Sugar (2009)
If you know me, you know that I love film, and I love sports (particularly baseball and football). Therefore you should know how difficult a category this was for me to choose just one film. My wife and I saw this recently on DVD, and it jumped to the top of my list (prior to this I was considering The Wrestler). If you’ve seen this film, you may think I was biased because of the Kansas City affiliation, but that isn’t the case. This film is great on multiple levels.
The writer/director team of Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck hit another homerun with this film. Previously the two collaborated on Half Nelson (amazing film!), and I cannot wait for their next film. I wish their efforts were recognized on a widespread spectrum, but unfortunately they have yet to connect with a mainstream audience.
This film is about much more than baseball. In fact, it could have been my social issue pick of the decade as well. The film also addresses PEDs (performance enhancing drugs for those non-sports fans), illegal immigration, and racism, and it does so effectively, almost seamlessly.
The story is a simple one at its core. Miguel “Sugar” Santos is a Dominican pitcher who is recruited to play in Major League Baseball’s minor league system. The film follows the highs and lows of his brief, yet riveting, career. Although fictional, this film feels as if it was written from different accounts of true Dominican baseball players (currently more than 25% of MLB players were born in Latin America). As you watch Sugar’s journey, you root for him, even though at times you wonder what is truly best for him.
I definitely plan to see this film again, and I would suggest it to sports fans and non-sports fans alike. (Note to potential viewer: there are subtitles.) If anyone reads this, and has seen this film, I would love to hear your comments.
If you know me, you know that I love film, and I love sports (particularly baseball and football). Therefore you should know how difficult a category this was for me to choose just one film. My wife and I saw this recently on DVD, and it jumped to the top of my list (prior to this I was considering The Wrestler). If you’ve seen this film, you may think I was biased because of the Kansas City affiliation, but that isn’t the case. This film is great on multiple levels.
The writer/director team of Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck hit another homerun with this film. Previously the two collaborated on Half Nelson (amazing film!), and I cannot wait for their next film. I wish their efforts were recognized on a widespread spectrum, but unfortunately they have yet to connect with a mainstream audience.
This film is about much more than baseball. In fact, it could have been my social issue pick of the decade as well. The film also addresses PEDs (performance enhancing drugs for those non-sports fans), illegal immigration, and racism, and it does so effectively, almost seamlessly.
The story is a simple one at its core. Miguel “Sugar” Santos is a Dominican pitcher who is recruited to play in Major League Baseball’s minor league system. The film follows the highs and lows of his brief, yet riveting, career. Although fictional, this film feels as if it was written from different accounts of true Dominican baseball players (currently more than 25% of MLB players were born in Latin America). As you watch Sugar’s journey, you root for him, even though at times you wonder what is truly best for him.
I definitely plan to see this film again, and I would suggest it to sports fans and non-sports fans alike. (Note to potential viewer: there are subtitles.) If anyone reads this, and has seen this film, I would love to hear your comments.
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