Goodbye Solo and Sugar
Today I saw two very good independent films. The first is directed by Ramin Bahrani.
I am familiar with his work as I saw his other two films Man Push Cart and Chop Shop.
Goodbye Solo is his best work yet. It takes place in Winston-Salem, NC. Solo Souleymane Sy Savane) is a cab driver who aspires to be a flight attendant. He lives with his pregnant wife and step daughter Alex (Diana Franco Galindo). Solo is has an optimistic nature. He strikes up an unusual friendship with one of his passengers William (Red West). But William seems to be on a strange journey in life.
He sells his apartment, moves into a motel and hires Solo to drive him one way on a trip to a mountain on a certain date. It is obvious what William is thinking of doing. And Solo tries his best to help the man change his mind. But does he? You will have to see the film to find out.
The cast is first rate and the cinematography is outstanding. Bahrani is definitely one of the best "new" directors around. I was riveted throughout the film and was on the edge of my seat towards the end.
Sugar is another fine film from the writer/director team of Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck (they were responsible for the wonderful Half Nelson). Sugar is the story of Miguel "Sugar" Santos Algenis Perez Soto). He is known as Sugar because he sweet with the ladies.
Sugar is on a baseball team in his native Dominican Republic. And he is really great at it. When he is chosen to go to American to play in the minor leagues it is like a dream come true. Before we know it he and some of his teammates are in Arizona. Sugar proves himself and winds up on a team that it located in Iowa. He lives with a very white farm family (who like to take in players from different countries). I should add that Sugar is not only Latin but also black. It is very hard for him to adjust. At first things go well but then something happens. The pressure to perform gets to him.
Boden and Fleck are wonderful in their craft. And Soto is terrific as Sugar. They created a character that I really cared about. And, again, I really wanted to see what happens in this film.
Both of these films have great musical scores. I hope people come out and see these films. It is important to support good independent cinema. If you can't see them in the theater then do rent them when they come out on DVD. You won't be sorry that you did.
I am familiar with his work as I saw his other two films Man Push Cart and Chop Shop.
Goodbye Solo is his best work yet. It takes place in Winston-Salem, NC. Solo Souleymane Sy Savane) is a cab driver who aspires to be a flight attendant. He lives with his pregnant wife and step daughter Alex (Diana Franco Galindo). Solo is has an optimistic nature. He strikes up an unusual friendship with one of his passengers William (Red West). But William seems to be on a strange journey in life.
He sells his apartment, moves into a motel and hires Solo to drive him one way on a trip to a mountain on a certain date. It is obvious what William is thinking of doing. And Solo tries his best to help the man change his mind. But does he? You will have to see the film to find out.
The cast is first rate and the cinematography is outstanding. Bahrani is definitely one of the best "new" directors around. I was riveted throughout the film and was on the edge of my seat towards the end.
Sugar is another fine film from the writer/director team of Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck (they were responsible for the wonderful Half Nelson). Sugar is the story of Miguel "Sugar" Santos Algenis Perez Soto). He is known as Sugar because he sweet with the ladies.
Sugar is on a baseball team in his native Dominican Republic. And he is really great at it. When he is chosen to go to American to play in the minor leagues it is like a dream come true. Before we know it he and some of his teammates are in Arizona. Sugar proves himself and winds up on a team that it located in Iowa. He lives with a very white farm family (who like to take in players from different countries). I should add that Sugar is not only Latin but also black. It is very hard for him to adjust. At first things go well but then something happens. The pressure to perform gets to him.
Boden and Fleck are wonderful in their craft. And Soto is terrific as Sugar. They created a character that I really cared about. And, again, I really wanted to see what happens in this film.
Both of these films have great musical scores. I hope people come out and see these films. It is important to support good independent cinema. If you can't see them in the theater then do rent them when they come out on DVD. You won't be sorry that you did.
posted by Film Fanatic | 7:06 PM
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