*“That guy needs a sunlamp like Fred Astaire needs dancing lessons!”
*
In context, pretty wild for this to be made in 1970 and be as punchy as it is. Sadly still relevant today. Godfrey Cambridge and Estelle Parsons both deliver solid performances. But my favorite aspect of the film is Van Peebles trademark dissonant and layered scoring that appears in a lot of his work.

Van Peebles is my guy, man. In an alternate universe, he fulfills a three-picture deal with the studio after this film. I would love to see what the man could’ve done with a real budget like this a few more times. However, I would not wish away Sweetback or Don’t Play Us Cheap.

*“That guy needs a sunlamp like Fred Astaire needs dancing lessons!”
*
In context, pretty wild for this to be made in 1970 and be as punchy as it is. Sadly still relevant today. Godfrey Cambridge and Estelle Parsons both deliver solid performances. But my favorite aspect of the film is Van Peebles trademark dissonant and layered scoring that appears in a lot of his work.

Van Peebles is my guy, man. In an alternate universe, he fulfills a three-picture deal with the studio after this film. I would love to see what the man could’ve done with a real budget like this a few more times. However, I would not wish away Sweetback or Don’t Play Us Cheap.

Such a good execution of the concept. 56 years later, as of this viewing, and this is still relevant. I find that people are still racing the bus instead of joining on and moving together.

Such a good execution of the concept. 56 years later, as of this viewing, and this is still relevant. I find that people are still racing the bus instead of joining on and moving together.

The fucking Wallace and Gromit ass morning routine 😭😭the toaster

The fucking Wallace and Gromit ass morning routine 😭😭the toaster

Despite being very much about it's time and the civil rights movement, Watermelon man is still very pertinent today (sadly).

I think it makes a lot of intelligent decisions, by having Jeff being an Obnoxiously shitty person at the beginning of the film it emphasizes how much his whiteness provides the privilege of acceptance from his peer's. His overconfident, aggressively happy demeanour is only allowed because he is not black.
I also like that Althea is a liberal (not leftist, huge difference) In so far as she believes that black people deserve equal rights, but when that equality undermines her own way of life she completely abandons her ideals.
Even small things, Erica believing in the sexual mythology of the 'Insatiable Blackman'.
Jeff's insurance agent boss who keeps black folk subjugated with expensive premium's.

The film starts out funny then gets aggravating, but Godfrey Cambridges genius line delivery injects sardonic humour into even the most serious scenes. I think that's what won me over, the film genuinely gets better as it progresses, the more he accepts his blackness.

That's why Melvin Van Peebles initial's are M.V.P.

Despite being very much about it's time and the civil rights movement, Watermelon man is still very pertinent today (sadly).

I think it makes a lot of intelligent decisions, by having Jeff being an Obnoxiously shitty person at the beginning of the film it emphasizes how much his whiteness provides the privilege of acceptance from his peer's. His overconfident, aggressively happy demeanour is only allowed because he is not black.
I also like that Althea is a liberal (not leftist, huge difference) In so far as she believes that black people deserve equal rights, but when that equality undermines her own way of life she completely abandons her ideals.
Even small things, Erica believing in the sexual mythology of the 'Insatiable Blackman'.
Jeff's insurance agent boss who keeps black folk subjugated with expensive premium's.

The film starts out funny then gets aggravating, but Godfrey Cambridges genius line delivery injects sardonic humour into even the most serious scenes. I think that's what won me over, the film genuinely gets better as it progresses, the more he accepts his blackness.

That's why Melvin Van Peebles initial's are M.V.P.

funny and angry as fuck

funny and angry as fuck