Review of Baadasssss! (2004) by Alex H — 19 Mar 2011
Way back in 1971, Melvin Van Peebles wrote, produced, directed and starred in Sweet Sweetback's Baadassss Song, an X-rated exploitation flick that became a surprise hit, capturing the anger and frustration African-American audiences felt towards the white establishment.
It was a breakthrough in African-American filmmaking, and set off the famed blaxploitation era of the 1970's, movies made by black Americans for black Americans. Melvin's son, Mario Van Peebles takes his father's memoirs and crafts this wonderful bio-pic, focusing in the making of his father's seminal film.
What results is Baadasssss!, directed, co-written and starring Mario. Mario's film, like those of his father's, is unflinchingly brutal and honest, and doesn't shy away from his dad's faults any more than it does his talents.
That would include Melvin's casting of a thirteen year old Mario as a boy having his first sexual encounter in a whorehouse. The film is endlessly fascinating.
This review of Baadasssss! (2004) was written by Alex H on 19 Mar 2011.
Baadasssss! has generally received very positive reviews.
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