Jackson Booth-Millard I found this movie in the book 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, I didn't know what to expect, but I did know the meaning of the title is that a character is cool, I hoped for something good, directed by Gordon Parks Jr., son of Shaft director Gordon Parks. Basically Priest (Ron O'Neal) is an African-American drug pusher, a cocaine dealer with a strong desire to get retire from the drug business. Before he can exit the drug world, Priest has to earn enough funds to support himself, as he feels a regular job will not satisfy his needs. Priest forms a plan to sell thirty grams of cocaine, he uses his profits to sustain himself while searching for a job, but he assumes his criminal background will hold him back from securing one. Along the way, Priest has many encounters with corrupt law enforcement, he also has his close friend Eddie (The Cool World's Carl Lee) betray him. In the end, Priest manages to escape the drug business, and walks away unharmed with his girlfriend Georgia (Sheila Frazier). Also starring Live and Let Die's Julius Harris as Scatter, Blazing Saddles' Charles McGregor as Fat Freddie, Nate Adams as Dealer and Polly Niles as Cynthia. O'Neal is indeed "superfly", i.e. flamboyant and super cool, the other black characters are slightly robotic, the white characters are crooked, and the women (black and white) are nothing more than sex objects. This movie may be a little dated now, but it was big success at the time, full of controversy with racist language, drug use and strong sex, and featuring a funky soundtrack, including the catchy "Pusher Man" by Curtis Mayfield, and the fantastic groovy title track and Grammy nominated score by Curtis Mayfield, all in all an interesting cult blaxploitation crime drama. Worth watching!

main-38 Rather than sugar coating subject matter and attempting to be politically correct, exploitation films blatantly depicted drug use and violence forcing movie goers into situations they may or may not be comfortable with viewing. Blaxploitation does this just as any other films encompassed in the genre and, unfortunately, has gotten excess criticism from both film critics, advocacy groups and even Civil Rights leaders. Films like Dolemite, Blacula and especially Superfly have been said to further stereotypes, promote violence and generally cast Black culture in a negative light. However, what many fail to see is that movies like Superfly are truly liberating to the culture the film is targeted for and further more, a commentary on social lives of Blacks at the time. Much like H. Rap Brown's, Die N!@@^# Die, Superfly is a commentary of two kinds of African American thought during the late 60s and into the late 70s.Of the many positions taken in the book, H. Rap Brown argues that there were different kinds of African American mentalities during the Black Power movement. There were those who were ready and willing to fight for change and move away from a society dominated by white ideals and racism. Although, there were also those who were complacent with their lives and unwilling to take any stance against the race who continued to force them into second class lifestyles. These mentalities are clearly stated in Superfly and it is an issue that the protagonist, Priest, struggles with throughout the film. Priest is a streetwise cocaine dealer in the midst of making a life changing decision. Rather than continuing his life dealing drugs, fighting rivals and avoiding the corrupt police he decides to make one final deal and leave the life. The Priest character's archetype is very similar to the second of the two groups mentioned in Brown's book. Often times, African Americans tired of the white controlled system turned to drugs and crime. Rather than trying to better society, they often times made it worse, killing and corrupting others. The Priest, fed up with the white dominated society, had acquired a small wealth selling drugs. Although, after some time of dealing he realizes he is putting both his own life and the lives of other in danger.It is at this point that Priest becomes some what of a black power symbol, slowly removing himself from his previous lifestyle, liberating himself from his white girlfriend; who is clearly using him for his connections in the drug world, and attempting to cast negative light on the corrupt, drug dealing police officers in power. Priest's partner, Eddie, is his stark opposite in the film. Where Priest attempts to leave his old life, Eddie wants to delve deeper into the world after Priest and Eddie are forced into doing deals for the police. Eddie sees this as an opportunity for more wealth, where Priest knows it is truly a form of modern slavery; where the police are the masters and individuals like Priest and Eddie are the slaves and Priest is not willing to tolerate this abuse.Curtis Mayfield composed and performed all of the songs featured in the film. The films main song, "Superfly", sums up the issues faced by drug dealers on a day to day basis. The lyrics, "Hard to understand ,what a hell of a man, this cat of the slum, had a mind, wasn't dumb, but a weakness was shown, 'cause his hustle was wrong, his mind was his own, but the man lived alone" illustrate Priest's lifestyle as a hustler with a strong mind. He finally recognizes the wrong doings he has committed and must pull himself up from the streets. Similarly, the song "Pusherman" tackles other inner struggles faced by Priest. Lyrics such as, "been told I can't be nothing' else, just a hustler in spite of myself, I know I can rake it, this life just don't make it" show white America's perceptions of Black Americans who have given up on society. Powerful whites, at the time, felt that there was no retribution for those who committed their lives to crime and drugs. Furthermore, a statement is made that inner city African Americans are never given the chances of whites outside the cities; also a trend in Brown's book. Black youths were often times told that there is nothing for them outside of inner city life. The expectations of those around Priest are to deal drugs, make money and risk their lives. Anyone who tries to leave the life will face scrutiny and they are actually expected to fail.Overall, Superfly black America's response to white America's perceptions about inner city life. Superfly and the Priest are black America's version of John Wayne, Clint Eastwood and Charles Bronson. The film defines ideas proposed by black power figures and does all of this while still incorporating an entertaining and engaging story. The film is also a commentary of the relationships between different groups of African American groups in violent times. It is a story about retribution and exceeding the expectations of both those in power and those around an individual. Using strong black power themes, a once corrupted drug dealer becomes a symbol of black strength and perseverance at a time when racism was at its worst

jetan I really wanted to like this movie, as it was quite the hot ticket back when I was a kid....that, plus the superb soundtrack. I can hardly describe my disappointment when I actually got to viddy the thing. Bad script, bad sound, atrocious camera work, and awful direction. It looks and feels a lot worse than some high school film productions. The script is insulting to it's audience and demonstrates what today seems like an incredible contempt for the black characters. It is true that the movie was incredibly influential for the first half of the 1970s....in a way that got brutally parodied in the film _I'm Gonna Get You, Sucka_.There are lots of good blaxploitation flicks out there. Don't waste your time with this incompetent piece of junk.

chaos-rampant Ron Earl is the Priest, independent Harlem coke dealer who is out for the big deal, one last push before he's out of there and out of the street. He also happens to be the protagonist and the one character we're called to empathize with and if that pose a problem for some, it's a directorial choice I applaud even only for its disregard of PC norm. In a genre populated for the most part by cops, private dicks and other manifestations of the law, having a drug dealer kicking ass and not in the name of some higher value, without him renouncing his past or seeing the error of his ways and becoming goodie two-shoes in a last minute, flimsy attempt to redeem the movie in the eyes of moral censors, without being heavy-handed or trashy is certainly admirable. Those that enjoy taking the moral high ground against the movie they're watching will find plenty of ground here to do so. I don't. I might oppose a movie on a political level but only when it tries to make a political statement out of it and Superfly sure as hell doesn't, at least not beyond what genre conventions might dictate (i.e. whitey is bad). The Priest however renounces the hypocrisy of "Black Nation" scumballs going around asking him for money just as much as he rails against the "redneck faggot" captain who doubletimes as the local drug lord.So if Super Fly is so good, it's because The Priest's desire comes across so transparent, strong and clear. Get off the street. A home, a vine, his woman, that's all he wants out of life now, despite (or perhaps because of) him being a societal leech feeding off people's addiction. Dealing drugs is just a job for him, a means to an end. His partner Eddie rambles on at one point early in the movie about how "it's all whitey left them to do" on which I call shenanigans; that way of thinking is never further expounded upon in relation to the Priest's goal and Eddie in the end proves himself to be a backstabbing, greedy son of a bitch. I think the best way to sketch out The Priest's character is by using Lee Marvin's words when he was asked what it felt like to have played so many bad guys in his life: "My characters weren't bad. They were just trying to get through the day". That's pretty much the wavelength Super Fly channels its protagonist through. Neither condemnation, nor approval, it's just the way it is.Super Fly is so damn good however, not just because its drug dealer protagonist comes across as genuine and sympathetic, but more so because it never allows itself to be drawn to the sillier end of blaxploitation. No 'mack daddy' sleazy pimpin' fabulousness here, the movie is constantly rooted in reality, taking itself serious before asking the viewer to do the same, but also groovy and funky as only blaxploitation flicks can be. A big part of that distinct seventies charm is due to Curtis Mayfield's stupendous score, playing over most of the film, but also the seedy back-alleys and rundown neighborhoods of then contemporary Harlem, the grime almost reaching across the screen.Grade A blaxpoitation then, but also a smokin' hot crime flick with characterization that is better than most, good pace, all-around good acting, booty-shaking' music, afros and a few punches thrown in for good measure, Super Fly is among the best of its kind. Strongly recommended.