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SUGAR (2009)Movie Reviews
Drama about a talented Dominican baseball player who longs to break into the American big league and earn the money needed to support his impoverished family. Cast:Algenis Perez Soto, Rayniel Rufino, Andre Holland, Michael Gaston, Jaime TirelliDirector:Ryan Fleck, Anna BodenRelease Date:April 3, 2009DVD Release:September 1, 2009From:Sony ClassicsRating:RLength:2 hr 0 min
Sugar (2009) played in key cities to outstanding reviews. • Ty Burr wrote in the Boston Globe, "...can take its place with the best baseball movies.... most focus on the grand slam, this one's about the life that surrounds the game and everything that comes after." • And Peter Travers wrote in Rolling Stone, "...ground-breaking... raw and riveting." More Reviews Below...
Leah Rozen, People: VERY GOOD(cg) "...a moving, carefully nuanced drama... has a documentary feel to it -- this really must be what it's like, you keep thinking -- even as it's scoring a dramatic home run."(See all of Leah Rozen's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 87 words, 04/02/09
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: EXCELLENT(cg) "...a sports drama of total originality, as well as the most authentic inside view of the immigrant experience the movies have given us in quite a while."(See all of Owen Gleiberman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 257 words, 04/03/09
Christy Lemire, Associated Press: OUTSTANDING(cg) "It's so fundamental and compelling, it makes you wonder why more filmmakers don't jettison the gimmickry and pursue such a powerful path."(See all of Christy Lemire's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 603 words, 04/09/09
Claudia Puig, USA Today: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...that sweetest of films: A sensitive and memorable story that surprises at every turn... an intelligent and sublimely moving film that should not be missed."(See all of Claudia Puig's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 334 words, 04/17/09
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NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (11 Reviews)
A.O. Scott, New York Times: OUTSTANDING "It is both sad and hopeful, but the film's sorrow and its optimism arise from its rarest and most thrilling quality, which is its deep and humane honesty."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 983 words, 04/03/09
Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck ('Half Nelson') craft a thoughtful drama about guys who have a moment in the big time before returning home to an odd reflected glory."(See all of Joe Neumaier's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 120 words, 04/03/09
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: OUTSTANDING(cg) "I thought I could guess the story. But I couldn't. There isn't a single scene in this film where it really matters which side wins a game, and it doesn't end with a no-hitter."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 794 words, 04/16/09
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: OUTSTANDING "...a young man's journey of self-discovery, about how Miguel 'Sugar' Santos makes his way in the world and tries to figure out, as we all do, who he is meant to be."(See all of Kenneth Turan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 712 words, 04/03/09
V.A. Musetto, New York Post: MODERATE(cg) "Soto was a baseball player in real life, which helps to explain his sensitive, understated performance as Sugar. But he's let down by a manipulative script..."(See all of V.A. Musetto's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 173 words, 04/03/09
John Anderson, New York Newsday: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...not just engagingly human but intellectually honest... accomplishes the seemingly impossible task of putting a fresh face on the fractured American Dream."(See all of John Anderson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 231 words, 04/17/09
Rick Groen, Toronto Globe & Mail: VERY GOOD(cg) "...rubs away all the melodramatic varnish, leaving only the natural grain of life's small victories and lingering disappointments."(See all of Rick Groen's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 759 words, 04/17/09
Melissa Anderson, Village Voice/LA Weekly: EXCELLENT "In their subversion of 'inspirational' genres, Boden and Fleck don't want us to be any less moved by the struggles and realizations of their protagonists."(See all of Melissa Anderson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 697 words, 04/01/09
Norman Wilner, Toronto Now: EXCELLENT(cg) "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."(See all of Norman Wilner's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 168 words, 04/16/09
KEY CITIES (15 Reviews)
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post: OUTSTANDING(cg) " 'Sugar' gets the sports right, which will guarantee its appeal to baseball fans. But more important, it gets the soul right, which makes it a must-see for everyone."(See all of Ann Hornaday's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 759 words, 05/01/09
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...a patiently told, elusively noncommittal character study of a young Dominican with his sights on pitching greatness, 'Sugar' hurls close to a perfect game."(See all of Amy Biancolli's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 533 words, 04/24/09
Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic: EXCELLENT(cg) "...a baseball film, and a good one. But it's also much more, a richly developed look at what is typically lumped under the title 'American Dream'..."(See all of Bill Goodykoontz's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 603 words, 05/01/09
Jonathan Curiel, San Francisco Chronicle: VERY GOOD(cg) "...a gripping look at the immigrant experience, with small moments as important - and visually arresting - as any on the baseball diamond."(See all of Jonathan Curiel's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 262 words, 04/10/09
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer: OUTSTANDING(cg) "A baseball movie, a stranger-in-a-strange-land movie, a movie about real people facing real challenges in the real world, 'Sugar' is all that and more."(See all of Steven Rea's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 547 words, 04/24/09
Ty Burr, Boston Globe: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...can take its place with the best baseball movies.... most focus on the grand slam, this one's about the life that surrounds the game and everything that comes after."(See all of Ty Burr's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 740 words, 04/10/09
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star-Tribune: OUTSTANDING(cg) "It's set in the world of baseball, but it's really a humane, bittersweet, beautifully observed drama about hope. Put this one in the Win column."(See all of Colin Covert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 516 words, 04/24/09
Moira Macdonald, Seattle Times: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...beautifully shot... from the dust rising from a ball's smack into a catcher's mitt to the postcard-pretty sunset on a Dominican baseball field."(See all of Moira Macdonald's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 433 words, 04/24/09
Clint O'Connor, Cleveland Plain-Dealer: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...entertaining, sharply made... We follow Miguel 'Sugar' Santos, a pitching prospect from the Dominican Republic, as he navigates the transition to America."(See all of Clint O'Connor's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 407 words, 05/08/09
Shawn Levy, Portland Oregonian: EXCELLENT(cg) "...a subtly engaging film about a world -- indeed, a string of worlds -- that hums energetically all around us and yet remains invisible."(See all of Shawn Levy's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 219 words, 05/01/09
Calvin Wilson, St. Louis Post-Dispatch: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...a terrific film that's not just for sports fans. Written and directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, it's as insightful as it is entertaining."(See all of Calvin Wilson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 247 words, 05/08/09
Steve Persall, St. Petersburg Times: OUTSTANDING(cg) "Boden and Fleck dodge the easy choices, making 'Sugar' a rare movie giving few clues about where it's going.... most interesting and original..."(See all of Steve Persall's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 331 words, 04/23/09
Michael Sragow, Baltimore Sun: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...a near-great movie... It resists cliche at every turn and puts something solid in its place: raw yet controlled observation that gives the film the form of a flexing muscle."(See all of Michael Sragow's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 603 words, 05/15/09
Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post: OUTSTANDING(cg) "Not only have director-writers Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck crafted a poignant immigrant tale, they've made a sports saga rife with rare truths."(See all of Lisa Kennedy's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 618 words, 05/01/09
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (7 Reviews)
Melissa Anderson, Village Voice/LA Weekly: EXCELLENT "In their subversion of 'inspirational' genres, Boden and Fleck don't want us to be any less moved by the struggles and realizations of their protagonists."(See all of Melissa Anderson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 697 words, 04/01/09
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...ground-breaking film about race, class, money, sex, isolation, the immigrant experience, lost ideals and -- oh, yeah -- baseball... raw and riveting."(See all of Peter Travers's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 270 words, 04/03/09
Peter Keough, Boston Phoenix: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "Sugar is a thorny but endearing hero. He's worth cheering for, but the filmmakers let him down by falling back on familiar stereotypes and conventions."(See all of Peter Keough's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 156 words, 04/09/09
Norman Wilner, Toronto Now: EXCELLENT(cg) "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."(See all of Norman Wilner's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 168 words, 04/16/09
Tricia Olszewski, Washington City Paper: EXCELLENT "...a story about expectations, the division of work and play, and the terrifying but terrific ability human beings have to change their minds."(See all of Tricia Olszewski's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 513 words, 04/30/09
HIGHBROW PRESS (3 Reviews)
A.O. Scott, New York Times: OUTSTANDING "It is both sad and hopeful, but the film's sorrow and its optimism arise from its rarest and most thrilling quality, which is its deep and humane honesty."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 983 words, 04/03/09
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: EXCELLENT "...the price of the production's integrity is a leisurely pace -- but it's a worthwhile one. Though 'Sugar' demands patience, it deserves attention."(See all of Joe Morgenstern's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 281 words, 04/03/09
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: OUTSTANDING "...a young man's journey of self-discovery, about how Miguel 'Sugar' Santos makes his way in the world and tries to figure out, as we all do, who he is meant to be."(See all of Kenneth Turan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 712 words, 04/03/09
MOVIE INDUSTRY (4 Reviews)
Todd McCarthy, Daily Variety: EXCELLENT "Sympathetic, genial and exceedingly wholesome... once seen, will permanently and favorably influence the way viewers regard the characters' real-life counterparts."(See all of Todd McCarthy's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,066 words, 01/24/08
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: OUTSTANDING "...a young man's journey of self-discovery, about how Miguel 'Sugar' Santos makes his way in the world and tries to figure out, as we all do, who he is meant to be."(See all of Kenneth Turan's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 712 words, 04/03/09
A.O. Scott, New York Times: OUTSTANDING "It is both sad and hopeful, but the film's sorrow and its optimism arise from its rarest and most thrilling quality, which is its deep and humane honesty."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 983 words, 04/03/09
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: EXCELLENT "...the price of the production's integrity is a leisurely pace -- but it's a worthwhile one. Though 'Sugar' demands patience, it deserves attention."(See all of Joe Morgenstern's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 281 words, 04/03/09
13.2 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
Sugar (2009)'s reviews are separated by an average 13.2 percentage points. The norm for this measure is 18.4 percentage points. Less than 18.4 indicates more consistent reviews; greater than 18.4 indicates more mixed reviews. In the chart below, each dot represents a review, with the dots at the top more positive than the dots at the bottom. From left to right, the dots represent reviews in big, bigger and biggest publications. Roll over each dot for more detail.
Sugar (2009) (37 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:Sugar (2009)'s reviews cover 67.4% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 17,310 words involume (average is 20,194 words). Length:The film's reviews average 468 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
Reviews Broke 5 Days After Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
Sugar (2009)'s reviews on average broke 5 days after opening. Norm for this measure is 1.2 hours before. The chart below shows reviews on opening day and the days before and after opening; the left side is earlier and the right side is later. The red bars extending above the horizontal mid-line represent more positive reviews, and the red bars extending below represent more negative reviews. The white space/red bar in the middle is Sugar (2009)'s opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
Sugar (2009) (37 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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