THE FILM
TITLE: The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar
RELEASE DATE: 20 Sep 2023
WATCH DATE: 13 Feb 2024
TYPE: live-action short film
ACCESS: streaming on Netflix
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THE PEOPLE
DIRECTOR: Wes Anderson
PRODUCER: Wes Anderson, Jeremy Dawson, Steven M. Rales, Octavia Peissel, Alice Dawson, John Peet, Molly Rosenblatt
ACTORS: Ralph Fiennes, Benedict Cumberbatch, Dev Patel, Ben Kingsley, Richard Ayoade
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THE STORY
RUNTIME: 39mins
STORYLINE: A wealthy man learns a powerful skill and uses it for a good cause.
STYLE/GENRE: theatre, monologue, avant-garde, postmodernism, symmetry, quirky, colorful
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THE CRITIQUE
THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS
Wes Anderson brings the short stories of Roald Dahl to life in a series of four short films (streaming on Netflix). Wes Anderson’s postmodern filmmaking style is a perfect match to Dahl’s quirky stories. First, I recommend watching the other three short films - The Swan, The Rat Catcher, and Poison - first before Henry Sugar. These other three are under 20 minutes each and are a great primer to a longer short film (... paradox?).
The storyline of Henry Sugar plays a bit with the concept of Inception - a story within a story within a story. We are introduced to Henry Sugar (Benedict Cumberbatch) who discovers a book in a library with a fascinating story, and we dive into that story. This story is about a doctor (Dev Patel) who encountered a peculiar man who could ‘see without using his eyes’ (Ben Kingsley). The doctor then recounts every detail about his encounters with this man… and we dive into that story. The man has indeed learned to see things without using his eyes, and the doctor is driven to discover and learn the same skill. Back up to the doctor’s story, he tracks down a mystic man in the jungle who teaches him the habits that will give him the ability to see without using his eyes. The doctor practices these for years and writes down everything he’s learned. Henry Sugar then does the same, using the skill to essentially cheat at poker games, earning him hundreds of thousands of dollars. He realizes that he’s traded the thrill of gambling for this powerful skill and is determined to use it for a generous cause.
Between the actor’s performances, the script, and the production design, it feels like watching a theatre play - which is quite entertaining! These short films were my introduction to Wes Anderson, and I am hooked. The cinematography and storytelling feel new and refreshing. Color and color grading tell you that you are in for a fun but still serious story. There aren’t a lot of interactions between the characters, but the cast’s chemistry is still felt across scenes. Fiennes perfectly embodies the author of the story. I did notice, however, that Patel’s acting seemed to be a bit… overacting. Eyes too wide, speaking a bit too fast, distracting from the flow of the script and story. Cumberbatch knows how to act the ‘prideful lead’, and this might be a bit of a type-cast for him, but he carries the character development steadily away from that through the film. The script uses a storytelling style, with the characters narrating the plot as they act out the story - thus giving a theatrical style to the film.
I was pleased with the length of the film - not like a Pixar short, and not a full-length feature film. Right at 40 minutes, just enough time to tell the story. I believe it’s nomination for Best Live-Action Short Film from the Academy of Arts is well deserved and well placed. (I am also thankful to have been able to access it on Netflix - not the case with other short films!) The avant-garde style made it a different and refreshing sort of film to watch. It broke up the norm for a change. I am a particular fan of Anderson’s symmetry in his shots, often placing the figure dead-center on the screen for an emphasized focus.
While I enjoyed the experience and can identify the expert filmmaking, it did not produce a deep response in me. It has certainly fanned the flame of my preexisting spark of interest in Wes Anderson’s work, and I look forward to watching his other films.
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THE RECEPTION
TOMATOMETER: 96%
IMDB: 7.4/10
NOMINATIONS
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THE IMPRESSION
IN A SINGLE WORD: refreshing
MOST STRIKING ELEMENT: cinematography
REWATCH: no
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