With the release of the new Blaxploitation film Black Dynamite, I've been re-watching all of my favorite Blaxploitation films again to prepare myself for this newest entry in the sub-genre.So here's a top 5 of my all time bad mother... you shut your mouth.
I'm just talking about Blaxploitation!
5) Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song (1971) - One of the first of its kind, written and directed by the godfather of Blaxploitation, Melvin Van Peebles. I really can't say much about this film. It has to be seen to be believed. It's gritty, it's urban, it's real.
4) Across 110th Street (1972) - Could have been a standard cop action drama, but with the stars Yaphet Kotto and Anthony Quinn, they bring some class and racial tension that makes this film still a vital part of the genre. It also has Bobby Womack's title track which was lovingly put into Quentin Tarantino's Jackie Brown.
3) Dolemite (1975) - Rest in peace Rudy Ray Moore. This movie isn't necessarily on the list because it's good, because it isn't. It's on the list because I can't help love it when Dolemite raps and does karate like only comedian Rudy Ray Moore could. A fun film that is famous because of his comic chops.
2) Shaft (1971) - Richard Roundtree in the role that made him a superstar. It was remade poorly. And the sequels weren't too good (especially Shaft in Africa). But we don't care about those. We only love the original. He's one bad mother. And Isaac Hayes doing the music... you can't get any better than that.
1) Cotton Comes to Harlem (1970) - The first in the Blaxploitation genre and still my favorite. Directed by Ossie Davis, he shows Harlem the way it should have always been shown. Not whitewashed (bad pun) like most movies do but instead grimy and dirty and beautiful. And I still haven't seen two NYPD detectives as cool as Coffin Joe and Gravedigger. Everyone needs to watch this film.
I'm missing any of Pam Grier's classics. Hell, I'm even missing Superfly. But these are the Blaxploitation films I can't stop watching and when someone who has never seen any of these films asks me what they should watch first, these are the ones I show them.
So if you're able to, Netflix them or order them. And we should all go and see Black Dynamite so maybe there will be a new craze again.
3 comments:
Great list. But wheres Blacula? LOL
Blacula is awesome. Unlike Blackenstein, which isn't that awesome.
Just watched "Scream Blacula Scream" recently and it was terrific. William Marshall owns that role...Need to catch up on a few in this list.
And "Black Dynamite" is all kinds of greatness. Best Theatrical experience I've had in years when I saw it at Toronto After Dark - tears streaming down the face funny.
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