Around forty years ago grindhouse theaters popularized a genre of film called “exploitation” that more or less corrupted movies and television today. When I say corrupt I mean how my grandma uses it to describe the “bad” advice my grandpa gives me about money, women, drugs, etc. For filmmakers, grindhouses were a way to push the limits by showing new forms of art too controversial for mainstream theaters. Some exploitation subgenres that are fun to explore include cannibal films, carsploitation (car wrecks), eco-terror (Godzilla), spaghetti westerns, slasher, and revenge films. Over the years, critical acclaim of certain exploitation films has lead to many cult followings and contributed to the wide acceptance of over-the-top special effects, sex, and violence in the commercial film industry.
Now that your somewhat introduced to the exploitation genre, let’s talk about Superfly. I wasn’t expecting much from the blaxploitation movie that inspired Black Dynamite, but besides the occasionally sloppy cinematography, it was actually really entertaining. The protagonist, Priest, is a glorified New York City cocaine dealer so fast on the rise that he is already depending on his one last big score to retire. After Priest makes his cocaine connect with (don’t act surprised) the cops, the coke distribution montage ensues with still shots of Priest and his associates doing what drug dealers do best, dealin’ fuckin’ drugs. Apparently times are good for our hero as he earns his paycheck selling dope to all members of society including white-collar businessmen, construction workers, and average Joe black dudes. But this isn't some intense sequence of risky transactions, Superfly is all about being cool. The movie receives 10 style points for the use of Curtis Mayfield slick track, Pusherman, which was queued whenever Priest was making bank or being a serious bad ass. There's something about the funky 70’s jams which are just as characteristic of Blaxploitation movies as the clever, ghetto street slang that helps me view serious social issues as enjoyable and lighthearted occurrences. Ultimately, the film resolves itself with Priest stickin’ it to the corrupt honky police, getting away with dealing a massive amount of drugs to the community, and running off with his money. Two things to take away from Blaxploitation movies are that white people are out to get you and criminal activity is a justified way of getting out of poverty. I can relate to this movie… no, I can’t relate to this movie at all, it was just really fun to watch and I think you should check it out. Turn it into a drinking game or something; it’ll be fun, I promise.
Superfly trailer
Pusherman by Curtis Mayfield
-gonz
