VividSimon Simply Perfect

Matialth Good concept, poorly executed.

CommentsXp Best movie ever!

Hadrina The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

ROKMOD I enjoyed his music but the over production and addition of background instruments ruined it for me. It was like they were trying to turn everything into "Bridge Over Troubled Water". Bands that have covered his songs have created some awesome music. I would love for their to be a compilation album with assorted hard core rockers

tartedav Many people know the names of Michael Jackson, or bands like the Beatles. But very few people will know the name Sixto Rodriguez. He wrote two well received but low selling albums that were only popular in very few places like South Africa. This documentary shows a heartwarming tale about an unknown artist's musical impact on the small population that listened to his music. Music is a unique art form which impacts peoples' lives daily by having the ability to teach someone a new idea while still be entertaining at the same time. This allows it to make positive effects on the world by giving the listeners a good message and help influencing them to possibly help out the world.The director Malik Bendjelloul, puts us through a journey of discovering who Sixto Rodriguez was. This helps you be able to learn who this singer is and what his morals and principles were. Bendjelloul skillfully structures the documentary to make you wonder what happened to this unknown singer. Until finally the search to whatever happens to this singer comes with an unexpected twist. He manages to make you wonder why this man was not popular because his two albums were mostly positive from critics. Could it be from bad luck or another example of the music industry taking advantage of an artist's talent? The only way to find out is by watching it yourself. This documentary does deserve to be seen but not only for its heartwarming tale but ability to show how music can positively change people's worldview.

christianbmietus "Searching for Technique"*Spoiler Alert*Searching for Sugarman is a technical oriented and mystery driven documentary that delivers knowledge uniquely. It is highly praised, with a message that seems to be highly dramatized to further an agenda. I believe that this film has amazingly executed elements of technical nature but with a repetitive narrative that needed to show more progress. The technical elements are what the filmmakers have placed significant emphasis on, to stylistically interest the viewer. Sound being one of the most emphasized elements, since the film's narrative is about the search for the 70s folk rock musician (Rodriguez). Sound is utilized in many forms, such as with voice- over, layering of sounds, and transitioning through dialogue. The film is structured using an album format, intertwining the music of Rodriguez to deliver a more poignant narrative and utilizing sound exponentially. The visuals are also a clearly emphasized portion of the documentary, with a use of fantastic vistas to immerse the viewer in the setting (even incorporating animation). Since the settings, South Africa and Detroit, are a major portion of the narrative, it seems to be a common trait of the director (Malik Bendjelloul) in this film to focus on technique. Bendjelloul loving the extremity of cinema's technique to strengthen his message as a documentarian.Overall, this documentary is a unique and extreme take on the documentary style, with style placed on par with substance. Placing more unique ways of emphasis compared to other documentary films, and trying to stay entertaining. I would recommend this documentary, although I did not particularly enjoy it for anything more than the technical aspects and the interesting people.3.5/5

christopherjkoelle *Spoiler Alert*The man, the myth, the legend. Searching for Sugar Man depicts the story of Sixto Rodriguez; an expert musician and vocalist, yet most importantly a prominent social advocate. Even from the beginning of the film, his soundtrack is on display as a car winds down a road to a soulful tune. In South Africa his prestige rivals that of The Beatles and Creedence Clearwater Revival for power Vietnam-era music in South Africa, yet why hadn't he been a worldwide phenomenon until recently?Born in Detroit, he grew up in a modest environment that demanded hard work for success. He personified this attitude by working in construction, yet he also lingered around bars at night performing his original music. People were mystified from his anonymity, describing him as a figure that wandered from bar to bar in the downtown area. Nonetheless, the music he produced was lyrically brilliant and stuck the heart of the listener. This caught attention from record labels that wanted to get him out to the masses, yet after a couple attempts at an album it never quite caught on in the United States. Instead, Rodriguez somehow became a star in South Africa during the height of the Apartheid where his songs about humanity and love resonated with listeners. He embodied the resistance to the oppressive government, and the common people of South Africa yearned to know what their idol was up to. This task proved to be difficult as there were no leads to his whereabouts. Stories circulated describing Rodriguez killing himself on stage by lighting himself on fire or putting a gun to his head. His ghastly presence seemed to be factual, until a record store owner named Sugar (after Rodriguez's hit Sugar Man) received information that stated otherwise.Living alone in the downtrodden outskirts of Detroit, Rodriguez had been going on with his daily life long after he tried the music business. He had no idea of this fame in another land, yet Sugar and his colleagues invited him to South Africa to show him what he means to the country. As the ghost of Rodriguez is revived, you will also feel refreshed in this story of a man who unknowingly touched the spirit of millions.