BaadAsssss Cinema

August. 14,2002      
Rating:
6.9
Trailer Synopsis Cast

With archive film clips and interviews, this brief look at a frequently overlooked historical period of filmmaking acts as an introduction rather than a complete record. It features interviews with some of the genre's biggest stars, like Fred Williamson, Pam Grier, and Richard Roundtree. Director Melvin Van Peebles discusses the historical importance of his landmark film Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song. For a contemporary perspective, the excitable Quentin Tarantino offers his spirited commentary and author/critic bell hooks provides some scholarly social analysis.

Larry Cohen as  Self
Tamara Dobson as  Self
Pam Grier as  Self
Isaac Hayes as  Self
Gloria Hendry as  Self
Jesse Jackson as  Self
Samuel L. Jackson as  Self
Max Julien as  Self
Jim Kelly as  Self
Yaphet Kotto as  Self

Reviews

Linbeymusol
2002/08/14

Wonderful character development!

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Majorthebys
2002/08/15

Charming and brutal

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Maidexpl
2002/08/16

Entertaining from beginning to end, it maintains the spirit of the franchise while establishing it's own seal with a fun cast

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Edwin
2002/08/17

The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

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Dalbert Pringle
2002/08/18

("BaadAssss Cinema" movie-quote) - "Don't jive me, you lousy, black mother-fukker!!" For the most part - This 60-minute documentary was a pretty entertaining look back at the movie genre known as "Blaxploitation" which came into its own in the USA during the early-to-mid 1970s (and, then, like disco, it faded away into obscurity).Believe me - It was really quite a hoot looking back at the hilarious, bad-boy/bad-girl fashion trends that prevailed amongst blacks during those turbulent days in pop culture. It was all platform shoes, big "Afro" hairdos, and skintight outfits, non-stop.Through a continual parade of blaxploitation film clips, along with interviews from actors, film historians, and directors - The viewer gets a golden opportunity to enjoy a real slice of bad-ass cinema at its absolute baddest.*Final note* - I think that Quentin Tarantino (and his limp-wristed hand contortions) should be christened "The Countess of Flatulence". He really should.

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Michael_Elliott
2002/08/19

Baadasssss Cinema (2002) *** 1/2 (out of 4)Quentin Tarantino, Pam Grier, Samuel L. Jackson, Melvin Van Peebles, Fred Williamson and critic Elvis Mitchell are among the people interviewed for this entertaining documentary that takes a look at the blaxploitation movies of the 1970's. At just under a hour there's no question that this doesn't contain the greatest details but it at least has many of the stars that were in the movies as well as people like Tarantino who has kept the genre alive for new fans to discover. The best thing about this movie is that we get some very good discussions about race relations at the time and how these movies were fresh and original and especially in how these movies helped give black crowds a different type of hero.The documentary covers not only the popularity of these films but also the controversy that haunted them. Both subjects are discussed in great detail and we also get some wonderful clips from various movies. There's also a great interview with Grier who of course was one of the best actresses from this era and certainly one of the most beautiful women to ever grace the screen.

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AfroPixFlix
2002/08/20

Cold-blooded balance of entertainment and academic perspectives on the so-called blaxploitation urban films of the seventies. This is not only useful as a seminal film rundown, but also for its educative industry participant interviews. Two, of Pam Grier and Quentin Tarrantino, are respectively honest and energetic. Others, of Fred Williamson and Gloria Hendry, reek of bitter, unfounded entitlement. BAADASSSS also delves into the debates on the responsibilities, or lack thereof, this genre had to the broader socio-political context. Here, reviewer Elvis Mitchell provides especially introspective guidance. AfroPixFlix throws down 9 sho-nuff greasy cake-cutters for this Isaac Julien reel deel.

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Brian Ellis
2002/08/21

A pretty good overview of black cinema in the early '70's. The first ten minutes are taken up with trying to set the political climate of the time, which I don't think is necessary, this is about movies. Clips from all of the major films are shown: "Superfly", "Sweet Sweetback...", "Shaft", etc... Plus nothing is cut out so the viewer is allowed to see the "shocking" stuff. Of the talking heads, Fred Williamson, Larry Cohen and Pam Grier come off as the most interesting, although film historian, Armond White adds a lot. As with most documentaries, there is some head scratching, Afeni Skakur and Quentin Tarantino add nothing and could have been easily dropped. I also have to disagree with "Jackie Brown" being an homage to these films. But those are minor quibbles. Anyone interested in delving into this genre should watch this documentary.

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