Baadasssss! (2003)
Average Rating: 7.4/10
Reviews Counted: 106
Fresh: 96 | Rotten: 10
An entertaining and intriguing tribute to a father from his son.
Average Rating: 7.4/10
Critic Reviews: 34
Fresh: 30 | Rotten: 4
An entertaining and intriguing tribute to a father from his son.
liked it
Average Rating: 3.6/5
User Ratings: 4,671
My Rating
Movie Info
In 1971, filmmaker Melvin Van Peebles released his third film, Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song, which he wrote, directed, and scored. Despite boasting an all-black cast, an X rating, a low budget, and a decidedly non-Hollywood approach to moviemaking, the ground-breaking independent film went on to gross over ten million dollars while inspiring countless other films of the genre that would come to be called blaxploitation. Mario Van Peebles, the director's son, was 13 at the time and got his
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Cast
-
Mario Van Peebles
Melvin Van Peebles -
T.K. Carter
Bill Cosby -
Joseph Culp
Attorney -
Keith Diamond
Large Brother -
Don Dowe
Officer -
Pamela Gordon
Ethel -
David Alan Grier
Clyde Houston -
Khalil Kain
Maurice -
Len Lesser
Manny Goldberg, Mort Go... -
Nia Long
Sandra -
Christopher Michael
Journalist -
Lester Miller
Nora -
Glenn Plummer
Angry Brother -
Paul Rodriguez
Jose Garcia -
Saul Rubinek
Howie -
Sally Struthers
Roz -
Adam West
Bert -
Ossie Davis
Granddad -
Robert Primes
Union Thug -
Vincent Schiavelli
Jerry -
John Singleton
Detroit J -
Penny Bae Bridges
Megan -
E.J. Callahan
Bartender -
Terry Crews
Big T -
Rainn Wilson
Bill Harris -
Nathan Wetherington
Jimmy -
Craig Jones
Trick or Treater -
Maya Van Peebles
Trick or Treater -
Robert Peters
Bob Maxwell -
Jazsmin Lewis
Working Girl -
Robin McLiam Wilson
Excited Lady -
Joy Bryant
Priscilla -
Ralph P. Martin
Tommy David -
Wesley Jonathan
Panther -
Khleo Thomas
Mario -
David Alan Smith
Brewster -
Joan M. Blair
Brenda -
Karimah Westbrook
Ginney -
Anthony P. Rodriguez
Fernando -
Kate Krystowiak
Moonbeam -
Mandela Van Peebles
Angel Muse -
Brent Schaffer
Panther -
Brian "Skinny B" Lewis
Panther -
Mickey Mello
David -
-
Alan James Morgan
Josh -
Paul Roach
Pimpy Paul -
Marley Van Peebles
Trick or Treater -
Bridget Avildsen
Trick or Treater -
Thomas Longo
Camera Assistant -
Robert Yosses
Script Supervisor -
Danny Hebert
Crew Member -
Michele Hill
Biker Girl -
Buzzxsassy
Union Thug -
Rey Diogo
Union Thug
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Baadasssss! Trailer & Photos
All Critics (114) | Top Critics (35) | Fresh (99) | Rotten (10) | DVD (15)
It's an exhausting, and exhaustingly pleasurable, entertainment.
It's a great story and well worth remembering.
Effectively raw and stylish.
Works alternately as a weird kind of biopic, a movie about moviemaking and a film about a certain era in Hollywood.
Van Peebles' stiff, needlessly flashy direction lacks the energy this material required to become truly transporting, and the relationships between the characters, particularly the father and son, is never convincing.
Not just forgiving toward the elder Van Peebles, it's filled with a spirit of comic amazement about what he accomplished.
...successfully capture a spirit largely missing in American cinema...
A loving, even moving, homage to a man whose influence still reverberates today.
Slick tribute a family affair
It is so refreshing to see a film with not one wasted second, beautiful acting, and a total understanding of its source material.
Wit, energy, heart and soul!
Informative, compelling, dramatic entertainment.
A personal film shot from the heart.
Who knew Mario had this much passion and creativity in him? A great tribute to his father's obsessive brilliance.
Audience Reviews for Baadasssss!
Recently, one of them was out of town, and left his sea monkeys on his desk "for others to take care of." After a few days of neglect (somebody clearly botched their assignment on sea monkeysitting), the little critters had died, or were just extremely sleepy. Ugly green water (full of too much food) is the suspected culprit, creating an asphyxiating environment for the hopeless sea monkeys.
However, by the magic of science (and green Jell-O and shrimp), the thirst for omnipotence over all things monkey, and the reliability of a good prank, a co-worker & I brought those sea monkeys back to life! *lightning bolt* The co-worker was very 'relieved' when he saw his "little darlings" still alive and kicking.
Behold! Vivacious, overgrown sea monkeys (and friend)!
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v293/neumdaddy/RT61.jpg[/img]
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v293/neumdaddy/RT71.jpg[/img]
The ensuing scientific analysis and morality debate is documented in this e-mail exchange (beware the work jargon!!)...
[color=Red][b] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~[/b][/color]
-----Original Message-----[/size][/font]
[font=Tahoma][size=2][b]From:[/b] Painted Forehead
[b]Sent:[/b] Tue 2/8/2005 8:03 PM
[b]To:[/b] Daddy, Neum; Poe, Edgar Alien; Shiny Wrappers, The Bringer of Things in; Caveman, Captain; Oakley's Ghost, Annie; Stupid, Professor; Vampira; The Flappy Flamingo, Flora
[b]Subject:[/b] SOS and associated manifestations (i.e. freezing shrimp in jello)
[/size][/font] [font=Arial][size=2]
So, looks like the shrimp/green jello concoction is now chilling out in the freezer. [/size][/font] [font=Arial][size=2]
SOS "Spreadsheet Overload Syndrome" is probably a contributing factor. I empathize, although I never froze stuff in jello to deal with it. A little ten minute break with some good music or a brisk walk/run works better.[/size][/font] [font=Arial][size=2]
Whomever felt compelled to do this after spending too much uninterrupted time with eyes glued to spreadsheets - I feel your angst and there is help. You don't need to freeze shrimp in jello to deal with this even if this seems like the answer. :-)[/size][/font] [font=Arial][size=2]
PLEASE get help[/size][/font] [font=Wingdings]J[/font][font=Arial][size=2]
cheers![/size][/font]
[font=Arial][size=2]
-----Original Message-----
[b]From:[/b] Captain Caveman
[b]Sent:[/b] Tuesday, February 8, 2005 10:12 PM
[b]To:[/b]Forehead, Painted; [/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]Daddy, Neum; Poe, Edgar Alien; Shiny Wrappers, The Bringer of Things in; Oakley's Ghost, Annie; Stupid, Professor; Vampira; The Flappy Flamingo, Flora[/size][/font]
[font=Arial][size=2][b]Subject:[/b] RE: SOS and associated manifestations (i.e. freezing shrimp in jello)
Actually, I was suffering from ERDOS ([/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]ERD Overload Syndrome). Although it did start making a lot more sense after me and Neum threw it in the freezer. Who would've thought?
[/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]-----Original Message-----
[b]From:[/b] Neumdaddy
[b]Sent:[/b] Wednesday, February 9, 2005 9:03 PM
[b]To:[/b] Caveman, Captain; Forehead, Painted; [/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]Poe, Edgar Alien; Shiny Wrappers, The Bringer of Things in; Oakley's Ghost, Annie; Stupid, Professor; Vampira; The Flappy Flamingo, Flora[/size][/font]
[font=Tahoma][size=2][b]Subject:[/b] RE: SOS and associated manifestations (i.e. freezing shrimp in jello)[/size][/font][font=Arial][size=2][color=#0000ff]
*applies Sherlockian deerstalker cap*[/color][/size][/font]
[i][font=Arial][size=2][color=#0000ff]Dr. Watson, er Painted Forehead & myself, having [/color][/size][/font][font=Arial][size=2][color=#0000ff]endeavored a more intense investigation into the "shrimpsicle" phenomenon in the break room freezer, have deduced that a thawed overgrown sea monkey has a .00006% chance of becoming re-animated (I'm using big words so you really can't *not* trust me). If that is so, I fear for the safety of the plastic scuba man whom is also entrapped by green Jell-O ice, because that shrimp had a pretty mean look frozen on its face. Grarr.[/color][/size][/font][/i]
[font=Arial][size=2][color=#0000ff][i]Presently, our frozen science experiement rests at Mr. Edgar Alien Poe's old workstation (an environment, we discovered, with enough of Edgar's leftover muskiness to hasten the melting process), so if you care to gawk and witness the miracle of sea monkeys in frozen green Jell-O, we encourage you to ogle your brains out. However, my esteemed colleague & I will keep you all updated on its progress, but we hold great hope for the sea monkeys' survival. Godspeed, shrimpy. Godspeed.
[/i]*puffs Sherlockian pipe*
*gets back to work*[/color][/size][/font]
[font=Tahoma][size=2]
[/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]-----Original Message-----
[b]From:[/b] Painted Forehead
[b]Sent:[/b] Wednesday, February 9, 2005 9:17 PM
[b]To:[/b] Daddy, Neum; [/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]Caveman, Captain; [/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]Poe, Edgar Alien; Shiny Wrappers, The Bringer of Things in; Oakley's Ghost, Annie; Stupid, Professor; Vampira; The Flappy Flamingo, Flora[/size][/font]
[font=Tahoma][size=2][b]Subject:[/b] RE: SOS and associated manifestations (i.e. freezing shrimp in jello)[/size][/font][font=Arial][size=2][color=#0000ff]
*takes off white labcoat and latex gloves*
I will not sleep well tonight given the .00006% chance of re-animation we discovered after hours of rigorous analysis in our lab.
However, lets just hope for the best since this is out of our control until the shrimp is 100% thawed. Remember, sometimes hope is all we have........when dealing with shrimp frozen in green jello.[/color][/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]
[/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]-----Original Message-----
[b]From:[/b] [/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]Professor Stupid[/size][/font]
[font=Tahoma][size=2][b]Sent:[/b] Wednesday, February 9, 2005 9:17 PM
[b]To:[/b] Forehead, Painted; [/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]Daddy, Neum; [/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]Caveman, Captain; [/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]Poe, Edgar Alien; Shiny Wrappers, The Bringer of Things in; Oakley's Ghost, Annie; Vampira; The Flappy Flamingo, Flora[/size][/font]
[font=Tahoma][size=2][b]Subject:[/b] RE: SOS and associated manifestations (i.e. freezing shrimp in jello)[/size][/font]
[font=Tahoma][size=2]
[/size][/font] [font=Arial][size=2][color=#0000ff]After much testing, we have considered this abnormal growth in Sea Monkeys a failure. The molecular structure could not sustain the expansion of Jello molecules as they expanded. It seems in order to be able to re-animate, we must find ways of using a liquid that is capable of absorbing and transporting nutrients but at the same time won't expand when brought to it's crystalline form.[/color][/size][/font]
[font=Arial][size=2][color=#0000ff]Let's take a moment and bow our heads in honor of the sacrifice they made in the name of science. Let this be a reminder to live life to it's fullest and take nothing for granted. In loving memory of Alpha Shrimp and Beta Shrimp. We also like to extend our gratitude to the children that too had their life cut short during an earlier accident involving an encounter with Flora the Flappy Flamingo.
[/color][/size][/font][font=Arial][size=1][color=#0000ff]
[/color][/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]-----Original Message-----
[b]From:[/b] Edgar Alien Poe
[b]Sent:[/b] Friday, February 11, 2005 10:36 AM
[b]To:[/b] Stupid, Professor; Forehead, Painted; [/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]Daddy, Neum; [/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]Caveman, Captain; [/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]Shiny Wrappers, The Bringer of Things in; Oakley's Ghost, Annie; Vampira; The Flappy Flamingo, Flora[/size][/font]
[font=Tahoma][size=2][b]Subject:[/b] RE: SOS and associated manifestations (i.e. freezing shrimp in jello)
[/size][/font][font=Trebuchet MS][size=1][color=#0000ff][size=2]After reading through the analysis and spending many sleepless nights thinking about the re-animation of the frozen shrimp I came across something. Be prepared for this... you may want to sit down....
JELL-O is made from gelatin, an animal product rendered from the hides and bones of animals. Now.. when you take gelatin and submerge a shrimp in it, the bone and hide in the gelatin could cause a serious reaction. Most people don't know about this, however I have read through the journals of Bubba (the Shrimp Master) from the historical documentary "Forrest Gump". This concoction of shrimp and jello is in fact the perfect recipe for re-animation, but this is also the recipe for pure destruction, as detailed by Bubba. Only when frozen, thawed, refrigerated, frozen, thawed, heated, frozen, thawed will the re-animation take place. However this process also causes the shrimp to mutate into a super-crustaceous teenage mutant ninja shrimp that will destroy all in its path. It will grow to the strength of 10 men... kinda like the incredible hulk... only in shrimp form... and with nun chucks.
With this new knowledge.. please heed the warnings of Bubba and myself and stop playing puppet master with this shrimp. Only bad things will come to you and yours.[/size][size=2]
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v293/neumdaddy/RT4.jpg[/img]
[/size]1938 - 1962[/color][/size][/font]
[font=Tahoma][size=2]
[/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]-----Original Message-----
[b]From:[/b] Neumdaddy
[b]Sent:[/b] Friday, [/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]February 11[/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2], 2005 10:49 AM
[b]To:[/b] Poe, Edgar Alien; Stupid, Professor; [/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]Forehead, Painted; [/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]Caveman, Captain; [/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]Shiny Wrappers, The Bringer of Things in; Oakley's Ghost, Annie; Vampira; The Flappy Flamingo, Flora[/size][/font]
[font=Tahoma][size=2][b]Subject:[/b] RE: SOS and associated manifestations (i.e. freezing shrimp in jello)
[/size][/font][font=Arial][size=1][color=#0000ff][b]
[size=2]"[/size][font=Trebuchet MS][size=2]please heed the warnings of Bubba and myself and stop playing puppet master with this shrimp."[/size][/font][/b][size=2]
No. Your soothsaying is exacerbating our already-downtrodden research team. It's enough that we have them toiling, whiplashed and coffee-stained, to concoct the potion of reanimation. In other words, "quiet, you." You've no idea the military funding behind our shrimp weapons err, "friends." (Nice save, Neum.)
PS.- You seem a decent fellow. I hate to kill you.
*pulls "Kill" lever*[/size]
...
...
...
Edgar Alien Poe
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v293/neumdaddy/RT3.jpg[/img]
(some unimportant year) - 2005[/color][/size][/font]
[font=Tahoma][size=2]
[/size][/font][color=#0000ff][size=2][font=Arial]*tear* He loved his cats.
[/font][/size][/color][font=Tahoma][size=2]
-----Original Message-----
[b]From:[/b] Professor Stupid
[b]Sent:[/b] Friday, [/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]February 11[/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2], 2005 10:57 AM
[b]To:[/b] Daddy, Neum; [/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]Poe, Edgar Alien; [/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]Forehead, Painted; [/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]Caveman, Captain; [/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]Shiny Wrappers, The Bringer of Things in; Oakley's Ghost, Annie; Vampira; The Flappy Flamingo, Flora[/size][/font]
[font=Tahoma][size=2][b]Subject:[/b] RE: SOS and associated manifestations (i.e. freezing shrimp in jello)
[/size][/font][font=Arial][size=2][color=#0000ff]
How I got my start in bio-engineering...[/color][/size][/font]
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v293/neumdaddy/RT5.bmp[/img]
-----Original Message-----[font=Tahoma][size=2][b]From:[/b] Painted Forehead
[b]Sent:[/b] Friday, [/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]February 11[/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2], 2005 11:11 AM
[b]To:[/b] Stupid, Professor; [/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]Daddy, Neum; [/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]Poe, Edgar Alien; [/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]Caveman, Captain; [/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]Shiny Wrappers, The Bringer of Things in; Oakley's Ghost, Annie; Vampira; The Flappy Flamingo, Flora[/size][/font]
[font=Tahoma][size=2][b]Subject:[/b] RE: SOS and associated manifestations (i.e. freezing shrimp in jello)
[/size][/font][font=Arial][size=2][color=#0000ff]
I hate to change the subject away from this serious matter, but Professor Stupid, your message below just gave me some ideas for possible fun committee activities.
Do you still have a pet chipmunk?[/color][/size][/font]
[font=Tahoma][size=2]
[/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]-----Original Message-----
[b]From:[/b] Professor Stupid
[b]Sent:[/b] Friday, [/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]February 11[/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2], 2005 11:15 AM
[b]To:[/b] Forehead, Painted; [/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]Daddy, Neum; [/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]Poe, Edgar Alien; [/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]Caveman, Captain; [/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]Shiny Wrappers, The Bringer of Things in; Oakley's Ghost, Annie; Vampira; The Flappy Flamingo, Flora[/size][/font]
[font=Tahoma][size=2][b]Subject:[/b] RE: SOS and associated manifestations (i.e. freezing shrimp in jello)
[/size][/font][font=Arial][size=2][color=#0000ff]Sorry... it OD'ed
[/color][/size][/font][font=Arial][size=2][color=#0000ff]
[/color][/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]-----Original Message-----
[b]From:[/b] Painted Forehead
[b]Sent:[/b] Friday, [/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]February 11[/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2], 2005 11:46 AM
[b]To:[/b] Stupid, Professor; [/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]Daddy, Neum; [/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]Poe, Edgar Alien; [/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]Caveman, Captain; [/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]Shiny Wrappers, The Bringer of Things in; Oakley's Ghost, Annie; Vampira; The Flappy Flamingo, Flora[/size][/font]
[font=Tahoma][size=2][b]Subject:[/b] RE: SOS and associated manifestations (i.e. freezing shrimp in jello)
[/size][/font][font=Arial][size=2][color=#0000ff]In honor of your poor friend I think we should make him our fun committee mascot.
Yesterday we met and came up with our committee "mission, vision statement, and core values" but we do not have a mascot.[/color][/size][/font]
[i][font=Arial][size=2][color=#0000ff][b][font=Garamond][size=3]Back to the research:[/size][/font][font=Batang]
[/font][/b][font=Garamond][size=4]I second what Mr. Neumdaddy said. Einstein is rolling in his grave as he witnesses this "questioning" and anti-intellectual attitude about this "good solid science" we are conducting.[/size][/font][/color][/size][/font][/i]
"Imagination is more important than knowledge." Albert Einstein
[font=Tahoma][size=2]
[/size][/font] [left][font=Tahoma][size=2]-----Original Message-----
[b]From:[/b] Painted Forehead
[b]Sent:[/b] Friday, [/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]February 11[/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2], 2005 12:16 PM
[b]To:[/b] [/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]Stupid, Professor; [/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]Daddy, Neum; [/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]Poe, Edgar Alien; [/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]Caveman, Captain; [/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]Shiny Wrappers, The Bringer of Things in; Oakley's Ghost, Annie; Vampira; The Flappy Flamingo, Flora[/size][/font]
[font=Tahoma][size=2][b]Subject:[/b] RE: SOS and associated manifestations (i.e. freezing shrimp in jello)
[/size][/font][/left]
[font=Arial][size=2][color=#0000ff]Some additional words from our inspiration Albert Einstein that is relevant here:[/color][/size][/font]
"Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding." Albert Einstein
[font=Arial][size=2][color=#0000ff]Anyone who "forces" us to stop this research is ostensibly acting as a barrier to understanding, and therefore a barrier to peace.[/color][/size][/font]
[font=Arial][size=2][color=#0000ff]In the interest of Peace we must procede!![/color][/size][/font]
[font=Tahoma][size=2]
-----Original Message-----
[b]From:[/b] Captain Caveman
[b]Sent:[/b] Friday, [/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]February 11[/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2], 2005 1:56 PM
[b]To:[/b] Forehead, Painted; [/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]Stupid, Professor; [/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]Daddy, Neum; [/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]Poe, Edgar Alien; [/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]Shiny Wrappers, The Bringer of Things in; Oakley's Ghost, Annie; Vampira; The Flappy Flamingo, Flora[/size][/font]
[font=Tahoma][size=2][b]Subject:[/b] RE: SOS and associated manifestations (i.e. freezing shrimp in jello)
[/size][/font][font=Arial][size=2][color=#0000ff]I opened the freezer to check the status of the sea monkeys just now, and I started feeling really dizzy. I went to the bathroom to splash some water on my face, and happened to glance in the mirror. This is what I saw:
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v293/neumdaddy/RT1.jpg[/img]
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v293/neumdaddy/RT2.jpg[/img]
I must have passed out or something, but when I regained consciousness, I was back to my old self. I think we can conclude from this that the side effects of close proximity to frozen sea monkeys are, at the very least: 1) 80's glam rock makeup, and 2) a righteous permed mullet. [/color][/size][/font][font=Arial][size=2][color=#0000ff] More research is clearly needed.[/color][/size][/font]
[font=Tahoma][size=2]
[b]From:[/b] Painted Forehead
[b]Sent:[/b] Friday, [/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]February 11[/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2], 2005 2:05 PM
[b]To:[/b] Caveman, Captain; [/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]Stupid, Professor; [/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]Daddy, Neum; [/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]Poe, Edgar Alien; [/size][/font][font=Tahoma][size=2]Shiny Wrappers, The Bringer of Things in; Oakley's Ghost, Annie; Vampira; The Flappy Flamingo, Flora[/size][/font]
[font=Tahoma][size=2][b]Subject:[/b] RE: SOS and associated manifestations (i.e. freezing shrimp in jello)
[/size][/font][/left]
[font=Arial][size=2][color=#0000ff]I am sure that was traumatic man. You should get some therapy this weekend. :-)[/color][/size][/font]
[font=Arial][size=2][color=#0000ff]To help put your mind at ease we once again invoke a timely quote by Einstein:[/color][/size][/font]
"Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one."
[font=Arial][size=2][color=#0000ff]What you saw in the mirror might be "the real you" and the shrimp has helped enlighten you to your true state of being. We are obviously making significant progress...
[/color][/size][/font][font=Arial][size=2][color=Red][b] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[/b][color=Black]What wonders may Monday bring us with this riveting scientific dilemma?? Bate your breath, readers! The answers...they are coming!
Did I mention I work in a different universe located entirely within the collective consciousness of the insane? [/color][/color][/size][/font]
Super Reviewer
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- Baadasssss! (UK)


Top Critic
With no budget, money from friends and drug dealers, and a non-union crew, Melvin created the impossible. He grabbed a hold of an idea and let nothing get in the way from accomplishing it. Melvin had a dream of making an African American the center of the film, one that took no sass from anyone and criticized the modern white Government. While big studios backed away from this project, Melvin jumped forward made Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song. There were trial and tribulations to get it done, but thanks to a very surprising source the film became a success. It was the first independent film to become the number one film in America.
Similar to the passion seen in Melvin's eyes when he is making his low-budget film, Mario portrays that exact same involvement when making this low-budget film. What I loved about this film is that there is so much raw, unbridled emotion behind Mario's eyes that you can tell that he 1) loves his Dad and 2) wanted to show America the truth behind this innovator's life. This is Mario's past, and he superbly reenacts it on screen. He carries this film, showing us the many facets of his father. He shows the angry American, the independent talent, the powerful leader, and even the emotional parent. Through all of this Mario continues to keep this film focused and interesting. We cannot keep our eyes off his portrayal of his father. I would not be surprised if he is nominated for an Oscar this year.
Finally, this is a very powerful film that speaks about a side of Hollywood that is less known. It shows how the boundaries of racism can be broken with imagination and persistence. It shows that 'all men are created equal' and that if you have a dream you should pursue it. If you are in the process of making your own film and need a movie that will inspire and motivate, this would be the film to watch. From the moment I put this film in my DVD player, I was glued. What a powerful story coupled with interesting actors (Adam West and Sally Struthers) and told with a very realistic voice.
I highly recommend this film.