I tend to be a little ambivalent about the docudrama format. I'm on board with straight dramas, and with pure documentaries, but the combination of the two strikes me as more difficult to engage with. It speaks well to Mario Van Peebles that this might be the movie to help change my mind, because this blends matter-of-fact reflection, clips from the finished 1971 movie, and well-produced dramatization with a smooth finesse that handily exceeds my experience and assumptions. This isn't to say that it's 100% perfect; it's mostly rather briskly paced, and often quite direct - in the first half hour especially, we're shown something on-screen just as it's being talked about, a juxtaposition that's just too On The Nose. (In the worst example, Melvin is shown mulling over ideas for the film, and we see him write "MONEY" on a notepad as the narrative shifts to securing financing.) Any such possible flaws are ultimately minor, however, and the rough edges are ironed out as the digital timer advances; just as importantly, offhand I can't even think of any other faults. Far more so than not 'Baadasssss!' is fantastically well made, and far more compelling and rewarding than I'd have ever guessed.
It's one matter to read of the production history of 'Sweet Sweetback's baadasssss song,' and gain understanding of all the hard work, determination, literal blood, sweat, and tears, and outright desperation that went into it. It's plain as day how important a place the movie had in the annals of cinema specifically, and culture and society generally, and even without considering the content on its own merits it's well deserving of viewership, recognition, and preservation. The great success of Mario's 2003 retrospective is in fully, wholeheartedly, unquestionably cementing the absolute truth of what an incredible achievement and milestone Melvin's film was. Mario shows us how very much his father gave of himself to make his picture a reality, and how driven he was, and just how much the community truly rallied to support the production and the release. The last thing I ever would have expected from a docudrama would be earnest emotional investment, but this one is so wonderfully absorbing as it tells its story that I couldn't help but be totally drawn in as readily as I would for an entirely fictional movie. It's just that good.
And this title itself is fabulously well done; it's apparent just how much passion everyone involved had for the material, and for bringing this saga of cinematic history to life. Mario's screenplay, co-written with Dennis Haggerty in adapting Melvin's memoir, is rich and flavorful with every characterization, line of dialogue, and scene as the 30-year old pieces are put together. His direction is exemplary, as is Robert Primes' cinematography, and the editing of Anthony Miller and Nneka Goforth that so capably flits across such variety of footage. One naturally assumes at least some small measure of embellishment, or at least personal interpretation of the course of events, from those whose lives are being depicted before us. Even at that, however, it really does feel like we're stepping back in time and getting a peek behind the curtain at what the process was for Melvin, from conception to filming to validation. And even still, though it's a discrete series of real-life events playing out before us bit by bit, and though it's interspersed with commentary from the people involved by way of the actors portraying them, never does the "documentary" side of the coin supersede the "drama"; very honestly, we could just as easily be watching a straightforward feature of either style as the narrative unfolds. If that's not a credit to Mario and his cast and crew, then what is?
It's a large, impressive cast assembled here, and they all give excellent performances. The production design and art direction are splendid, as are any stunts and effects that are employed. All told the film-making and storytelling are just as strong and vibrant as one would hope for in any more "conventional" feature, and that arguably makes the results all the more gratifying in light of the blending of tones. I feel like I've spent more time accentuating the subjective qualities of 'Baadasssss!' rather than its objective traits, but I think even only further highlights the unlikely triumph this represents; how often does a documentary, or even a biographical film, grab such hold of its audience? All the effort and care that Mario and his cast and crew put into their work gave us an outcome that stands just as tall as most any picture (including its subject matter), and is a testament to the accomplishments of both the 70s and the 00s - even if 'Sweet Sweetback's baadasssss song' doesn't altogether appeal to a viewer, I'm rather of the mind that 'Baadasssss!' is still worth watching and highly informative in all the important ways. Long story short, this is simply super and must be seen. My highest compliments and recommendation!
It's one matter to read of the production history of 'Sweet Sweetback's baadasssss song,' and gain understanding of all the hard work, determination, literal blood, sweat, and tears, and outright desperation that went into it. It's plain as day how important a place the movie had in the annals of cinema specifically, and culture and society generally, and even without considering the content on its own merits it's well deserving of viewership, recognition, and preservation. The great success of Mario's 2003 retrospective is in fully, wholeheartedly, unquestionably cementing the absolute truth of what an incredible achievement and milestone Melvin's film was. Mario shows us how very much his father gave of himself to make his picture a reality, and how driven he was, and just how much the community truly rallied to support the production and the release. The last thing I ever would have expected from a docudrama would be earnest emotional investment, but this one is so wonderfully absorbing as it tells its story that I couldn't help but be totally drawn in as readily as I would for an entirely fictional movie. It's just that good.
And this title itself is fabulously well done; it's apparent just how much passion everyone involved had for the material, and for bringing this saga of cinematic history to life. Mario's screenplay, co-written with Dennis Haggerty in adapting Melvin's memoir, is rich and flavorful with every characterization, line of dialogue, and scene as the 30-year old pieces are put together. His direction is exemplary, as is Robert Primes' cinematography, and the editing of Anthony Miller and Nneka Goforth that so capably flits across such variety of footage. One naturally assumes at least some small measure of embellishment, or at least personal interpretation of the course of events, from those whose lives are being depicted before us. Even at that, however, it really does feel like we're stepping back in time and getting a peek behind the curtain at what the process was for Melvin, from conception to filming to validation. And even still, though it's a discrete series of real-life events playing out before us bit by bit, and though it's interspersed with commentary from the people involved by way of the actors portraying them, never does the "documentary" side of the coin supersede the "drama"; very honestly, we could just as easily be watching a straightforward feature of either style as the narrative unfolds. If that's not a credit to Mario and his cast and crew, then what is?
It's a large, impressive cast assembled here, and they all give excellent performances. The production design and art direction are splendid, as are any stunts and effects that are employed. All told the film-making and storytelling are just as strong and vibrant as one would hope for in any more "conventional" feature, and that arguably makes the results all the more gratifying in light of the blending of tones. I feel like I've spent more time accentuating the subjective qualities of 'Baadasssss!' rather than its objective traits, but I think even only further highlights the unlikely triumph this represents; how often does a documentary, or even a biographical film, grab such hold of its audience? All the effort and care that Mario and his cast and crew put into their work gave us an outcome that stands just as tall as most any picture (including its subject matter), and is a testament to the accomplishments of both the 70s and the 00s - even if 'Sweet Sweetback's baadasssss song' doesn't altogether appeal to a viewer, I'm rather of the mind that 'Baadasssss!' is still worth watching and highly informative in all the important ways. Long story short, this is simply super and must be seen. My highest compliments and recommendation!