BAADASSSSS!
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| BAADASSSSS! | |
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 Promotional poster |
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| Directed by | Mario Van Peebles |
| Produced by | Mario Van Peebles |
| Written by | Novel: Melvin Van Peebles Screenplay: Mario Van Peebles Dennis Haggerty |
| Starring | Mario Van Peebles David Alan Grier Nia Long Rainn Wilson Terry Crews |
| Music by | Tyler Bates |
| Cinematography | Robert Primes |
| Editing by | Anthony Miller Nneka Goforth |
| Distributed by | Sony Pictures Classics |
| Release date(s) |  May 28, 2004 (limited) |
| Running time | 108 min. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Gross revenue | $365,727[1] |
BAADASSSSS! is a 2003 biopic, written, produced, directed by, and starring Mario Van Peebles. The film is based on the struggles of Van Peebles' father Melvin Van Peebles (played by Mario himself), as he attempts to film and distribute Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song, a film that was widely credited with causing Hollywood to create the blaxploitation genre in order to try to market films to the black audience which it proved existed. The film also stars Joy Bryant, Nia Long, Ossie Davis, Paul Rodriguez, Rainn Wilson, and Terry Crews.
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[edit] Synopsis
The film focuses on the social barriers and production problems which Melvin Van Peebles had to overcome, as well as the personal sacrifices he had to make. The film features such events as Melvin's film being rejected by every studio in Hollywood, and his subsequent attempts to raise funding by pretending that he was making a black pornography movie. Melvin's battles with his creditors and unionists are also shown, as is the farcical scene of him having to bail his crew out after a white police officer arrests them when he comes to the conclusion that a group of hippies and black men could not have come by their equipment legally. Van Peebles overcomes these obstacles, and finishes the film through sheer commitment and ruthlessness.
[edit] Cast
- Mario Van Peebles — Melvin Van Peebles
- Adam West — Bert
- David Alan Grier — Clyde Houston
- Glenn Plummer — Angry Brother
- John Singleton — Detroit J
- Chuck Norris — Mr. L
- Joy Bryant — Priscilla
- Karimah Westbrook — Ginnie
- Khalil Kain — Maurice
- Khleo Thomas — Mario
- Len Lesser — Manny Goldberg/Mort Goldberg
- Nia Long — Sandra
- Ossie Davis — Granddad
- Paul Rodriguez — Jose Garcia
- Penny Bae Bridges — Megan
- Rainn Wilson — Bill Harris
- Saul Rubinek — Howard "Howie" Kaufman
- Terry Crews — Big T
- T.K. Carter — Bill Cosby
- Vincent Schiavelli — Jerry
- Wesley Jonathan — Panther
Various people appear as themselves, including Melvin Van Peebles and Bill Cosby.
[edit] Reception
The film received many favorable reviews. It has a 90% rating on rottentomatoes.com
[edit] Awards and nominations
2004 Gijón International Film Festival
- Best Feature — Mario Van Peebles (nominated)
2004 Philadelphia Film Festival
- Best Feature Film — Mario Van Peebles (winner)
- Best Actor, Drama — Mario Van Peebles (nominated)
- Best Director — Mario Van Pebbles (winner)
- Best Film, Drama (nominated)
- Best Screenplay, Original or Adapted — Mario Van Peebles (winner)
- Best Supporting Actress — Joy Bryant (nominated)
2005 Independent Spirit Awards
- Best Director — Mario Van Peebles (nominated)
- Best Feature — Mario Van Peebles (nominated)
- Best Screenplay — Dennis Haggerty, Mario Van Peebles (nominated)
- Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture — Mario Van Peebles (nominated)
- Outstanding Independent or Foreign Film (nominated)
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=johnsonfamilyvacation.htm, Box Office Mojo
[edit] External links
- Official website
- BAADASSSSS! at the Internet Movie Database
- BAADASSSSS! at Allmovie
- BAADASSSSS! at Metacritic
- BAADASSSSS! at Rotten Tomatoes
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