Baadasssss! is a 2003 American biographical drama film, written, produced, directed by, and starring Mario Van Peebles. The film is based on the struggles of Van Peebles' father Melvin Van Peebles (played by Mario himself), as he attempts to film and distribute Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song, a film that was widely credited with showing Hollywood that a viable African-American audience existed, and thus influencing the creation of the Blaxploitation genre. The film also stars Joy Bryant, Nia Long, Ossie Davis, Paul Rodriguez, Rainn Wilson, and Terry Crews.
Cast
Mario Van Peebles as Melvin Van Peebles, Melvin (played by his real-life son, Mario), has recently found success with his film Watermelon Man. Although offered a three-picture contract by Columbia Pictures, Melvin is pushed by his agent, Howie Kaufman, to follow up with a comedy. Disgusted by the mainstream cinematic portrayal of African-Americans as either villains or comic relief, Melvin decides to make a film with "ghetto realism" to portray the Black community as he knows it. This is underscored in Sweetback'''s opening credits, with the line "Starring: The Black Community". Melvin as himself also appears in a cameo. Adam West as Bert, one of the first investors Melvin visits to finance his film; Melvin manages to get a meeting with this man through his friend Bill. The meeting at Bert's beach house goes well at first, with Bert commenting that Melvin's stubbornness is much like his own. Bert also marks it as an attribute that shows Melvin is different, with a vision that he will not compromise for the sake of following the status quo. Later on, though, Melvin decides not to go through with the business partnership when Bert uncovers himself and comes on to Melvin, inviting him to swim together. David Alan Grier as Clyde Houston, Melvin, at first, has no idea how he will be able to produce his film without being shut down. Upon passing an adult theatre, he comes up with the idea to disguise the movie as a black porno, thereby enabling it to pass any scrutiny that would keep it from production. Sitting in on a movie, Melvin notices the name "Clyde Houston" repeatedly appears in the credits. Seeking him out, Melvin hires Clyde, another African-American in the film industry, to be his production manager. However, during production, due to mounting stress, Melvin fires Clyde. Glenn Plummer as Angry Brother, at the casting call for the lead role of Sweetback, this character shows up and delivers the line with a major stutter. Although he is mocked by the other auditionees, Melvin embraces the man's stutter as "real" and casts him in another role. When the time comes to shoot the scene, though, the actor is shown to have taken speech classes, getting rid of his speech impediment. The situation is easily remedied, though, when Melvin takes the actor's gun from him. In his angered and flustered state, his stutter returns and the scene is shot without a problem. John Singleton as "Detroit J" Joy Bryant as Priscilla, Melvin's young, ambitious secretary. Every time she enters the room to notify Melvin or give him some important information, she turns it into an audition, promoting herself all the time to be in his movie. Although Melvin relents and gives her a role, she ends up turning down the part because her boyfriend does not approve. Although this proves to be a minor setback, it is Priscilla that recommends her boyfriend, Maurice, to Melvin to get his group Earth, Wind, & Fire, to do the music for the movie. Karimah Westbrook as Ginnie, Melvin first meets Ginnie at a party hosted by Bill, and they sleep together. Although she appears to be minor at first, Melvin later calls her to be in the movie. After Priscilla quits, Melvin is desperate to cast Ginnie in an early scene of the movie. Although she initially believes it to be an erotic piece, threatening to leave the set and throwing another obstacle in Melvin's path, Melvin manages to convince her of its true purpose, to create something that portrays Blacks with an eye to reality instead of in a continually subservient role. After being convinced, along with some money upfront, Ginnie is convinced to star. Khalil Kain as Maurice, Priscilla's Boyfriend, and a member of the (at-the-time) fledging R&B group Earth, Wind & Fire. His initial action is to restrict Priscilla from acting in the movie, but he, with his group, later create the soundtrack with Melvin. Their production is spurred on by a $500 check Melvin cuts them, even though it ends up bouncing when they try to cash it. Khleo Thomas as Mario, young Mario has a role in the film as the child Sweetback.