Review of Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song (1971) by Ryan M — 09 Dec 2007

I have to say, even though I heard about the opening scene alot, it still shocked me. But yeah, this film, very exploitive. I could see how this film launched the blaxploitation genre and name. But the bigger films that followed this one, like Shaft and Superfly, were nowhere near as exploitive as this one.

However, this film was shot on a shoe string budget and pretending to be a porn film to avoid other costly expenses, like the unions. Knowing this, the film does a pretty damn good job of making itself unique as well as creating some interesting scenes.

While the editing and transitions seemed annoying at times, the wacked out frantic style was befitting of the film: a black guy running away from the police, who are constantly on his tail. Needless to say, panic and frantic would be two common descriptors of this situation.

Also, don't attempt to follow alot of the dialogue. Most of it is slaughtered through editing and mumbled out. Luckily, the lead actor Van Peebles doesn't talk alot, because the man is bad at acting.

Wise choice my mine.