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
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