Baadasssss!
A Father. A Son. A Revolution.
Mario Van Peebles pays homage to his father, Melvin, by playing him in this account of how the famous director made his 1970s opus Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song, about a black man who rises up against the injustices of white cops. By all accounts, it was a difficult shoot, and the determined Melvin put everything -- including his relationship with his family -- on the line to get the film made.
Member Reviews
A documentary every film enthusiast should see - egyptnation
This is one of the best documentaries about film making and the history of film. Every film student and film enthusiast must see it. Mario Van Peebles reenacts his father's trials and tribulations in making one of the most important movies in black cinema. Along the way we learn how hard it really is to make a movie. It is very ironic to learn that Mario had to face many similar challenges in making Badassss! as his father did 30 years prior.
The audio commentary is chock-full of information.Feels a little amateurish... - SharkEyes
Baadassss! is an homage to a time in film far more interesting and controversial than when it was made. The film itself is interspersed with faux-interviews done documentary style to relay little nuggets of information. Based on those interviews (and the actual interviews with the real people involved during the credits) I have a feeling a documentary about Melvin Van Peebles would have treated the subject better.
The movie feels like a grad student's final project. The production value is a little too squeaky clean considering what's being portrayed. The story is interesting as hell, but it gets a little lost in the vision of the filmaker.Fantastic film!!! - Wizard
I don't know which film that guy that wrote the negative review was watching but I found this film to be highly entertaining and very well acted. I was impressed with the fact that Mario did not pull any punches with regards to his father. His father was portrayed as kind of a jerk - and he probably was in real life. This movie he made possessed him and nothing or no one would stand in his way.
This film had very interesting insight on how an independant film got made. I enjoyed it very much.
Member Reviews
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A documentary every film enthusiast should see - egyptnation
This is one of the best documentaries about film making and the history of film. Every film student and film enthusiast must see it. Mario Van Peebles reenacts his father's trials and tribulations in making one of the most important movies in black cinema. ...Feels a little amateurish... - SharkEyes
Baadassss! is an homage to a time in film far more interesting and controversial than when it was made. The film itself is interspersed with faux-interviews done documentary style to relay little nuggets of information. Based on those interviews (and the actual ...Fantastic film!!! - Wizard
I don't know which film that guy that wrote the negative review was watching but I found this film to be highly entertaining and very well acted. I was impressed with the fact that Mario did not pull any punches with regards to his father. His father was ...