Review of Sugar (2010) by Samantha R — 18 Jan 2010

I'm fairly certain it's safe to say, if you do NOT like baseball then you will not care about this film. But then again, maybe that's not fair to speculate. I can only tell you as a baseball fan what I saw the movie to be.

It IS about a ball player but it's more than that and it doesn't follow the usual rags to riches plotlines. The movie is about a young man and his surroundings, his attempts to assimilate and his desire to find his way in life. Without a love of the game and all the little facets of the game itself though, I'm not sure it would hold the audience entranced from the beginning. It's kinda slow and methodical (like the game of baseball can be) which happens to be part of the game I love. I had no trouble myself staying interested throughout the first half of the movie and cared enough about the character and therefore the outcome once the baseball aspect had ended. It does do us the favor of not having the climactic triumphant moment that so many baseball movies throw at us. Instead it's a real look at the steps taken in this young man's life, the opportunites presented him and the paths he chose. Nothing spectacular to witness, no parades and glory. But instead a real life on film. Very enjoyable from my perspective.