

Super Fly
Priest, a suave top-rung New York City drug dealer, decides that he wants to get out of his dangerous trade. Working with his reluctant friend, Eddie, Priest devises a scheme that will allow him to make a big deal and then retire. When a desperate street dealer informs the police of Priest's activities, Priest is forced into an uncomfortable arrangement with corrupt narcotics officers. Setting his plan in motion, he aims to both leave the business and stick it to the man.
Insights
Plot Summary
A Harlem drug dealer named Priest, disillusioned with the criminal underworld, plans one last big score to escape his dangerous lifestyle. He aims to steal a large shipment of cocaine from the mob and disappear. However, his plan becomes complicated by violent confrontations with both drug lords and corrupt police officers.
Critical Reception
Super Fly was a groundbreaking film, lauded for its stylish direction, social commentary on urban poverty and the drug trade, and its iconic soundtrack by Curtis Mayfield. While initially controversial for its depiction of drug dealing, it became a commercial success and is now recognized as a significant blaxploitation film that resonated with urban audiences.
What Reviewers Say
- Praised for its slick visual style and potent social commentary on the realities of urban drug culture.
- Curtis Mayfield's soundtrack is widely considered a masterpiece and integral to the film's impact.
- Some criticism for glorifying drug dealing, though often viewed as a cautionary tale.
Google audience: Audiences appreciated the film's gritty portrayal of Harlem life and its powerful soundtrack. Many found it to be a compelling and stylish crime drama that offered a unique perspective on its subject matter.
Fun Fact
Curtis Mayfield's soundtrack for 'Super Fly' was not only critically acclaimed but also a major commercial success, reaching #1 on the Billboard Soul Albums chart and #1 on the Billboard 200, spawning hit singles like 'Freddie's Dead' and 'Superfly'.
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