NOW Magazine // Movies // Sugar

Story Tools
Email
Print
Republish
Save
Share

SUGAR directed and written by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, with Algenis Pérez Soto, Rayniel Rufino, Andre Holland and Michael Gaston. A Mongrel Media release. 114 minutes. Some subtitles. Opens Friday (April 17). For venues and times, see Movies.

NOW Rating	N	N	N	N	N

Reader's Rating

Movie Reviews

Sugar

A home run

Norman Wilner

Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, the makers of Half Nelson, return with another subtly observed drama about a character on the outskirts of mainstream America.

Nicknamed for his sweet tooth, Sugar (Algenis Pérez Soto, making a terrific debut) is a hotshot Dominican pitcher who graduates from a local farm team to the minor leagues, which brings him to Iowa and a shot at the Show. But while he may have a wicked curve, he barely speaks English and can’t quite integrate into the community of well-meaning Christians.

If it sounds familiar, well, Boden and Fleck are packing a wicked curve as well. They snap it on us about three-quarters of the way into the movie, turning a fairly conventional baseball story into something much more interesting and relevant.

See an interview with directors here.