date watched: April 11, 2009
location: Lincoln Plaza Cinemas, NYC
The hot trend in American Independent Cinema seems to be the mockumentary. Mockumentary styles are seen in films like Sin Nombre (Cary Fukunaga, 2009), and Goodbye Solo (Ramin Bahrani, 2008). And Sugar, I would say, belongs to this emerging "genre" as well.
This film was one of the better ones I saw so far this year, and the co-directors definitely are NOT suffering from a sophomore slump, even after a great film like Half Nelson (2006).
I had the privilege of seeing clips of Sugar before going to theaters, since I attended "Teaming Up" at the Film Society of Lincoln Center, in which the co-directors talked about their experience of working together.
In the casting process of Half Nelson, Shareeka Epps was the second contestant they met, which made it fast and easy for them. For Sugar, Algenis Perez Soto was the 452nd one they met. This goes to show just how backbreaking casting can be; but I would say that he turned out to be a great Sugar.
No comments:
Post a Comment