It's black history month, so I will spend it writing about one of my favorite genres: blaxploitation. Coffy is hands down my favorite blaxploitation movie, and not only because Pam Grier is absolutely luscious in this role. Although that may have a lot to do with it. Jack Hill is one of my favorite B-movie directors, whose work is characterized by thoughtful, interesting interpretations of B-movie themes. Case in point; Coffy is one of the first movies in this genre to have a strong, female character at the center of the film. In the role that launched her into icon status, Pam Grier plays a nurse turned bad-ass vigilante sworn to revenge herself on the people who got her little sister addicted to drugs. She uses her body, and men's assumptions about the abilities of women, not to mention her bad-ass ass-kicking skills, to seriously kick some ass. Blessed with the most beautiful body ever gifted to mankind and a smart, sexy attitude, Pam Grier was born to play this role, and every other role that followed. As a white male, Jack Hill does a pretty excellent job doing justice to a black, female character and African American issues. The overwhelming theme in the film is that of encouraging the black community to stand up for their own, and to fight the external forces which oppress the community; making a life of crime and drug use appealing. And in the end the film is about Coffy's victory over those forces, and about strength and perseverance. It's no wonder that Pam Grier became an icon in black culture. If you haven't seen it, do yourself a favor and check it out.
available for rental through netflix, and for sale on amazon
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