"Sugar is not a baseball movie," implores one IMDB comment. I might argue that it most certainly is, and a great one (albeit a unique one) at that, because the comment struck me because it offers a defense for those that might quickly label the film another sports flick, which it isn't.The movie about a young Dominican baseball player will be sweetly appreciated by several groups. Anyone with a penchant for the immigrant experience in the US will be touched by its depiction of universal moments such as the first restaurant order, the US culture gulches, and the ensuing self-identity exploration. Baseball enthusiasts -- particularly purists -- will fall in love with the unglamorous minor league locker room and travel scenes, the historical anecdotes (from Roberto Clemente to Vic Power) and subtle MLB cameos (such as Jose Rijo). Cinephiles will appreciate the understated narrative, free from overly dramatic moments and the imbuing of realistic humanity in all of the characters -- none of which can be painted easily in one dimension, despite the limited screen time for anyone besides the title character.
The non-professional actor who interprets Sugar, Algenis Perez Soto, does a serviceable job in his first role, but his performance is not a really striking one -- which may not be an accident. Instead, both the movie and the title character feel like a vehicle for us to explore each of these themes through his eyes -- with much left to our own interpretation. We are left with the feeling that we witnessed a simple, not too uncommon and altogether human experience -- without any of the bells and whistles we might expect in the typical Hollywood telling of a coming of age story.
That this indie-styled movie is getting a billing in major, national theatres like Loews is thus all the more remarkable. While it won't likely be breaking any box-office records, it will get a much larger viewership than it would have if its directors weren't the writers / directors of the 2006 Oscar-nominated Half Nelson. As the summer blockbuster season approaches, I hope this marks a trend.
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