BAADASSSSS!

I go to see a movie at the SLB, and I get a history lesson. Awesome!

So, this movie, BAADASSSSS! (originally titled How to Get the Man's Foot Outta Your Ass), was released in 2003 and it's a movie about Melvin Van Peebles in 1971, who was trying to make his second film. This movie is a half-documentary with a clever device that takes the actors playing the characters in the movie and has them answer interview-type questions about what was happening (like in This is Spinal Tap, but these were real events). So, for example, David Alan Grier played the producer of the movie Melvin was making in 1971 (titled Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song), and David Alan Grier would also talk about the events sitting down with a black backdrop, like he was doing an interview. Very cool.

Apparently Melvin did this independent film about a black hero that was partially financially supported by Bill Cosby (who appears and comments during the credits) because no one would invest in it. Also, he jump-started Earth, Wind, and Fire's career by having them do the soundtrack for his movie. AND, some guy who was in the original movie commented that Melvin's 1971 movie was so big that movie-makers changed the lead character of Shaft (who was originally a white guy) to a black character!

I'd recommend this movie; it's very absorbing- you can easily get wrapped up in the characters and story. Even though you can tell where the movie deviates from reality for dramatic effect, it is still a very good flick. Funny!