9 Blaxploitation Films You Need To See
2. Superfly
Superfly is the tragic story of Youngblood Priest, a drug dealer trying to get out of the life with one last big score. Yet at every turn he is thwarted by The Man, The Black Power movement and, eventually, even his best friend Eddie.
Roundly criticised on release as perpetuating the stereotype of African American males as nothing more than pimps, pushers and gangsters, time has been a lot kinder to Superfly.
Sure, the last deal is the MacGuffin but the real story here is of two friends wanting different things. Priest is desperate to find a way to escape the life where Eddie can't see what else they can do and this thread, played to perfection by Ron O'Neal and Carl Lee, quickly becomes unravelled as we reach the climax of the film.
Added into that mix is Curtis Mayfield's superb sound track, with songs that take the opposing stand point to everything happening on screen.
They tell the true horror's of the drug game to the slickest of rhythms and ice cold guitars and make sure that you know that the only exit for a Superfly is in a box.
Almost a perfect movie, Superfly is still a perfect reflection of the time it was made. Just don't mention the remake.