Save your money for something good and enjoyable

Pretty Good

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

Searching for Sugar Man is not a documentary to read about before you see it. And I'm glad I managed to avoid all information in the Swedish media since the premier. So in order to not give way to much of the action, you only get this information, Rodriguez released two albums on American companies 1970-71. Both "sink like a stone" and he laid down his career. A number of years later, his music becomes a huge success in the closed and boycotted South Africa where apartheid ruled. Rodriguez finally sold platinum and was as big as The Beatles in South Africa. But nobody told that to Rodriguez, who was seen as a rebel and inspiration for South African musicians, who opposed Botha's apartheid regime. But they had no idea who Rodrigues was. So two fans decide to find out what happened to their big idol. And it does not seem to have gone According to one rumor he poured gasoline over himself during a performance, and burned up. And according to another rumor, he shot himself in the head at the end of a really bad gig. It really made me sick when I saw the film in a nearly empty theater in Hallstavik (located 10 milesoutside Stockholm), because what causes a person to do something that tragic? And another thing that I was wondering about was where I could find the music. And as it seems right now, when I write this review, you have to buy the movie's soundtrack on CD. It has been removed from Spotify in Sweden

If you haven't seen this movie you need to go in knowing as little as possible. It's about finding a singer named Rodriguez and leave it at that. To those who criticize that the movie is not an exhaustive biography I will dare to speak for the producer that it was never his intention. The story is about South Africa finding Sugar Man. That he was known in Australia and had some fame there doesn't change the facts of this story. The full biography of his life would be a film of its own and worth telling but that's true for any number of other films. I think you'll like the music. Even if you don't still watch the film.

"Searching for Sugar Man", an academy award winning documentary and mystery all rolled into one tells the unusual story of a man whose music was incredibly successful told mainly by a man known as "Sugar".Sixto Rodriguez, more commonly known as Rodriguez was a pioneer to anti-establishment lyrics, became very popular in South Africa during their revolution in the 1970s. Although his music was well known, he was not. Rodriguez was a mysterious man of few words. As stated in the film, ironically his first album was named "Cold Fact" but it was nearly impossible to find a cold fact about him. Even the people who played with him did not know him very well. One of the most intriguing elements of the documentary is that is music was extremely popular in South Africa, but living in the United States, he had no idea. There were suspicions that Rodriguez had been scammed out of the royalties that he should have been receiving every time he sold an album. Rumors flew around that Rodriguez had killed himself. The hunt to find out why this mystery man committed suicide ends in a way no one could have foreseen. This film encases such wild turns of events that it will leave you wanting to know about Rodriguez even after watching the film.

***SPOILER ALERT** Where is the Sugar (Man)?Searching for Sugar Man is a brilliant movie that uses music and mystery to draw the audience in. The story is about how a failed musician (Rodriguez) in Detroit that makes it big in South Africa and never knows. Two super fans embark on a journey to search for a musical idol form their youth. The combination of animation and music set it apart from most documentaries out there. Malik Bendjelloul did an outstanding job in the scene with an animation of Rodriguez walking down the streets of Detroit. The scene starts off with a drawing of the street then progresses to the animation of him walking past run-down store fronts. At this point of the film it symbolized the position he is at in his career in the United States. The mystery aspect is what keeps the viewer on the edge of their seat from the beginning to the big reveal in the end. Bendjelloul keeps you guessing because provides testimonies of people who have seen Rodriguez around Detroit. These people talk about him like he is deceased. This is because rumors spread that he either lit himself on fire or shot himself in the head on stage. All this leads up to the big reveal of Rodriguez being alive still living in Detroit. This scene is shot masterfully as Rodriguez opens up the window and the audience see him for the first time. This symbol of him breaking out of the mysterious role into an actual person. I would recommend this movie to anyone who is a fan of mystery and 1960's music. Rodriguez's sound reminds me of the Beatles. As a person who does not like many documentaries this one was one I enjoyed. 10 out of 10 would recommend.