Baadasssss! Movie Review 2003

Mario Van Peebles' fictionalized biopic of his father Melvin's efforts to get his influential indie film "Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song" (the forerunner of the blaxploitation genre) made. Melvin (Mario, who also directed, co-wrote, and produced) is plagued with money and health problems, union troubles and lack of studio interest. Well-made and highly entertaining film was adapted from Melvin's "making of" book. Mario honors his father's work without over-romaticizing the often-imperfect man behind it.

Distribution

Sony Pictures Home Video, Sony Pictures Plz., 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232, Phone: (310)244-7306, Fax: (310)280-2485, URL: http://www.spe.sony.com, Remarks: Formerly Columbia Tristar Home Entertainment

Available on DVD
Running time 108 minutes.
Originally from United States.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Biopics: Showbiz, Blaxploitation, African America, Docudrama, African America, Period Piece: 1970s, Showbiz Dramas, True Stories, Filmmaking

Screenplay

Mario Van Peebles, Dennis Haggerty

Cast

Mario Van Peebles, Nia Long, David Alan Grier, Ossie Davis, Terry Crews, Rainn Wilson, Joy Bryant, Saul Rubinek, T.K. Carter, Paul Rodriguez, Vincent Schiavelli, Khleo Thomas, Len Lesser, Sally Struthers, Adam West, Glenn Plummer, Khalil Kain, Pamela Gordon, Joseph Culp, Karimah Westbrook, Ralph Martin, Robert Peters, Wesley Jonathan, John Singleton

Cinematography

Robert Primes

Director

Mario Van Peebles

Music

Tyler Bates

Other

David Parker, Brian Slack, G. Marq Roswell, Garth Trinidad, Anthony Miller, Nneka Goforth, Alan E. Muraoka, Jorge Gonzalez Borelli, Kara Saun

Producer

Bruce Wayne Gillies, Bad Aaas Cinema, MVP Filmz, Sony Pictures Classics