Sugar (TV Series) Olivia (2024) User Reviews

Slick, stylish and gripping

[rolandddd · 8/10 · 4 May 2024]

Colin Farrell is excellent in making John Sugar an interesting character straight off the bat. I didn't fancy him much in the early 2000s but with age Farrell provides a Bond-ish charisma to the role, and with the brilliant Fernando Meirelles at the helm, things are off to a good start. It is stylish, it expertly uses old music, cut between shots of old and new settings (watch the cars!) And gives off the noir 50s vibe that catches my attention.

The story is interesting enough but not too original, with the rich old relative engaging a private investigator to find his granddaughter. I was thinking about the similarities to LA Confidential for a while, and when I saw James Cromwell in this episode it made me smile and I think it is a really nice tip of the hat to that old classic as well. It is obvious this series is made by lovers of old Hollywood noir, and I'm looking forward to seeing where the story will take us next.

Captivating

[ertelshots · 8/10 · 22 April 2024]

I love Colin Ferrell and that he can do such a good USA accent is amazing. Aside from the fact that he's gorgeous, he can portray a sympathetic character so very well and an evil one. This John Sugar grabbed my attention with his kindness and skill with in Japan. I admire anyone who can speak multiple languages, and Mr. Sugar speaks English, Japanese, and Arabic in this first episode which shows a highly intelligent person. He sees everything and what I really liked is he sees it without judgement. His interaction with the Carl, the homeless man, was just lovely. I actually done a similar thing when I've interacted with someone down on their luck, bought them dinner, asked their name and sometimes their story. I figure giving 20, 50 or 100 bucks is something I can afford and if 10% of the time it goes for food, shelter, or something necessary it's a win. Oh, and i love dogs, cats, and all animals and this character does too and the whole reason I started to watch was that he does end up with a dog. And his Corvette is just one of the most beautiful cars ever built, and it is a rolling piece of art. I hope all the episodes are as good but even if they are 1/2 as good I'll watch it.

Inspiring

[Portis_Charles · 10/10 · 9 April 2024]

A wonderful discovery.

A TV series but really directed (by Fernando Meirelles). It's a very rich work of filming, editing and sound design, with film inserts, iris cuts, very short focal lengths, sequences in color and others in black and white... It's a festival of effects that enrich the world of the main character.

This main character, a private detective, is sublimely played by Colin Farrell, but how could it have been otherwise? He is one of the greatest actors of his generation. He exudes levels of vaguely uneasy sweetness and suavity rarely achieved.

Watching this first episode had a direct effect on me. It inspired me to tidy up the living room, to be in a better environment, and to plan my day tomorrow, to try to avoid the chaos of the day before. There is a scene near the beginning where John Sugar drinks a Japanese whiskey, probably excellent. He appreciates it intensely, and I said to myself when I saw it, "this is life". That said, right after, John realizes that a guy is staring at him meanly, for no reason. Hell is never far from Paradise in this world.