Sugar: Film Review

2009-06-20 10:16:12

Sports films are usually pretty hit and miss. Often they're pumped full of action and predictable Hollywood drama. Sugar disregards these conventions, taking a more relaxed and low key approach. It's so different from most other sports films that it actually makes you sit up and pay attention.
    
Sugar tells the story of Miguel 'Sugar' Santos and his ambition to become a professional baseball player. It's a means to getting to the US from his home in the Dominican Republic, but on arriving in America, he quickly realises that professional baseball isn't for him.
    
Charming story of a young man finding his way in the world
    
To be honest this isn't really a film about baseball, or about sport at all. Yes it features quite considerably throughout but what we're really watching is the charming story of a young man finding his way in the world. It's a kind of deep character study filmed in such a way that one could be fooled into thinking they’re watching a documentary.
    
Miguel's struggle to improve his game makes you realise just how much psychology is a part of sport. The tiniest doubt in his ability just ruins what was once a perfect pitch. It gives you a new found respect for sports people and shows you why some might become pushed towards taking performance-enhancing drugs.
    
Opportunities for Sugar to walk a tediously predictable path
    
Sugar is strange film to watch as every few minutes there's the opportunity for the story to walk a tediously predictable path. A romantic sub-plot here, a training montage there, perhaps even some advice from an old idol to quash any self-doubt. As in life though, none of this happens. Not that this detracts from the film in any way, on the contrary it adds to it and doesn't try to patronise you.
    
The film takes a relaxed pace, but doesn't waste any time making you sympathise with the main character, which is ironic as he doesn't actually say much. His struggle with speaking English and doing basic things like ordering food is often both amusing and saddening at the same time. It's this rich tapestry of emotion that makes Sugar so great.
    
Review: Alex Ward
    
Sugar is showing at Nottingham's Broadway Cinema until 25th June 2009
    

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