Movielogr
BaadAsssss Cinema (2002)
Directed by Isaac Julien
Twitter Facebook Google+Overview
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.
Length 58 minutes
Actors
Larry Cohen | Tamara Dobson | Ron Finley | Pam Grier | Ed Guerrero | Isaac Hayes | Gloria Hendry | Bell Hooks | Roy Innis | Jesse Jackson | Samuel L. Jackson | Max Julien | Jim Kelly | Yaphet Kotto | Curtis Mayfield | Elvis Mitchell | Ron O'Neal | Gordon Parks | Richard Roundtree | Afeni Shakur | Quentin Tarantino | Melvin Van Peebles | Armond White | Fred Williamson | Jim Brown
Viewing History (seen 1 time)
| Date Viewed | Device | Format | Source | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08/31/2014 | TV | DVD | Rented | 7 stars |
| (Average) 7 stars |
Viewing Notes
Good doc on blaxploitation albeit too short as it glosses over the material. Probably not much to be gleaned for those familiar with the genre but still a nice overview and refresher of the highlights from that period when blaxploitation was blooming. Would have liked to see more depth within the segments. Just can’t cover a lot in under an hour runtime. Runtime probably has more to do with originally being produced for an IFC films program.
Fortunately there are additional interviews in the extras with the primary actors which add more color to the history. I had no idea that Fred Williamson attended Northwestern University and graduated with a Architect Engineering degree! Tarantino’s bonus interview is pretty good too. Funny that he’s featured here along with Williamson totally slamming him for capitalizing on the genre.
If nothing else it had me wanting to watch more blaxploitation films so it succeeds on that front.
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