Sugar (2004)

Based on several short stories by writer Bruce LeBruce, Sugar is a provocative and funny coming of age love story. Cliff, a gay teen, is restless in his sheltered suburban life, and anxious to have his first sexual experience. One night, while downtown, he meets a tough street hustler, Butch, who introduces him to a world of sex, drugs, prostitution and life on the streets. Romance blossoms between the two until drugs begin to pull them apart. Realistic and challenging, Sugar is about coming out and coming of age.

Total crap

I couldn't even get through the first 15 minutes of this strange and choppy film. Nothing felt connected, there was no real character development and I had no idea why I should like any of the people or care about them. Honestly I don't get what anyone saw in this film that rated it above two stars...obviously opinions vary quite a bit in what is considered a "good" film, but if you just want to see naked young men and no discernable story...this is the film for you. July 8, 2008

I Thought It Was Kinda Sweet....

... until the story ended, which was somewhat bitter.... Andre Noble played well as Cliff (I thought the name totally doesn't fit him). Despite his co-star Bredan Fehr is cute (I swear he was an A&F model), but I agree with another reviewer this is clearly Andre Noble's film. I do not believe the film would work without his glowing eyes and smile.

It's a nice coming-of-age story. Though it's kinda like Boogie Night-ish type of coming-of-age. I don't think I like the ending, despite it's a "happy ending" but it's not that happy, but more like c'est la vie.

Despite Cliff was a virgin (when the movie started, at least...), but I don't think he acted very virginal... (not Claire Dane in My So Called Life kind of virginal, which is totally over-the-top). He knew what (or who, rather...) he wanted, then he explored, had fun, and got hurt along the way. The real amazing thing part is, he got over it in no time.... That's not bad for a first-timer.... Virgin? (*buzz*)

In any case, I think a lot of people judge this film too harshly. I personally think it's a sweet story of a gay man who must get over the fact that life isn't always on high speed.... April 21, 2008

Sand in the Sugar

Q: What do you get when you mix a bad screenplay with no plot, unbelievable situations like the little sister, bad production values and scenes inserted only to shock (pardon the pun) like the servicing of the 500 lb. woman? A: Sugar!

Cliff has an identity crisis. Big deal. So what? Which one of us hasn't at some point in our lives? So he turns to drugs and hustling. I know that was my chosen path of enlightenment.

Unlikable characters, flimsy plot, bad production values (everything is so dark I had to adjust the brightness on my monitor) and situations that are so far-fetched they are more appropriate for a comic book. This trashy film asks us to suspend disbelief so often you'll feel like you were hired by your local electric company to string power lines.

Other reviewers have called this film gritty. It's gritty, all right. Gritty like sand in your sugar. October 4, 2007

Nothing Sweet About This Hustler "Love Story"--It's So Artificial, It Should Be Called Saccharine

I'm not really sure about the state of gay independent cinema. Seriously. Now there are plenty of ineffective low budget features across the board, but it just seems that the success stories in the gay indies are much more infrequent proportionally to the number of films being made. I'm not quoting real life statistics, of course, this is just my perception. What is equally interesting is that no matter how lacking some of these films may be in terms of accomplished filmmaking technique or logical storytelling, they are embraced by many. It's as if we are still perpetuating the notion that any gay representation is better than none--and I just don't know if that's true any more. Surely, gay cinema can aspire to greatness. I understand that many of these films are done with no money and very limited means. I sympathize. But writing a compelling and believable screenplay? That just takes creativity and talent--but for every great gay film, there are still 100 disasters!

Which leads me to "Sugar," a Canadian treat about the hustler life from John Palmer. Ostensibly billed as some sort of a love story, this bizarrely uneven film could never convince me that anything real was at stake. The characters are so inconsistent, the situations so false--what is supposed to have a gritty, hard edged feel just left me slightly amused (if I registered any emotion beyond shock). Telling the coming-of-age story of a gay suburban teen, Cliff, "Sugar" sets up an odd family life. Virginal Cliff is sent into the city by his young sister (and I mean elementary aged) for his 18th birthday. The girl, who is addicted to Ritalin, provides Cliff with vodka and marijuana to make the trip more enjoyable. His mother is never a strong parental figure, she's off at work (something unexplained having to do with cartons of chocolate) and/or completely indifferent--yet oddly accepting of her children's lack of sense.

Cliff promptly heads off to hustler central, meets the love of his life, makes out immediately, spends the night with all the rent boys--including a naked party in a client's limo. Cliff begins a romance/friendship in earnest with Butch--a surprisingly coherent and pleasant (when the story needs him to be) train wreck of a low-end escort. Cliff yearns to join the hustler life--why not? Everything is peaches and roses, however, until Butch does the unthinkable. It's awful and so unexpected! He has sex with Cliff in front of a client. It's exactly what Cliff has been wanting (both in terms of the relationship and in advancing his new career), but somehow we're supposed to believe it's unforgivable (and that Cliff has remained chaste during his explorations). The story gets even more ridiculous (I mean heartrending) as we get to the conclusion. Cliff must face the consequences of the life he has chosen--and the film leaves us with one last parting message. There's nothing that can't be solved by an anonymous hook-up in a restaurant bathroom. Sweet.

You know, the actors aren't bad. Heck, this film even features Canadian indie fave Sarah Polley. There's nudity, if that's what you're looking for. The little sister is extremely funny--although her penchant for supplying drugs and alcohol is never explained. If you find this a "love" story, bless you--but it's not for me. Now, I've heard a few comparisons to other (more successful) hustler movies including Van Sant's "My Own Private Idaho." Well, that just leaves me with one more thing to say--Spare me! KGHarris, 04/07. April 5, 2007

Great JO Scene, but a little slow

The film was well done and easy to follow with not a lot to make one ponder. I guess that is to be expected with a movie about a drug addicted male prostitute and his groupie. Worth seeing if you like that kind of thing. January 24, 2007

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