Movie review - "Sweet Sweetback" (2004) ***1/2

A movie about movie making with a difference: Mario van Peebles tells the story of his father's efforts to make Sweey Sweetback's Badass Song, a monster hit (proportionally speaking). He went through hell to make it - losing sight in an eye, constantly battling for money, up against total apathy, a difficult shoot. On one hand its inspirational - he keeps on going, never says die - on another hand its depressing - there is so much opposition... what if they film hadn't have hit? Van Peebles is strong in the lead and the direction is lively, energetic and imaginative.