BAADASSSSS!

Coordinates	6°7′55″N1°13′22″N
Name	BAADASSSSS!
Caption	Theatrical release poster
Director	Mario Van Peebles
Producer	Mario Van Peebles
Writer	Mario Van Peebles Dennis Haggerty Melvin Van Peebles
Starring	Mario Van Peebles David Alan Grier Nia Long Rainn Wilson Terry Crews
Music	Tyler Bates
Cinematography	Robert Primes
Editing	Anthony Miller Nneka Goforth
Distributor	Sony Pictures Classics
Released
Runtime	108 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Gross	$365,727

BAADASSSSS! is a 2003 American 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.

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.

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.

Reception

Critical response

The film received many favorable reviews. It has a 90% rating on rottentomatoes.com

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)

2005 Black Reel Awards

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)

2005 NAACP Image Awards

Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture — Mario Van Peebles (nominated)

Outstanding Independent or Foreign Film (nominated)

References

External links

Category:2003 films Category:American drama films Category:2000s drama films Category:African American films Category:Biographical films Category:English-language films Category:Docudramas Category:Films set in the 1970s Category:Films about films Category:Novels by Melvin Van Peebles