over recriminations about Freddie's death, Priest starts strangling Eddie and leaves him unconscious. According to some reviews of the film, the term super fly was slang for high-quality cocaine, while other reviews stated that it meant the pusher himself, or meant a superlative adjective that could be applied to anything. Technical Specs, See agents for this cast & crew on IMDbPro, Trailers from Hell Presents: The Movies That Made Me: Alex Tse, hair stylist: second unit (as Steven A. Battaglia), key hair stylist (as Talya R. Melvey) / key hair stylist, production supervisor: second unit / second unit, second second assistant director: second unit, assistant property master / property master: 2nd unit, assistant property master: 2nd unit (as Suzu Tran) / props buyer (as Suzu Tran), second boom operator / sound mixer: splinter unit, re-recording mixer / supervising sound editor, visual effects executive producer: Southbay, assistant visual effects editor: Outpost VFX / roto/prep artist: Outpost VFX, visual effects executive producer: VFX Legion, compositing lead: Southbay (as Aaron Gerard Chiesa), visual effects executive producer: Crafty Apes, visual effects production manager: Southbay, 3d artist: Crafty Apes (as Patrick Sullivan), visual effects production manager: VFX Legion, visual effects artist: Southbay (uncredited), visual effects editor: Outpost VFX (uncredited), digital compositor: VFX Legion (uncredited), executive vfx supervisor: southbay CCO (uncredited), stunt double: Brian F. Durkin (uncredited) / stunt driver (uncredited), precision driver/precision car coordinator (uncredited), covering stunt coordinator (uncredited) / stunts (uncredited), stunt performer/stunt driving double: Trevor Jackson (uncredited), stunt double: Lex Scott Davis (uncredited), stunt driver: camera bike rider (uncredited), stunt double: Jason Mitchell/Jacob Latimore (uncredited), stunt driver (uncredited) / stunt driving double: Trevor Jackson (uncredited), stunt double: Dominique Madison (uncredited), first assistant camera "a" camera: second unit, camera operator: "a" camera (as Kirk Gardner) / steadicam operator (as Kirk Gardner), assistant chief lighting technician / best boy electric, first assistant camera: "b" camera, second unit, additional set lighting technician (as Mark Sunderland), assistant colorist: Company 3 (uncredited), key assistant location manager: second unit, production assistant / promotional services, key set production assistant: second unit, stand in: Jared Losano / stand in: Kevin Young / stand in: Kurt Yue, production coordinator: title sequence design, production assistant / set production assistant: 2nd unit.