MovieChat Forums > Sugar (2009) Discussion > This movie is incredible Spoilers

This movie is incredible Spoilers

posted 15 years ago by zerosoul7786
6 replies | jump to latest

I just came back from watching this movie which I enjoyed thoroughly. I really liked the way the director and screenwriter chose to craft a story about a Domincican player's struggle adapting to not only to minor league baseball, but to America. This movie show's how difficult it is when a Dominican player comes to America for the first time--the language barrier, being acclimated to a new culture, and trying to make new friends--are all covered in this movie without over dramatazing any of it. My favorite part of the movie is near the end when Sugar is playing in the rec league, and all the players on his team are introducing themselves to him, telling him what minor league team they used to play for.

I have a question for the people who watched the movie. Near the end, when Sugar is playing in the rec league, he strikes out the batter he's facing, sits on the bench, has a moment of introspection and starts clapping. What do you think he was thinking during that moment of introspection. In my opinion, he was recalling his time in the Minor Leagues and how he was close to playing in the Majors and now he's sitting on bench of a rec league. However, he decides to make the most of it by enjoying the game he loves with his friends. What are your thoughts?

[–] john-delaney 15 years ago

I think that the pause at the end is Sugar taking stock of what his life has become. I immediately thought back when he asked Johnson in the club house "if you didn't play baseball what would you do?" In the first act of the film, you can see that Sugar's life is dependant of his success in Baseball on a porfessional level. However, as he progesses he sees it is only a part of life, and it does not define him as a man. I agree that the disparaging look on his face was him taking stock of if he blew his only chance at success, but then realizes that his life is not over because he never made it on a professional level. Obviously this is my interpretation, but for me it works. Great movie.

[–] pathos2005-1 15 years ago

To me it seemed that after striking that person out, he realized he still had his pitching skills, which he thought he had lost after his injury. It seems all he needed was some time fore his ankle to heal fully. In fact earlier in the movie he claimed he left because his pitching skills were gone for good and he did not want to be kicked out. Now that hew saw this wasn't the case he regretted not staying with the team.

[–] magatsu 15 years ago

i like the first two people's interpretation. that's pretty much what i thought. its so poignant and i love how the filmmakers can portray that kind of thought without the use of any dialogue. i loved this film.

[–] razman1983 15 years ago

He's either clapping because he figured out that he still has it..and that it is JUST a game after all...it's the same game he used to play back home....either that or he just realized that baseball isn't his whole life..he can still be happy not playing in the minors.

-Spoilers are for the weak

[–] jellobiafra2000 14 years ago

I have picked my favorite film from every year since 1939 (no I am not that old. I just love old movies)and right now, Sugar is my favorite film of 2009 (even if imdb does say 2008) with "A Serious man" a close second. I've seen 50 films from this year, so it is not a small sample. If it holds up, I would have sports movies be my favorite films two years in a row ("The Wrestler" last year) after not having a sports movie be my favorite since "Raging Bull" in 1980. This film was great.

My top 100 films http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNEyqzd1_GU&feature=fvw

[–] Anekdote 14 years ago

At the end, Sugar realizes that what really matters is just having fun in the game. That's what the whole movie is about. The political/economic overtones (he can't get a good job because he doesn't have a "piece of paper"), the overly-religious girl (she is confused and can't recognize her own feelings and signals), etc. Everyone is acting far too serious, and they aren't recognizing the simple things that are always in front of them.

When sugar makes his American debut, he is told it's just a game, just like home. The rest of the movie exposes this lie.