I fully agree this is a daring movie that Melvin Van Peebles was the right man for, and delivered it in a thought provoking way without be overly demeaning or righteous in either skin tones portrayals of all the characters. For it's time, and early opportunity for Melvin, it's amazing this movie even got made and released!
But I found the pacing and some editing and sequences to be a little more than jarring. I get what Melvin was trying to convey, and appreciate his somewhat Russ Meyers way of imagery and such. But, Melvin, the editors and/or the studio could've and should've taken just a bit more time with it all. And maybe with budget and technical stuff at the time it couldn't be helped? But as an overall concise and clean story - I have to say it's 'six of one, half dozen of the other'.
Much like Putney Swope, which I also adore premise wise. But as a well assembled movie and story - it is not! Again, not to anyone's lack of talent - they did what they had to do with what they had. But just a little more time and care taken with the assembly and cuts would've made it SO much better! But also understand then, and even now these are 'hot button' movies that I'm sure many were uncomfortable to be involved from the get go. Be they black or white. And I'm sure if anyone were to take the scissors to them now, even in the most minute manner, there would be hell to pay for marring the true integrity of it all.
So it was what it was, it is what it is, and will be what it will be for decades more to come. Whether we laugh, cry, or finally learn from it all.
But I found the pacing and some editing and sequences to be a little more than jarring. I get what Melvin was trying to convey, and appreciate his somewhat Russ Meyers way of imagery and such. But, Melvin, the editors and/or the studio could've and should've taken just a bit more time with it all. And maybe with budget and technical stuff at the time it couldn't be helped? But as an overall concise and clean story - I have to say it's 'six of one, half dozen of the other'.
Much like Putney Swope, which I also adore premise wise. But as a well assembled movie and story - it is not! Again, not to anyone's lack of talent - they did what they had to do with what they had. But just a little more time and care taken with the assembly and cuts would've made it SO much better! But also understand then, and even now these are 'hot button' movies that I'm sure many were uncomfortable to be involved from the get go. Be they black or white. And I'm sure if anyone were to take the scissors to them now, even in the most minute manner, there would be hell to pay for marring the true integrity of it all.
So it was what it was, it is what it is, and will be what it will be for decades more to come. Whether we laugh, cry, or finally learn from it all.