One thing was undeniable when I observed Mario Van Peebles "Baadasssss!", his dad Melvin was most definitely a baadasssss!! The film chronicles the true events on the challenging process of developing and direction Melvin's 70's trendsetter independent hit "Sweet Sweetback's Baad Assss Song". Sonny-boy Mario not only directed "Baadasssss!" but he also starred as his father. Mario tirelessly demonstrates in the film how demanding and challenging the direction process was back in the 70's for independent cinema during its embryonic era. Mario portrays his "Papa was a Rolling Stoner" as a committed visionary auteur who was fixated on developing a racially-themed revolutionary film. Mario shows how hardcore Melvin was in incorporating a culturally-diverse crew on "Sweet Sweetback". The offspring Mario does execute an admirable performance as the elder V.P. However, the jargon he infused in "Baadasssss" was kind of simply stated, "baaaddd!" If one is going to write a film on cultural bias and race, its imperative to have a cultural diverse scribe. Unfortunately, his screenplay was too "jivish". He should have contacted the Bee Gees to include the song "Jive Talking" on the film's soundtrack. However, I will stop being a tough "baadassss" critic and will marginally recommend goodasses and badasses (preferably female goodasses) to take a look at "Baadasssss!". *** Average
Review of Baadasssss!
