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Searching for Sugar Man

2012

Malik Bendjelloul

Documentary, Self: Sixto Rodríguez

8.0

28,326

Documentary Two South Africans set out to discover what happened to their unlikely musical hero, the mysterious 1970s rock 'n' roller, American Sixto Rodriguez. SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN tells the incredible true story of Rodriguez, the greatest '70s rock icon who never was. Discovered in a Detroit bar in the late '60s by two celebrated producers struck by his soulful melodies and prophetic lyrics, they recorded an album which they believed would ... [+]

	Media	Author	Review
		Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times	"I hope you're able to see this film. You deserve to. And yes, it exists because we need for it to. Rating: ★★★★ (out of four)"
		Peter Travers Rolling Stone	"A fresh and unexpected documentary that plays like a nail-biting mystery and a ticket to ride the whirlwind where art and commerce do battle. (...) Rating: ★★★ (out of four)"
		Michael Phillips Chicago Tribune	"It moves to a relaxed rhythm, in sync with its slightly otherworldly subject"
		John Anderson Newsday	"The search for a long-lost pop icon has an unexpected payoff. Rating: ★★★½ (out of four)"
		Rene Rodriguez Miami Herald	"Director Malik Bendjelloul's engaging, cleverly structured documentary about the legendary folk singer Rodriguez is shaped like a mystery. rating: ★★★ (out of four)"
		Steven Rea Philadelphia Inquirer	"Beautiful and revelatory, 'Searching for Sugar Man' also incorporates huge chunks of Rodriguez's music. Rating: ★★★★ (out of four)"
		Ty Burr Boston Globe	"A rock documentary that goes way behind the music to tell a story that seems pure urban legend. Rating: ★★★½ (out of four)"
		Ben Sachs Chicago Reader	"Here's the rare music documentary in which the narrative is more interesting than the songs. Rating: ★★★★ (out of five)"
		Mark Jenkins The Washington Post	"The movie is neatly structured, and Rodriguez turns out to be an interesting guy. He's worth getting to know, even if his music isn't. Rating: ★★½ (out of four)"
		Claudia Puig USA Today	"The way in which this fascinating story unfolds (...) renders it thoroughly captivating, often exhilarating. Rating: ★★★★ (out of four)"

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