I finally got to see “Sugar” this past weekend. The film is the new Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck movie, the people who brought you Half Nelson.   Boden/Fleck capture a rich display of the human element and the emotional roller coaster of a journey it is to strive for your dreams.  How far would you go?  It is a tale of the arrogance of talent combined with running from the fears of failure.  What would you do if half of your village was expecting a piece of the riches you were going to earn off your curveball? How would you react if your curveball wasn’t hot on some nights? It is not a Disney movie, so don’t go expecting all ice cream and dandilions.  Sugar gives a raw perspective of the struggles of pro athletes.  This movie is a character driven piece more than a sports movie.

The film depicts the life of Miguel “Sugar” Santos, a Dominican pitcher with hopes of making the major leagues one day.  We meet Miguel in the Dominican Republic at an elite baseball camp for top prospects looking to enter the minor league farm system of Major League ball clubs.  Eventually a Dominican born kid, leaving in poverty, gets shipped off to Jesus country in Iowa, where a very nice/warm old couple take him in while he plays for a Pro team’s minor league affiliate.  The culture shock, the language barrier, the unknown, strange people, and the distance from his family puts Sugar in a very uncomfortable position.   The most indearing part of this movie is when we see a waitress at a local diner bring the kid some eggs and explain to him the difference between Sunny side up and scrambled.

Sugar shows the not so glorious parts of being a pro athlete.  I won’t say that my “World Series or bust” attitude for the Yankees every year won’t change, but this movie definitely makes me think.  That attitude is completely rediculous. Booing your own team, players, losing etc. It’s terrible.  I really think it makes me appreciate the talent put out on the field every night.  Forget even the Yankees, let’s say the Pirates.  Maybe baseball’s worst team; the guys they put out on the field are incredible.  As Todd McCarthy, of Variety, writes “Sympathetic, genial and exceedingly wholesome, it’s a film that, once seen, will permanently and favorably influence the way viewers regard the characters’ real-life counterparts.”

This movie did upset me. In fact it kind of pissed me off.  It’s not that I didn’t like it, it’s that I didn’t agree with a lot of Sugar’s decisions.  In that, I realize this film was a very strong piece.  If right now I can sit here and type that this tale was frustrating, then I think Boden/Fleck achieved success.  They made their point and profound it was.

Christmas Caper

Algenis Perez Soto makes his acting debut in this film. He portrays the character as good as we can ask. In addition, I did notice that he literally is in every single scene. In days where actors can negotiate everything in contracts from days on set, to lines per day, to scenes in a movie so they don’t feel overworked, Soto delivers a truly passionate performance. Blood, Sweat, and tears. Just like the man he plays.

If you’re into character pieces definitely check it out.  For baseball fans, an absolutle must. But know this, buyer beware.

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