Customer Reviews

Coffy

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

After her younger sister dies (offscreen) of a drug overdose, surgical nurse and one-woman vigilante army Pam Grier sets out to punish those she believes responsible for her sister's addiction. Masquerading as a for-hire call girl, Coffy infiltrates the supposed hierarchy of the city's dope and sex trade in what starts as vengeance for her sister but turns into a crusade to rid the city of all its filth, murdering all along the way, from a small-time pimp and drug dealer (who gets his head blown off shortly after the opening credits) to her congressman lover, who turns out to have a piece of the action as well and is as corrupt as the rest of the bunch. Despite the sober description, this is not an "important" film per se; actually, it's pretty trashy, but fascinating when trying to examine who this movie is made for. I guess we're supposed to root for Coffy as she goes on her murder spree, but, as her "good cop" friend (who naturally is murdered before the end of the first reel) explains to her, the drug problem is already widespread, and who is ultimately to blame? Factor in also that our heroine is also asked to disrobe a number of times for the camera and act very promiscuously, and that instead of the "black heroes" that this genre supposedly provided to the minority audiences, we mostly get pimps, dealers, addicts, chauffeurs :)... At the end, we see Coffy, having recently snuffed out her boyfriend and dejectedly thrown her trusty shotgun on the floor in front of him, walking down a beach alone, almost certain to be picked up by the cops eventually (though the closing credits song proclaim Coffy as "a shining symbol of black pride")...Very cynical filmmaking and confusing stuff--the general message seems to be "everything and everyone around you is polluted--you can try to fight the system, but ultimately, you'll lose." How's that for uplifting the race? Strangely enough, I like this movie for all of its negatives and excesses, and it is an emblem of a time when "blaxploitation" producers and filmmakers were trying to tap into something different, however misguided; reflects a lot of backlash from the supposedly idealistic 60s. Incredible amounts of violence and gobs of gratuitous nudity in this one. A HEAVILY edited version of this was recently shown on TV with Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis, who awkwardly tried to promote this stuff as quality Black Heritage cinema. Add some sleaze to your life and rent this one.

All of Pam Grier movies in the 70s, "Coffy" is the most famous. She deserves it; watch this movie, and you see what so-called blaxploitation films are all about.

The fast-paced "Coffy" starts with a dynamite opening, in which Pam's character Coffy lures her enemy into a nasty surprise, and she blows away poor fool's head with a shotgun literally. Then, her mission of eradicating drug racket goes on until a very bitter ending. There are actions, fighting, nudity, and battling girls at a party where Pam uses most unexpected weapon -- salad! Frankly they look rather bland by today's standard, but good soundtrack by Roy Ayres is still wonderful.

Probably the most interesting thing about "Coffy" is its gorgeous 70s fashion: music, clothes, and hairstyle. even if you find its story a little stale, you never get tired of watching dresses, glasses, hats, and everything -- they are so big! And surprising thing is that the film to certain extent reflects the political condition of those days (see how a black congressman address a speech about drug issues among Afro-Americans).

"Coffy" is one of the movies that set the style of the 70s. Those who are interested in that period should watch it (and the original "Shaft") once.

Maxim magazine lists Coffy as number 7 on its list of the 50 best B-movies of all time, and there can clearly be no mistake about its status as a B-movie. Pam Grier shines in this hilarious action-packed blaxploitation flick where she first got her name as a 'black pin-up queen' during the early 70's. It is apparent after watching this film that no one remembers this for the bad-acting and dialogue, but for Pam Grier herself she is one mean sister.

This movie SCREAMS 'early 70's', from the afro wigs to the awesome outfits Coffy finds herself wearing whether it be at a gala for call girls or when she's undercover to kick some drug-dealer's nasty behind!

This brilliant film mixes comedy right in there with the action. From the campy catfight scenes when Coffy dumps a salad bowl onto a blonde girl's head, to when King George makes his first appearance and steps out of his car in his pimp outfit, complete right down to the feather in his hat!!! Just seeing Coffy smash a wine bottle on a table to defend herself against a crack head wielding a knife is riotous enough and also goes old school by putting razor blades in her hair!!! The action is fairly consistent. There are a lot of guns firing off and endless catfights.

But every time Coffy appears on screen and you just KNOW that some bad stuff is about to go down, you know that you're going to be taken for a fun ride! As I mentioned above, no one is watching this movie for an Oscar-nominated performance or even a decent soundtrack (the "Coffy" theme sung by the Gladys Knight & The Pips-wannabes halfway through the movie is timeless!!!) - You're there to be entertained... and entertained is what you'll get, guaranteed. This is one movie where you don't have to be drunk to enjoy it.

This is probably my all-time favorite film, and I think it's because everything seems to work right: the atmosphere, the music(especially the title song "Coffy" with the classic refrain "Coffy is the color/Of her skin"), the gags, the actors, Pam Grier, everything. I especially like director Hill's choice to film some of the sleeziest parts of Los Angeles in order to tell the story; we see Watts, downtown, Malibu.

I recommend this film to everybody, as it's the kind of movie you put on for people, and, no matter what their movie taste is like, they always walk away enjoying "Coffy."

Pam Grier is Coffy, an inner-city nurse whose younger sister's life has been destroyed by illicit drugs, and who is now out to avenge her by killing the drug dealers. Her method is to lure the dope pushers by offering them her sexual favors, and then blasting them with a sawed-off shotgun!

And what man can resist such a statuesque beauty? Many a dope pusher meets his Maker after making it with Coffy. Pam Grier has some outstanding nude scenes in this movie, and that alone makes this DVD worth the price, but director Jack Hill's commentary is an interesting bonus. This DVD is a must-have for every Pam Grier fan!

Though 'Coffy' wasn't exactly on American film critics' top 10 lists back in 1973, that didn't stop those who actually MATTER (average moviegoers) from flocking to the theater to see this surprisingly stylish action film which sky-rocketed Pam Grier's career and set the standard for which just about every subsequent blaxploitation film and every other female heroine would be compared. She commandeers the screen like no other actress ever has, whether she's got a double-barrelled shotgun under her arm, or sitting nude by a fireplace sipping champagne with her lover, or even when she's dropping the cheesy one-liners ("So you wanna play with knives, huh? Well, you picked the wrong player!") that this genre is known for.

This is the kind of movie anyone could like if they would just give it a shot. As the title character, Grier plays a nurse who works the night shift at a local hospital, and, haunted by her inability to keep her 11-year-old sister away from the lure of hard drugs, she has taken it upon herself to imprint her own brand of street justice on the lowlife criminals and dealers she comes across. But after killing the local pusher in the opening sequence, her thirst for revenge still isn't quenched, and when a police officer friend of her's is severely battered by some corrupt cops for not taking bribes, it sets her off on a one-woman mission to follow the trail of corruption to the very top of the mob hierarchy. And then put everyone involved on ice. It may be a sub-par set-up, but the incredible Pam Grier is so multi-faceted in the role, she makes it all so legendary. At once a sensitive, caring, nurturing friend to her people, and then an irresistable seductress who gets you right where she wants you before lining up a double-barrelled sawed-off shotgun right between your eyes with the cold intent of a vicious killer. The highlight for me comes early, in that classic opening scene, when she holds one of the local pushers at gun-point and demands that he shoot a large amount of smack into his veins ("I can't take that, it'll kill me", "Well, if it do, you're gonna fly through them pearly gates with the biggest f---in' smile St. Peter ever seen!").

While 'Coffy' isn't my favorite movie, it's one of the few movies that I'll probably never get tired of. It's the perfect film to just kick back some night and watch when you have nothing particularly important to do. Though I am a fan of 'Foxy Brown', which is considered by most to be the ultimate Pam Grier film, I've never enjoyed it as highly as I enjoyed this one. Don't analyze it or pick it apart. Just pop some popcorn, sit back, relax, bob your head to the '70s funk grooves, laugh at the sometimes-cheesy dialogue and melodramatic acting, and enjoy the show.

I continue to marvel at the DVD revolution. When I first learned about DVD several years ago, I rightly figured that it would change the way we watch movies. What I didn't figure was how much. Thanks to the acquisition of a relatively cheap player and a cheaper subscription to a rental service, I can sit in front of the television set EVERY NIGHT and watch cult, exploitation, horror, action, and other films in dozens of genres that were next to impossible to find a few years ago. And if you could find a beat up VHS copy of a low budget classic, for example, you would pay top dollar for the privilege because you had to buy, not rent, the film. Video stores out where I live long ago quit carrying the sorts of films I longed to see. Heck, the last time I considered myself lucky at the local movie store was when I found an uncut version of Joe D'Amato's "Buio Omega," under the name "Buried Alive," at a major retailer well known for not carrying such cinematic treasures. And that was probably fifteen years ago! Yep, DVD is not only here to stay but also keeps growing by leaps and bounds. No film is too outrageous for rerelease on DVD, which is where Jack Hill's 1973 blaxploitation epic "Coffy" enters the picture.

Director Hill sets the tone of his project immediately by introducing us to Coffy (Pam Grier), a nurse by day and an avenging angel by night. Sadly, a bunch of drug dealers corrupted her little sister some time ago, turning the poor lass into a mentally unstable basket case who now resides full time in a bed at the local psych ward. Coffy knows she can't go to the police for help because of the systemic racism of the man, so she decides to take matters into her own hands. Decked out in the steamiest outfit she can find, she lures a drug kingpin and his lieutenant back to his apartment in order to dispatch the two with shotgun and syringe. Two down for her sister with a bunch more to go. In the meantime, Coffy rekindles her friendship with a black cop named Carter (William Elliot) while maintaining a relationship with fast talking politico Howard Brunswick (Booker Bradshaw). Our heroine comes close to telling her cop friend all about her missions of carnage, but before she can do so a bunch of heavies beat Carter senseless for refusing to go on the take. It's not surprising at all that these same thugs are the guys Coffy will eventually go after as her plot takes her up the underworld chain of command. But in order to achieve her mission, she's going to need all of her feminine wiles. Seeking revenge is serious business--just ask Charles Bronson.

Coffy learns about the existence of drug kingpin Arturo Vitroni (Allan Arbus of M*A*S*H* fame) who associates with a powerful procurer named King George (Robert DoQui). In order to ingratiate herself to Vitroni, Coffy goes undercover as a Jamaican harridan named Mystique complete with hilarious accent and a huge Afro. When you stop laughing, feel free to continue. Grier's character puts the moves on King George, convincing him to take her on as his star employee. The other ladies in his majesty's service resent the power Mystique holds over the boss, so Coffy needs to worry about the girls plotting her downfall even as she strives to keep her true identity under wraps. Mystique manages to grab Vitroni's attention at a soiree where a full scale catfight breaks out between Coffy and the other gals, a catfight involving thrown food, slapping, a broken bottle, and razor blades carefully placed in Mystique's Afro just in case one of these sneaky girls tries to pull her hair. The movie flies by rapidly from this point forward, with Coffy discovering just how far Vitroni and his goons--including the ominous Russian thug Omar (Sid Haig)--are willing to go. Expect a few plot twists before the credits roll.

I really got a charge out of "Coffy." I've always been a big fan of Pam Grier, one of those rare actresses who just keep getting better looking with age. She's great as the relentless Coffy, a woman out to destroying her enemies anyway she can. And while her acting isn't the greatest, the script easily takes much of the blame off the performers. Hill's movie is pure exploitation, more focused on exaggerated visual theatrics like Omar tying King George to the bumper of his car and dragging him through the streets than engaging in intellectually stimulating dialogue. The movie does examine several themes--racism, crime in the black community, and drug abuse among others--but the real driving force of the film is mixing up sex and violence in ways aimed at shocking audiences and pushing boundaries. I initially found the scene between Vitroni and Coffy deeply offensive until I placed it in the context of the film as a whole. Black audiences could bellow in rage at the overt racism expressed by a few of the characters and then sit back and relax as Coffy dealt out her own brand of justice to the evildoers on behalf of the black community.

The primary extra on the DVD is a commentary with Jack Hill that is, unfortunately, rather boring to listen to. It's the film that should draw in audiences, and in that respect "Coffy" will succeed because of it's in your face attitude and over the top histrionics. I can't wait to follow this one up with the other blaxploitation classics. Although this is my first excursion into this genre, I suspect "Coffy" is an excellent place for the novice to start. Go get 'em, Coffy!

For a blaxploitation movie this one isn't too bad, thanks largely to Pam Grier. She is one tough lady in this interesting retooling of "The Bride that Wore Black," only in this case it is little sister who Coffy is seeking vengeance upon. There is plenty of violence and nudity to thrill, but the movie actually develops a story and posits the moral question whether vengeance is justified if criminals can't be brought to justice. Ultimately, Coffy enters the world of prostitution, posing as a sultry Jamaican bombshell, to get the top crime boss in the city. The movie is vintage 70's with luscious babes lounging around swimming pools, garish interiors and love-inducing fireplaces. Too bad Pam Grier had to wait such a long time to get the plum role of Jackie Brown, building her fame on Jack Hill movies.

A minor digression before I review "Coffy". I remember some 20 years ago Siskel and Ebert doing a special show on the state of black cinema. They cited Pam Grier as an example of talented black actors who were underutilized. Grier was a superstar in the niche career that she carved out in "blaxploitation" films. When she went mainstream in "Fort Apache-The Bronx" the best role they could give her was that of a strung-out murderous prostitute. It took some 15 years for a maverick director like Quentin Tarantino to recognize the qualities that Grier brought to the big screen with "Jackie Brown". As for "Coffy" itself, if you're looking for this film as a serious examination of the drug problem that had, and still does, a stranglehold on the inner city then look elsewhere. Outside of a perfunctory scene of Coffy(Grier) visiting her baby sister in re-hab there is little else in the film that would give you food for thought. "Coffy" is high camp. Outside of Coffy's cop friend most of the other characters are played over-the-top. The film also consists of a series of outrageous violent confrontations most memorable Coffy blowing the head off of a drug dealer with a double barrelled shotgun. The film also takes every possible opportunity to show off Grier's impressive attributes. Grier has a definite screen presence but she's not the polished actress here that she would later become. There's a certain stiltedness in some of her line deliveries. Bottom line, entertaining show. On a final note, Sid Haig who plays Omar the thug here would later portray a judge in "Jackie Brown".

This be de flick to see homes!! Pam is bad as Coffy and even badder when she be playing Mystique! Wanna sell dope and be a pimp daddy? Go ahead, but don't let Coffy find out, she's better with a shotgun than Grizzly Adams! Are you Coffy's man? You cheatin' on Coffy? Find out where she points that shotgun at when she pulls da trigga!

King George is King Pimp of Vegas, but not when Coffy (Mystique) gets done with him. He ends up with a hangman's noose around his neck and is dragged through Vegas until he be a bloody pulp!

Wanna fight Coffy? Wanna rape Coffy? Go ahead. That three foot afro hides more gadgets than James Bond's watch. Rape her under a bridge and she pulls a shank out of her fro and stabs yo jugglar a couple of times. Wanna get into as girlfight with her whitebread? Go ahead and grab that big fro of hers thinking you gonna do some damage. You didn't know she hid razor blades in her hair did you? You grabbed them and cut yo'self all to hell didn't you?

This be the flick to see. Coffy sweeter than a candy bar, and as Mystique..................whewwwwww boy!