Sugarland

Even though midway claims of evil capital forcing sugar on people is emotional, not aimed at fixing the issue, psychological aspect of addiction depriving people of their potential, makes it the most valuable propaganda to date. Production quality seems rather the matter of time and budget. Silliness while unnecessary is fairly compensated with accessible factual load. Haters pay a lot of attention to calories being equal and thus think this documentary is nonsense but they ignore facts of psychological reaction specific to sugar. Sugar makes people feel love. It's mostly people raised in communities deprived of love altogether - like south USA, aboriginal reservations or undeveloped societies of post-soviet and Asian states. For anyone who still can't get it how to live without added sugar or flour just do what motivational coach said at the end of the film - try to prove it yourself that living without sugar is good for everyone. No need to fear the change - you can always go back to your previous diet but I'm pretty sure you won't have the desire to do so.

In this documentary, film-maker Damon Gameau becomes his own guinea pig and spends 60 days eating healthy foods with added sugar. Before this process, he had eradicated sugar from his diet so the contrast is even more pronounced. Over the course of the 60 days he puts on considerable weight, experiences mood swings and notices a drop in overall motivation.

What I found so alarming about this film was that it didn't play things easy and simply expose the dangers of excessive sugar intake. Gameau doesn't consume any junk food whatsoever, such as fizzy juice, sweets or ice cream, he instead purely sticks to food marketed as healthy. It's this more than anything that sets off alarm bells because this route seems to most people a route to weight loss and improved physical well-being, yet as the film demonstrates it actually leads to obesity and mental damage. Time and again we are shown the volumes of sugar that is hidden in so-called 'healthy' foods and it makes you pause for thought. What comes out loud and clear is that sugar is clearly a socially acceptable form of addiction and the sugar industry have been instrumental in minimising public information on the dangers their product presents. It's very interesting to note that over the course of his 60 day experiment Gameau eats no more calories than he did previously, yet he puts on almost a stone in weight. One of the key lessons, therefore, is that there are calories and there are calories, i.e. sugar calories affect the body decidedly differently to the way protein and carb ones do.

The approach taken by the film is very much of the fun and informative variety. Sometimes the humour doesn't work so well but in the main this approach is good in that it is very accessible. After all, this is a film that you would want children to watch and learn from. There are a couple of star cameos with Hugh Jackman giving us a brief history lesson about man's relationship with sugar and Stephen Fry pops up to explain some of the science behind it. On the whole, I found this to be an excellent wake-up call about a subject I had hitherto given minimal thought to. There is a lot of very valuable information in this film that could be genuinely life changing if applied to your day to day life, and I reckon that is as good a recommendation as anyone could need.

The last time I saw such documentary film was 'Food, Inc.'. In the mean time I have seen documentaries about different topics, but not food. It was a long gap indeed, because then I was in my early twenties and now watching this film made me realise how to look at the food I eat everyday. So believe me, if you are in your late twenties and above, this will inspire you. But for others, like the youngsters and kids, it will be an educational film.

This Australian film looks funny from the outside, but the information it gives can't simply be discarded. I liked the actor, who was the writer, director, producer of the film and the dedication was highly appreciable. Because it was not just go out and make a film, but he himself placed into the centre of the film plot. Initially I thought it was a crazy idea, but at the end I'm stunned. For everything, from what he did and what this film revealed.

When it comes to the food, there are many things to be concerned. But this film was focused on sugar, about the foods we eat, which has a strong sugar presence and how it is affecting our health. Damon Gameau decided to experiment himself by consuming per day, forty teaspoons of sugar and from sugary products that easily available in the market. And monitoring carefully the changes in his body along the way his wife's pregnancy.

"Sugar's not evil, but life's so much better when you get rid of it."

The film is not all about the experiment he's doing, it also gives some details about the people who are suffering big from modern foods. Especially I'm happy for openly giving opinions about the soft drinks from Coke and Pepsi brands. Damon also travelled to the US and he continued what he was doing, alongside collecting some new input from the experts, as well as meeting the victims. The rapid change in his physique and health gives a report on what direction the experiment is heading. From damaging the skin to the putting his internal body organs into various risks of diseases such as liver failure, heart attack and many more.

There's a brief appearance of Hugh Jackman, but don't expect more than that. It had no big impact, because the film's topic was much bigger than his part in the film. The film gave me some idea about how to deal with the food I consume. If you are concerned about your weight, particularly fat tummy, you will know what to do after watching this. I mean this does not guide you through, but opens your eyes. It points out where you are committing your mistake. It does not tell to completely cut off the sugary, but know your limit and behave.

One of the best documentary films. Do whatever you want after watching this, but before that don't think to skip it. You can call it an inspirational, educational or a message deliverer, but this film has committed to highlight what went wrong with the modern day diet. And how the food industry is responding to all the accusations. But you should know what's better for you, so think twice before touching any sugar products. Especially be aware of fructose (who is the villain of this story), which might not equate to nicotine, but the consequences are.

9/10

Taking a page out of the Morgan Spurlock Super Size Me documentary book, recognisable Australian actor Damon Gameau has here delivered a witty and informative documentary that might take a few to many turns into situations and scenarios that don't work out fully, but still comes out on top thanks to a unique and thoughtful way of displaying the effects that sugar has had on mankind.

Utilising great use of CGI and talking heads, support of some name actors like Hugh Jackman and Stephen Fry and with a relatable and affable charisma, Gameau undoubtedly thought long and hard about how he would make the documentation of his 60 day sugar filled diet into something interesting and fun, all the while being quite shocking in many aspects and he succeeds in turning a dry subject matter into an easily watchable and digestible whole.

I like many others could count myself as someone that thinks little about the effects sugar has on my life or my future life as it seems like a harmless and enjoyable addition to our diet. What Gameau does so well is showcases how even so called healthy snacks/drinks like Smoothies or breakfast meals are actually just as bad for you as most so called "bad" food and drinks. It's also shocking to see statements and information backed up by the physical transformation of Gameau over the period of the film and even the biggest doubters of the films message would struggle to deny the obvious change in the body of someone consuming the average amount of sugar per day that you and I could well be doing also.

While it's not a ground breaking piece by any means, That Sugar Film is still a very enjoyable and thought provoking piece of documentary filmmaking that would be a valuable addition to children's education on the sugar intake effects and also a must see films for all those that might just love there Mountain Dew a little too much.

3 ½ tooth extractions out of 5

Are we able to stomach another movie about health and the way we are used to eat? That depends on yourself. This movie is not as out there as the one about McDonalds/Fast Food (Supersize me), because it is about everyday food and things you may eat and drink yourself. Actually it is very likely that you consume most of the things, not being aware about the sugar they contain.

If you're made aware of this though, will you be able to eat and drink more healthy? If even smoothies have more sugar than you'd think (or is it just me), what options are there? You get a couple of solutions and answers, but the movie never tells you that you have to do this or that. The ultimate decision lies within yourself ... And if you think about Mary Poppins while watching: The movie acknowledges this too ...