Baadasssss! (2003)

Mario Van Peebles' half-documentary/half-homage to his father Melvin Van Peebles' movie Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song (1971).

Director:

Mario Van Peebles

Writers:

Melvin Van Peebles (book), Mario Van Peebles (screenplay)

Stars:

Mario Van Peebles, Nia Long, Joy Bryant

4 wins & 10 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mario Van Peebles	...	Melvin Van Peebles
Joy Bryant	...	Priscilla
T.K. Carter	...	Bill Cosby
Terry Crews	...	Big T
Ossie Davis	...	Granddad
David Alan Grier	...	Clyde Houston
Nia Long	...	Sandra
Paul Rodriguez	...	Jose Garcia
Saul Rubinek	...	Howard 'Howie' Kaufman
Vincent Schiavelli	...	Jerry
Khleo Thomas	...	Mario
Rainn Wilson	...	Bill Harris
Karimah Westbrook	...	Ginnie
Len Lesser	...	Manny & Mort Goldberg
Sally Struthers	...	Roz

Storyline

Melvin Van Peebles stunned the world for the first time, with his debut feature, The Story of a Three Day Pass. Filmed in France and selected as the French entry in the San Francisco Film Festival, Melvin's film was awarded the top prize. Saying it was controversial would be an understatement. In 1968 for a black man to walk up to the podium and accept the top festival award for a film he had to go abroad to make--now that's how you make your mark. After his comedy, Watermelon Man, Melvin was determined to push the Hollywood boundaries with the groundbreaking, and even more controversial, Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song. Turned down by every major studio including Columbia, where he had a three-picture deal, Melvin was forced to basically self-finance. Risking everything he had Melvin delivered to the world the first Black Ghetto hero on the big screen--whether they were ready or not! More than 30 years later, history is being fashioned again in the telling of this very tale. Mario ...

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Plot Keywords:

homage | archive footage | film in film | movie producer | movie director | 

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Taglines:

A father. A son. A revolution.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for pervasive language and some strong sexuality/nudity

Did You Know?

Trivia

Mario van Peebles, who portrays his own father Melvin van Peebles in this film, also played the younger version of his father's character in the film Sweet Sweetback's Badaaasss Song.

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Goofs

While making "Sweet Sweetback", Melvin Van Peebles makes a reference to TV's "Soul Train", a show that would not be introduced into nationally syndication for another year.

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Quotes

Melvin Van Peebles: Is this something negative, Priscilla? Because if it's negative, I can't even deal with it right now. I'm a broke, pissed off nigger from Chicago, and I'm down to my last cigar.

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Crazy Credits

Dedicated to all the brothers & sisters who opened the door...

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Connections

References Shaft (1971)

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Soundtracks

I Wanna Touch Your Body
Performed by Niki J. Crawford
New Dog Old Trix Publishing, Country Girl Entertainment
Written by (c) Adam Hirsh, Niki J. Crawford
Courtesy of Treehouse Music Inc., Country Girl Entertainment

User Reviews

It is one of the best ever made to show the making of a movie.

`Rated X by an All-White Jury' may have been one of the most memorable and profound ad lines in film history.

You'd have to have lived in the ‘70's to understand the exhilaration of Blaxploitation films, which liberated African-Americans to depict themselves as powerful, successful, and dangerous. While the `Shaft' and `Superfly' detective films became the best-known emblems of the genre, Melvin Van Peebles' `Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song' started it all and beat `Love Story' in earnings that year. That ad line didn't hurt, nor did another one, `You Bled My Momma. You Bled My Poppa. But You Won't Bleed Me.'(Nor did his previous success at Columbia with `Watermelon Man.')

The artistic merit of `Song' is arguable (Roger Ebert calls it `low-rent'), but the success of son Mario's recent film about making `Song,' called `Baadasssss!' is certain. (It was originally called `How to get the Man's Foot out of your Ass' to give you an idea of how son follows father as bad boy).

Mario plays his father struggling to make `Song,' from selling his beloved motorcycle (an obvious homage to another ‘70's rogue spirit, `Easy Rider') to begging $50,000 from Bill Cosby. Along the way, the driven Melvin has his 12-year son acting in a scene where a boy loses his virginity, a plot involves a male hustler from Watts killing bad cops and escaping punishment, and Black Panthers play a critical role in gaining viewers for `Song.' Not to forget Melvin pretending to make a porn film to avoid paying union wages or beating up an editor who wants to leave. Melvin advised his son in creating this film, `Don't make me too damn nice.' He didn't. It's tough out there.

This is a film for the fledgling filmmaker, who needs to see how difficult making a film is and how many sacrifices, social and financial, are made to bring a project to the screen. It is one of the best ever made to show the making of a movie. As a producer says in the film, `Good things do not come to those who wait.' Neither Melvin nor his son waited.

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Pictures Classics

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 March 2005 (Australia)

Also Known As:

Badass

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$45,331, 30 May 2004

Gross USA:

$365,727

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$365,727

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bad Aaas Cinema, MVP Films, Showtime Networks

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1