I like Mario Van Peebles. I am fond of his films. He, like his father, Melvin Van Peebles, has always been a bit of a pioneer of black cinema. His work is hit and miss, mind you, one of the challenges faced by black cinema in the 90s, and unto this day, is a lack of faith or desire by the major Hollywood studios to back films by black filmmakers.
Posse is a story about African American cowboys, an under-recorded part of history. Van Peebles is Jesse Lee, a soldier in the Spanish American War, who, with his squad, deserts after they are set up and betrayed by his commanding officer. They head west, following an unnamed revenge mission of Jesse's with his C.O. In hot pursuit.
Mario Van Peebles is an interesting director but he is hindered by a small budget and an uneven script. He is also afflicted by trying to tell too many stories in the story of Jesse Lee. These are all stories that need to be told but in this film they mess with the flow of the film.
Having said that, I enjoyed this film and wish that Van Peebles, and his father for that matter, were receiving more of the recognition they deserve.
