Matialth Good concept, poorly executed.

Glucedee It's hard to see any effort in the film. There's no comedy to speak of, no real drama and, worst of all.

Livestonth I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible

Erica Derrick By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

si4abetterworld This is a dramatization by Mario Van Peebles, based on real events. It's about the making of the revolutionary film "Sweet Sweetback's Badass Song" (again with lots of a's and s's).That film is the only one that I ever heard Huey P. Newton recommend. Do you know it? ("Sweet Sweetback's Badass Song", I mean.) I haven't seen it, because I haven't found it in any video stores, but I would like to.Anyway, "Badass!" is also autobiographical, because Melvin Van Peebles, Mario's father, is the one who made "Sweet Sweetback's Badass Song", and Mario was also involved in making that film, as a child.

the_crock Mario Van Peebles take a bow, not only is this a brutally honest recount of what your father went through trying to make an independent movie. But you also made this movie so damn enjoyable. I wasn't sure whether I would enjoy a movie where a son admires his father, but this was more than that, this was a warts (forcing his son to have a sex scene at 13) and all movie, that is a damning account of the film industry and director who has had enough of the racism in his job and in his country.Melvin Van Peebles was a demanding, arrogant man who let nothing get in the way of his vision, which makes him not much of a person, but a hell of an inspiration and artist. His movie which I haven't seen, is shown as a fore runner to the Blaxploitation era of Hollywood, but to me Melvin Van Peebles was an inspiration to all Independent film makers who value there movie more than making money.Within hours of seeing this movie I ordered Sweetback on DVD from America, because none of the great black film makers have there movies released in Australia. I was really inspired by Melvin's I don't give a stuff attitude. There is just something special about an independent film maker, taking risks and making a movie that makes people think, shame Hollywood doesn't try and do the same.

Zach Saltz "Baadasssss!" beats out Truffaut's "Day For Night" as the greatest movie ever made about the movie business. What Mario Van Peebles does here is nothing short of extraordinary: he manages to inform the viewer about independent film-making while also incorporating an enthralling portrayal of a man obsessed by his unique version of the American dream.Like "Adaptation", the film is a dizzying array of comedy, satire, family drama, and a little bit of Freudian psychology. Van Peebles, casting himself as his father, obviously doesn't glorify the production, but tells the story of the making of "Sweetback" in a low-key and understandable manner. He doesn't make his father a hero or a villain but rather a man pushed to his limits. The backstage antics are sometimes funny, but more often are simply incredible to believe. Van Peebles' daring use of "American Splendor"-like documentary transitions are also wonderfully effective.It must be said that I have not seen "Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song" and it's hard to fathom that this film would actually be better upon after viewing it (I'm not suggesting that I won't look for the film next time I'm at the video store). Like its subject, "Baadasssss!" is a revolutionary film, and should not be limited to film buffs or fans of Mario Van Peebles; this is a movie any casual film-goer would thoroughly enjoy.

yramesh My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed the movie. We watched the movie on DVD. I watched the movie Sweet Sweetback's Badass Song three years back and did not think much about it at the time, not knowing the timing and significance of the movie. Mario Van Peebles shines in this movie wearing several hats and in each he fits perfectly. The movie is humorous and at the same time has moments of seriousness that are perfectly portrayed. The scene where young Mario (played by Khleo Thomas) asks his Dad to see a Doctor, was so well acted. Khleo was great throughout the movie but this scene was the clincher.The scene where the secretary finds Melvin and Jerry in Bed with Sandra and the other girl, and puts on a show as if she were his wife, was hilarious. We laughed so hard, we replayed it after the end of the movie.