Acensbart Excellent but underrated film

Infamousta brilliant actors, brilliant editing

TrueHello Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

Winifred The movie is made so realistic it has a lot of that WoW feeling at the right moments and never tooo over the top. the suspense is done so well and the emotion is felt. Very well put together with the music and all.

SnoopyStyle Mario Van Peebles portrays his father Melvin Van Peebles in the early 70s as he pushes the boundaries of black films. After making the comedy Watermelon Man, he goes on to make the black-conscious "Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song". His agent Howie Kaufman (Saul Rubinek) wants him to do another comedy. With racist white expensive unions, he uses porn producer Clyde Houston (David Alan Grier). His hippie friend Bill Harris (Rainn Wilson) tries to line up investors. He's an often-absent father to his two kids being taken care of by Granddad (Ossie Davis) and later by his girlfriend (Nia Long). His secretary Priscilla (Joy Bryant) keeps trying to get a role in the movie. After his investor gets arrested, his rag-tag group starts with self-financing and no SAG actors. With muscle from the Black Panther and private investors like Bill Crosby, he overcomes all the hurdles.This is a compelling movie on a couple of levels. This is a nice slice of a time and place. It's a thrilling underdog story and a fun insight into filmmaking of that era. The indie style of filmmaking is quite fitting for the subject matter. Then there is another level where Mario seems to be working out some issues with his dad. Seeing Mario channel his father while Khleo Thomas plays him is incredibly compelling. This is the perfect docudrama for him.

tksneffect I thought this movie really gave an insight to the black struggle in film and that Melvin and Mario are a credit to the film industry. Not only were they pioneers in the industry of indie film making, but they exuded that indelible American Spirit that you see faked out in so many other films. This film is real!!!! I also liked the persistence that came with it, this should inspire anyone with a vision or a dream to at all cost follow that dream and follow through to the very end, for the rewards are more than you can possibly imagine if you succeed in your goals. This is what great film making is all about, I implore anyone and everyone to see this movie!!!

Randy This is a cool movie about a guy trying to make a film.. yes, we've seen that before… but this one is a true story about the first guy that tries, struggling against the studios, against "The Man ", to make his movie in an independent fashion. Directed and starring an actor I mostly never paid attention to, mostly because his movies suck, Mario Van Peebles. Surprisingly hes the son of the guy who made the first movie that started the whole Blaxpoitation era and the indie filmmaker way of life, Melvin Van Peebles…. There are some very cool bits about the way black people where portrayed back then and how that interfered with Melvins desire to do his movie "Sweet, Sweetbacks Badasssss song" For starters, how could a black man be the hero of a movie??? Blaaasphemy!!! There's a montage I liked later on about how not only black people where portrayed stereotypically, but also the Latinos, the "Indians", the Chinese (and the rest of the Asian community), etc. Of course it seems that if we played Cowboys & Indians right now it would seem disgraceful and politically incorrect. But anyways, another part of the movie was how they got their whole team and how they went about to filming the movie… there even comes a point where everything is going wrong, nobody believes in Melvin, not even him, but hes a Stubborn MoFo and at the end he only gets to distribute his film in one measly theater owned by some old Jewish twins but with a little help from radio advertising and the Black Panther coalition, the movie is a huge success and it gives way to this little gem of a film I just saw… now, the only thing left to do is see "Sweet, Sweet Backs bad ass song" Random Trivia learned from the movie: Did you know that Shaft was originally intended to played by a white guy? Shut! your mouth.

Andy (film-critic) Ever wonder what it would be like to make your own film without a studio to support you and no money in the bank to fund it. Well, thankfully Mario Van Peebles' father forged ahead in the 70s with a dream and passion like no other. While Hollywood was content with making pictures that negatively depicted African Americans, Melvin Van Peebles decided to break this cultural norm and change the face of cinema. With no budget, money from friends and drug dealers, and a non-union crew, Melvin created the impossible. He grabbed a hold of an idea and let nothing get in the way from accomplishing it. Melvin had a dream of making an African American the center of the film, one that took no sass from anyone and criticized the modern white Government. While big studios backed away from this project, Melvin jumped forward made Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song. There were trial and tribulations to get it done, but thanks to a very surprising source the film became a success. It was the first independent film to become the number one film in America.Similar to the passion seen in Melvin's eyes when he is making his low-budget film, Mario portrays that exact same involvement when making this low-budget film. What I loved about this film is that there is so much raw, unbridled emotion behind Mario's eyes that you can tell that he 1) loves his Dad and 2) wanted to show America the truth behind this innovator's life. This is Mario's past, and he superbly reenacts it on screen. He carries this film, showing us the many facets of his father. He shows the angry American, the independent talent, the powerful leader, and even the emotional parent. Through all of this Mario continues to keep this film focused and interesting. We cannot keep our eyes off his portrayal of his father. I would not be surprised if he is nominated for an Oscar this year.Finally, this is a very powerful film that speaks about a side of Hollywood that is less known. It shows how the boundaries of racism can be broken with imagination and persistence. It shows that 'all men are created equal' and that if you have a dream you should pursue it. If you are in the process of making your own film and need a movie that will inspire and motivate, this would be the film to watch. From the moment I put this film in my DVD player, I was glued. What a powerful story coupled with interesting actors (Adam West and Sally Struthers) and told with a very realistic voice.I highly recommend this film. Grade: **** out of *****