Sugar (I) (2004) User Reviews

Uncompromising drama with tragic twist

[Libretio · 6/10 · 6 January 2005]

SUGAR

Aspect ratio: 1.85:1

Sound format: Dolby Digital

While celebrating his 18th birthday, a naive young man (Andre Noble) travels to the big city in search of his first sexual encounter and falls in love with a gorgeous twentysomething hustler (Brendan Fehr) who leads him into forbidden territory.

Only his second feature in almost thirty years - the first was ME (1975) - theatre director John Palmer helmed this grim slice-of-life movie, based on the 'JD' stories by underground writer-filmmaker Bruce La Bruce (HUSTLER WHITE, THE RASPBERRY Reich, etc.). Uncompromising in its approach to sex and drugs and everything in between, SUGAR follows Noble into the dark heart of Toronto's street culture, blinded by his feelings for beautiful bisexual hustler Fehr (a long way from "Roswell High"), who ends up using Noble as a pawn in his relentless quest for self-gratification. Palmer's script (co-written with Jaie Laplante and Todd Klinck) depicts Fehr's world as an alien landscape where addicts and sex workers struggle to retain their humanity: There's an extraordinary scene in which Fehr masturbates a clinically obese client (Pat Butcher) in her own home, after she's spent months saving the $300 needed to buy his services, a deed which Noble later describes as 'an act of compassion', and which is treated as such by filmmakers and actors alike.

Working on a microscopic budget (the movie was photographed on digital video and transferred to 35mm for theatrical exhibition), Franklin relies on his actors to sell the drama, and they all come up trumps: Noble is quite superb as Fehr's unwitting devotee, more than willing to submerge himself in the older man's lifestyle, until he's forced to participate in one of Fehr's tricks (a haunting, difficult sequence). Fehr shatters his squeaky-clean TV image with a no-holds-barred performance as the street-wise prostitute who sells his beauty to the highest bidder, only to find himself increasingly dependent on hard drugs, a dependency which spirals into paranoia and self-destruction. Celebrated character actor Maury Chaykin (OWNING MAHOWNY) appears briefly as one of Fehr's regular customers, and Sarah Polley (DAWN OF THE DEAD) plays a young addict who asks Noble to marry her and provide a father figure for her unborn child (he declines). The film contains frontal nudity in abundance, but not from the two leads, both of whom are nevertheless displayed in various states of undress throughout; very little of it is even remotely sexy, and that's entirely in keeping with the film's downbeat tone.

The definition of a 'promising young actor', Noble began his career on stage in his native Canada, specializing in Shakespearean roles, and later co-founded The Young Company (later renamed The Noble Players) in Toronto with fellow actor Matt Austin. After brief appearances in high profile gay films TWIST (2003) and PROM QUEEN: THE MARC HALL STORY (2004), he landed his first leading role in SUGAR, for which he garnered hugely positive reviews on the festival circuit. Sadly, whilst on a short break from publicizing the film in July 2004, Noble died of aconitine poisoning after accidentally consuming a lethal dose of monkshood sap during a boat trip to Silver Fox Island, Newfoundland. He was 25.

My take on Sugar

[pickensjrbj · 7/10 · 14 December 2004]

I just saw this movie last night, and I loved it. I am not a renowned movie critic, or anything, but I really liked this flick. I thought that the story was pretty good. Gay teens that have been through similar situations will understand. I really enjoyed Brendan Fehr's performance as well as Andre Noble's. I was shocked to learn about Andre's death, and I am sorry to say that I didn't get to experience him as a performer. I have seen none of his movies prior to this film. I heard that this film was based on a number of short stories, and now I am eager to read them. I have had a little experience with the kind of life that was portrayed in this movie, the drugs, the street life for a young gay teen that has no other asset than his youth and his looks. I think that the movie was true to the pain that this kind of life causes. I don't think that I can say anything else, except that I really enjoyed Sugar.

Gay Teen Angst

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 19 December 2009]

This small budget Canadian production shot in and around Toronto has acquired something of a cult status due to the untimely death of its young star. Andre Noble as young gay male Cliff exudes a kind of sheepish naiveté as he turns 18 and seeks to explore his sexuality.

The film is a character study of young Cliff who gets into the underside of the gay world in his coming out by hooking up with street hustler Brendan Fehr. The two of them help each other out in many ways until tragedy strikes on the film as well as in real life.

Playing another street kid is former Power Ranger Jeffrey Parazzo. The former White Ranger from the Dino Thunder edition gets a chance to bare all for art.

Only the fact that Andre Noble did not break into the big market with a popular TV series or big budget movie success has not gained him the fame of a River Phoenix. Accidentally ingesting some kind of deadly poison that grows wild in his native Newfoundland is one of the freakiest demises I've ever read about. Still Sugar is going to be his premature epitaph.

No great production values in Sugar, but the cast performs well and knowing about what happened to young Mr. Noble brings an additional poignancy to his performance that could not be anticipated.

Great film with a sad history

[hotflesh · 26 August 2004]

I saw Sugar as part of San Francisco's Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and TransFestival. This movie has it all: good casting, excellent screenplay, wonderful direction and spirit. The story revolves around Cliff who just turned 18 and has yet to experience life. He meets a hustler who turns his life upside down and in doing so learns valuable life lessons. Of particular note is the actress that plays Cliff's sister whose character is taken from Bruce la Bruce's own family! Sadly the young actor who plays Cliff died in his native Canada so this movie is his swan song. You will experience a wide array of emotions when watching this film I guarantee you. Highly recommended!

Ballad of a Thin Man

[wes-connors · 7/10 · 1 January 2009]

To celebrate the coming of age eighteen, boyish virgin Andre Noble (as Cliff) hits the streets, with a bottle of vodka and a joint. His nighttime cruising leads Mr. Noble directly to handsome bisexual hustler Brendan Fehr (as Butch). For Noble, it's love at first sight - but, Mr. Fehr has locked his closet with drugs and denial. Can two gay young men find love in a repressive society? The answer to that question should be obvious (which is unfortunate on more than one level). Although you can't (as yet) rattle off a series of mega-popular "coming of age" gay romances, the topic has been approached enough to make much of what happens in "Sugar" expected. But, the film is so well cast, and covers most of its ground so believably (based on stories told by Bruce La Bruce), it overcomes the predictable.

John Palmer's "Sugar" is sweetest when Noble and Fehr are interacting on screen - it's a typical "anti-romance"; but, the two play it as well as James Dean and Sal Mineo might have. Little sister Haylee Wanstall (as Cookie) and mom Marnie McPhail (as Madge) are an unimaginably kwel family.

Some graphic sexual content is integral to the film - one standout scene involves Fehr compassionately satisfying an obese woman (Pat Butcher) - another (with Michael Riley) illustrates Fehr's inability to "legitimately" consummate his love for Noble. They are filmed well; but, was it really necessary to have everyone except the two lead actors go full frontal in the limo?

In a tragedy having nothing to do with the plot of "Sugar", Noble died, shortly after its premiere. He would have, obviously, had additional success as an actor. Fehr bravely essays his role as the object of Noble's affection. By the way, his question to Noble about the "last time" is his directive/permission to move on...

"We had fun, didn't we?"

Yeah, it might have been a little scary, but it was fun.

******* Sugar (2004) John Palmer ~ Andre Noble, Brendan Fehr, Haylee Wanstall

Sarah Polley must have taken the role as a favour to a friend...

[lac_sam · 1/10 · 12 December 2004]

For at least 15 years I have told people that the worst movie I ever saw was Warriors of the Wasteland. Well, Sugar has finally displaced it.

The acting is, in a word, execrable. In all fairness, it could be that the actors had nothing to work with because the script was so hackneyed... forced and tired imagery, ridiculous plot twists and dialogue so painfully bad that I could only bear to watch the first 30 minutes. My partner watched the rest (he felt obliged, having been the one who rented it...) and he assures me that it actually got worse after I left.

I'm a patient movie viewer, generally. I've sat through some pretty awful films to the very end. But this asked way too much. Sarah - I'm disappointed. Maybe in your autobiography you'll reveal why you gave this script a second look.

Rescued from total mediocrity by Brendan Fehr and Andre Noble

[Suradit · 7/10 · 5 February 2015]

The movie was reasonably decent, though it was not particularly original. In essence it was about the downward spiral of Butch, a good-hearted male hooker who becomes increasingly dependent on drugs, and Cliff an 18 year old from the suburbs who, with the prompting of a birthday gift from his sister Cookie, heads for the "bright lights" of the seedy side of Toronto and managed to connect with Butch.

The first part of the movie where we learn it's Cliff's birthday and that he's a bored & frustrated teenager in suburbia was a bit lame. His speedy journey to Toronto where he immediately locates the place where hustlers hang out and just as quickly connects with Butch wasn't very convincing. The parade of dirty old men replete with leers & fetishes, the one unfortunate obese woman Butch "serviced" and the other hustlers as background characters was undoubtedly meant to emphasize the pathetic people they had to deal with, but it also seemed to suggest that everything associated with the LGBT world was equally sleazy and low-life.

The tragic though predictable conclusion for Butch followed by a rites-of-passage moment for Cliff was an unfortunate, soap-opera-ish denouement that was on a par with the mediocre start to the film

But following the so-so start and preceding the amateurish ending … from the point when Cliff and Butch first paired up … the movie became more or less a two-man show with some excellent performances from Brendan Fehr and Andre Noble. Had the casting been different, the meat of the movie could easily have been far less successful and as bad as the opening & ending acts. In fact, the only reason to see the movie is to see these two perform … and also notable was the very convincing and able performance by Haylee Wanstall as Cookie.

It is especially sad to know that Andre Noble died soon after the film was made. He was already a talented actor and would certainly have been worth following as his career continued.

An Unwatchable Waste of Time

[carl-ralston · 1/10 · 19 January 2005]

There are certain "bad" movies that I can actually watch and enjoy for humor's sake if nothing else. This one, unfortunately, does not even rise to the level of a good bad movie. I should have been tipped off by the incredibly tacky stock theme music during the opening credits, but undaunted I began watching it anyway. I had to stop after about 20 minutes into it because this movie has no redeeming qualities whatsoever. The only good thing about it is that it gave me hope that anybody with a camera and a script has a chance of making a movie nowadays. Everything about this film was awful. It was boring, trite, and amateurish. The acting was about as bad as it gets and the screenplay, from what I saw, was pure drivel. If there is anyone who is even considering renting or buying this DVD I warn you that you will absolutely regret it. Don't even bother if you are going to watch it for possible sexual titillation: there is none. It is possibly the worst movie I have ever seen.

Bruce La Bruce take on teen romance.

[Havan_IronOak · 8/10 · 8 June 2004]

Based on short stories by Bruce La Bruce, this is NOT your typical teen romance.

Cliff is just turned 18 and is aching to spread his gay wings a bit. He's never been with another boy but he knows he wants to. His single mom is cool and accepting and though she tries to shelter both of her children she's got her hands full with Cookie, Cliff's precocious "hyper-even-on-Ritalin" sister. Just one example of the kid sis's pluck... for Cliff's birthday she gives big brother Cliff a mini bottle of Vodka, a joint and instructions to go get laid.

Cliff follows his little sister's instructions and heads downtown where he meets Butch, a crack addicted street hustler with heart of gold and sexy eyes.

Cliff thinks that he's game for anything and disregards Butch's protestations that he's trouble. Cliff and Butch quickly become an item and Cliff tries a smörgåsbord of drugs, gets a tattoo that matches Butch's and even accompanies Butch on a trick.

Obviously this isn't gonna turn out well, but unlike many other movies of this ilk, Cliff realizes it and pulls back. He's been changed forever by his experiences and while he's better for what he's lived through, he's unable to help Butch and he sees him drifting away knowing he's powerless to change someone else.

What makes this different from other films of this type are the realizations that are presented to us. For example, just how much Cliff has changed is really brought home in one scene where another kid from his high school tries to ask Cliff to the prom. Cliff realizes that he's got almost nothing in common with this young man that could have easily been him had he NOT met Butch.

Another example is a trick that Butch has with an extremely obese woman. While Butch protests that he did it for the money, Cliff and the audience know that Butch did it as an act of compassion.

Cliff is played by Andre Noble an adorable young man with great puppy-dog eyes. Butch is played by Brendan Fehr who played Michael in the WB series Roswell.

A bitter-sweet surprise indeed

[Yablo · 2/10 · 4 May 2005]

I was bitter during the movie, it was sweet when it was over, and I am surprised anyone could possibly enjoy it.

That's not entirely true, of course. To each their own is rarely truer than when it comes to film so I respect the previous reviewers opinion. I simply, and violently, disagree. The best compliment I can give to the piece is about the acting---it was occasionally decent. The script was boring, the characters boorish, the plot middling and mundane, the directing flat and uninspired, the sex and gay lifestyle stereotypical, and the picture quality was (intentionally, I think, but unwisely) terrible.

Avoid.

A sad love story with REAL believable characters.

[teamgoon · 10/10 · 10 August 2005]

I was blown away by this film.

So many of the characters reminded me of people I grew up with during my middle / high school years.. the drugs and all.

There is nothing "pretty" or "whitewashed" about this film, It presents the audience with an accurate look into the lives of gay street kids & their lives.

The way they live, love, and die...

This is the kind of film I was truly surprised that a major chain like Blockbuster would carry.

Wheither you're gay bi or straight, drug user, or straight-edger, there is something everyone can learn from SUGAR.

Going fine until the ending...

[truejimmy · 3/10 · 28 October 2005]

Yeah, the spoilers are coming...

Look, this movie actually had me buying it most of the way through. Butch came across as a sympathetic character and Cliff's naivety made it all the more painful when Butch turned on him. Still, that made sense - Butch doesn't understand a relationship based upon love and doesn't see why turning Cliff into another trick is that big of a deal. His self-destructive spiral afterwards was pretty damn well done, too.

What KILLED it for me was after Butch died. Cliff's first boyfriend has just died and within hours of the funeral he aggressively hits on another man and gives him oral in a bathroom? Huh? Look, somebody may justify this by stating "Maybe you just don't get gay culture" or by pointing out that "Sugar" refers to all sorts of addictions and maybe Cliff's addiction is sex. But when you take your most sympathetic, deepest character (Butch) and kill him off and then have the next best character in the movie do something to so completely disrespect him, well, the movie loses points in my book.

Even if they had just ended with Cliff in cafe making eye contact with the other guy, it would have been a better end than this. A movie can only be so nihilistic before it loses you, and "Sugar" lost me completely in the last five minutes.

And did anybody notice he pretty much abandoned his sister downtown? Just saying.

ALL DIRT NO DEPTH

[Prettylittlelie · 12 December 2004]

If you want pointless, random, gritty scenes, this is the movie for you. I found it to be all dirt and no depth. There is nothing about the characters to make you like or care about them. If you want a psycologicaly profound, deeply touching film about heroin addicted hustlers in Toronto, don't watch this movie - watch Twist (2004 Nick Stahl). There is nothing special about Sugar, no draw. The acting is mediocre (could be that the characters are just boring, not the actor's fault), if there even is a score I didn't notice it, the situations are unrealistic and so are the reactions.

Also, the sex in this movie was just plain gross. Don't get me wrong, not because it's gay, but because I don't need to see close ups of ANYONE'S genitals in a movie. Two guys sitting at a table eating cereal for breakfast and jacking off at the same time, together, while they eat, is just disgusting. I don't care what the excuse is, it's unnecessary. The sex in this movie didn't serve a purpose.

Trust me, it was just altogether REALLY BAD. Rent Twist, it also has Andre Noble and is about hustlers in Toronto, except it's deep and has fantastic acting, soundtrack, and feel to it.

The ending was good, rest was shite.

[esjara97 · 1/10 · 11 July 2014]

This movie was like a horrible documentary about drugs and prostitution. Cliff and Butch's relationship was weird and never fully explained. When I started watching this movie, I expected a gay romance and what I got was a really weird fetish porn film. What I did like about it was the acting, all the actors were believable and just great, especially Haylee. I also liked the ending, it was like it was from a different movie, everything about it was in contrast of the whole movie. I suppose that's why I liked it.

The summary of the movie does in no way tell the audience what will happen, because Cliff and Butch don't really hook up. The summary should be: "A film about the strong feelings that develop between two guys and how one of them drags the other into the world of drugs and prostitution"

Even though I didn't like the movie, I did like the subject. I don't have any experience with prostitution, but I think it shed some real light on it. It isn't glamour or beautiful people having sex. It's weird fetishes and people that no-one else wants to have sex with. I might have liked this movie a lot more if I had been looking for a movie with a real take on prostitution and drugs, I would have liked this movie, no doubt, but unfortunately I was looking for a romance.

Life for Art

[leslieadams · 5/10 · 22 March 2005]

When leading "Sugar" Actor Andre Noble expired shortly after filming from ingesting that toxic Canadian flower, he joined a long line of thespians who passed away during or immediately after a film project.

These include Massimo Troisi ("Il Postino) Robert Ryan ("The Iceman Cometh") Brandon Lee ("The Crow") Clark Gable ("The Misfits") and River Phoenix ("My Own Private Idaho") to name but a scant few.

Whatever may have been the circumstances of these cases, it reminds one of the often precarious nature of total artistic commitment.

When viewing "Sugar," evidence is of actors giving their all to their roles, especially Mr. Noble as the angst teen and Brendan Fehr as the seasoned hustler. It's certainly no fault of theirs that "Sugar" rather fails to deeply move most viewers.

Trouble seems to be mostly in a script that doesn't seem to provide much depth into the characters' psyches, backgrounds, or relationships. One observes surface action, but seldom does one empathetically feel for these people.

John Palmer's direction may likewise be termed "unremarkable," though it's evident that everyone's trying. It seems the makers got caught up in the dirt and decay of circumstances, without addressing the personal pathos and ultimate destiny of their subjects.

Like young Lee and Phoenix, talented Noble's legacy must rest primarily on this film, and for that reason alone, "Sugar" becomes significant.

Haunting, real, and beautiful

[salmineo · 10/10 · 5 January 2005]

The recent tragic death of actor Andre Noble leaves a void that cannot be replaced. But thankfully he has left his mark in this beautifully directed film. Sugar reminds me of "My private Idaho" in terms of directing and mood. While the former film had River Phoenix, who made the film so sexy, this film has Andre Noble. Noble had an acting style that revealed passion and emotion with a sexual edge. Playing an 18 year old gay teen who is anxious to have his first sexual encounter, he falls for Butch, a gay street hustler(played well by Brendan Fehr). But this is clearly Noble's film. His heart breaking performance is so real and gripping, and he seemed so destined for super stardom. Beautiful eyes, gorgeous hair and a smile that would break a million hearts, his death leaves the film industry without his raw talent and that is a shame. I would rate this film as an indie classic. It really hit home for me. I hope straight viewers keep an open mind while viewing as Andre truly gives a performance worth seeing again and again.

Amazing and Impeccable...surprises at every turn

[purban · 10/10 · 17 March 2005]

This goes into one of the ten best movies I've seen. I was blown away by every aspect of this film. The acting, cinematography, directing, and writing kept me enthralled and astounded through the mere 80 minutes of this film. Strangely, I rented this at Blockbuster, and I'm sure quite a few people must be unhappy with this non-mainstream rental. As someone who has experienced and seen the dark side this movie depicts without actually crossing over (much like the main character), I can't say I have ever seen a more realistic representation. I find the characters fully realized, and my hats off to all the participants in this film. It was edgy, non-mainstream, and risk-taking for all involved. I'm amazed and delighted (through turns of emotion) at this effort. Special congrats to Sarah Polley and Brendan Fehr for participating in this film.

Very naturalistic film, lots of humor, ...and Brendan Fehr!!

[reviewerinoimdbino · 10/10 · 19 December 2007]

Like other people, I was fearful this might be some primitive low-budget movie, but it was delightful. It's a good-looking movie, and all of the acting is extremely naturalistic and believable. There isn't a false note in the work of any of the actors. All this, despite the multitudinous examples of wit in inherently ironic and humorous scenes and dialogue.

I loved the unexpected bits of humor with the great Maury Chaykin, who was much the same, and equally delightful, in his roles in "Due South." And when Brendan Fehr is giving people the lines of bull they want to hear it is so funny and such a treat. I love the role-playing scene with all the dialogue about sports practice.

This has the edginess of Bruce La Bruce's own films, but, thankfully, this never crosses the line between transgression and disgust or repulsion. It's full of scenes and images I would never think of seeing or putting on screen. It's like seeing Spike Lee's "Do the Right Thing," for the first time. It's a new world, all fresh.

I had to turn the volume way up and rewind in order to catch some very quiet, very important bits of dialogue. This movie certainly combines the boisterous with the poetic.

And, yes, Brendan Fehr is insanely attractive and mesmerizing. I was worried whether I would like this for the first couple of minutes of the film, and then he came on screen and was there for most of the film, lifting the whole thing up. This is a real actor, bringing presence and intelligence to a role. He is, in every sense, magnetic.

Better than the reviews state.

[Trent_ · 8/10 · 20 February 2005]

I don't understand the people who say that the movie has no depth. The most in depth character portrayal was of Butch - the hustler who seems like a really good guy underneath. I don't think it is a requirement to have any backstory to actually get this.

The movie is also very amusing in parts - you just have to get the humour that is going on. At the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Film Festival showing that I saw, the majority of the audience got the humour and laughed along.

In actual fact, you're dosed with the nice and amusing and even heartwarming, and then you get a complete smack in the head when Butch does something to his best buddy. I won't say anymore for fear of spoiling it.

I didn't rate this film higher because of a couple of implausible things, such as the little sister (a complete laugh and a half, but implausible nonetheless), and how the film opens. From birthday bash to the streets in minutes. However, I did get the symbolism of the skateboard, which no-one else seems to have noticed or mentioned, and which I thought was rather good.

Overall, I enjoyed the film very much, and would recommend it to just about anybody.

Disturbing and depressing but fascinating

[preppy-3 · 8/10 · 22 March 2008]

Cliff (Andre Noble) has just turned 18 and is a virgin...and is gay. He sneaks into the city to meet a guy. He runs into hot hustler Butch (Brendan Fehr) and (understandably) falls in love. Butch seems to fall for Cliff also...but Butch is getting addicted to drugs and threatens to bring Cliff down with him.

This is definitely not for everybody. It's fairly graphic--there's full frontal male nudity (not on Fehr or Noble though), drug abuse, plenty of sexual talk and has simulated sex acts performed with gusto. It's also one of the most depressing films I have ever seen. Still I couldn't stop watching. Basically it's a coming of age story about Cliff...but I found him incredibly annoying. I realize actor Noble died at a far too young age, but frankly I found his acting here fairly dreadful. His attraction to Fehr comes through but most of the time I couldn't figure out WHAT he was thinking...or playing. Also he looks just horrible through most of the film. On the other hand Fehr is excellent. This must have been a difficult role but he pulls it off brilliantly. He shows all sides of his character Butch. He's sometimes funny, sometimes cruel and, at the end, heartbreaking. Fehr has to pull off some explicit sexual scenes and does it wonderfully. He's also very handsome and has a great body. For those who care he does show his butt briefly. I found the character of Butch so much more interesting than the increasingly annoying Cliff.

The film is shot on video leading to a pretty grimy picture. The color is faded, some of the camera work is shaky and things aren't exactly crystal clear. The sound sometimes fades in and out too. Still this is a fascinating if disturbing movie. See it for Fehr. I give it an 8.

A Bitter-Sweet Surprise

[benc7ca · 9/10 · 29 January 2005]

I rented "Sugar" with some trepidation; all I needed was another low budget "seedy-side-of–life-coming -of –age-damn-he's-dead" story. I was surprised, no, I was elated to find otherwise. What makes this different from so many of this genre? Great acting, great writing, great directing. Wow, just like a real movie! This old story (young kid meets up with hustler and begins to sink to the bottom) has been told again and again and will be re-told again and again. There's something about archetypes here, some sort of shared mythology that just begs to be re-visited and re-explored. This movie is worth the visit. Brendan Fehr gives a masterful performance as the hustler and the late Andre Noble as the young explorer is wonderful. Some of the scenes are riveting, some endearing and one is unforgettable. I won't give more away, just rent this film and watch and learn

totally disagree with previous comment

[tommilburn · 8/10 · 15 September 2005]

I must totally disagree with the previous user comment ("prettylittlelie"). This film is gritty, dark, real...

If you find explicit gay sex, drug-taking and so on uncomfortable, then it's probably not for you.

The story is captivating. The sexual tension between the two leads is hot. And their shared emotion is tender at times.

The journey of Cliff (Andre Noble, who is sadly dead) as he enters the dark underworld is very well told.

The previous user comments: "Also, the sex in this movie was just plain gross. Don't get me wrong, not because it's gay, but because I don't need to see close ups of ANYONE'S genitals in a movie. Two guys sitting at a table eating cereal for breakfast and jacking off at the same time, together, while they eat, is just disgusting. I don't care what the excuse is, it's unnecessary. The sex in this movie didn't serve a purpose."

This just goes to show that he really didn't get it.If you "don't need to see anyone's genitals in a movie" don't go to one based on short stories by Bruce Le Bruce HELLO??!! The breakfast scene to which he refers shows how the two boys are bonding as their relationship develops. He also says that "the sex didn't serve a purpose" - the movie is about the sex, and the drugs, and the relationships between sex and drugs.

And it is clear that he is also a homophobe. Anyone who starts a sentence "don't get me wrong, not because it's gay" obviously has issues...

Ignore what he said and see this film!

I don't agree

[KedezzericOU · 10/10 · 30 June 2005]

Yes Twist was an excellent film. But it was also based on the Charles Dickens play Oliver Twist. This director took gritty scenes that are not based on a classic novel and made them life-like. The characters were well developed and engrossing (if you do not think that a kid can get drugs you are mistaken, i deal with delinquent juveniles for a job). Brandon Ferh's performance was astounding, i was completely in awe. He played the slow decent into complete oblivion with finesse which i hardly see in blockbuster movies anymore. The sex scenes which the first comment was based on were hardly graphic, for that i would watch Queer as Folk. I think the commenter made previous comment from a state of shock about actually seeing homo-erotic scenes. Well it was a homo-erotic story. Get over it.

Interesting, to say the least.

[randi-62 · 8/10 · 21 December 2008]

This film is definitely not one for the faint hearted, nor is it blockbuster material. And yet, I was pleasantly surprised. I thought Sugar was phenomenally realistic and avant-garde.

The cast was amazing. Noble and Fehr make a fantastic duo, the latter did a -great- job of representing the bad influence that your mother always warned you about. Noble shows his innocence on his sleeve so well, which feeds off Fehr's "bad boy" outer shell fantastically.

I think the thing I most admire of this film is the sheer blunt truth of it all. Albeit a little odd, it reveals the struggle so many gays (even straight people) have gone through with eye-bludgeoning scenes and characters you see everyday in your hometown.

Despite the outlandish outlook of it all, I find it unbelievably easy to relate to. Eight out of ten.

Woah!

[Jammal0 · 9/10 · 23 April 2005]

This movie was really really out there. There was a lot of implied sex in this movie it was ridiculous. Well anyways, I like a movie that's not afraid to show it's true colors. This movie shows the greatest of impacts on one's life. The lost of innocence and the power of friendship. I feel that this movie, (with it's gay implications) really gets a more in-depth feeling of the movies true purpose. Also through the expected ending, and the very cliché plot twists, this movie comes out proving to be more then just a "kill me now" movie. The acting was also quite moving also. This movie could of really used some transition. Every so often the screen would go black, and then everything would be different.