Benjamin Bratt: Pinero - Movie

Pinero
Cast :	Benjamin Bratt
Director :	Leon Ichaso
Studio :	Buena Vista Home Vid
Format :	Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen
Released Date :	January 01, 2001
DVD Released Date :	March 01, 2005
Language :	English (Dubbed), Spanish (Subtitled), English (Original Language)
Audience Rating :	R (Restricted)
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Customer Reviews

Rating
Date	January 18, 2005
Summary	soulful and moving
Content	Benjamin Bratt delivers an outstanding performance as poet/playwright Miguel Pinero. His accurate and believable portrayal of the "Nuyorican" deserves much more acclaim than the little attention it received when the movie was first released. While being a Nuyorican myself allows me to engage in the character's world and plight perhaps more than those outside of the community, the internal struggle Pinero faces daily should resonate with anyone who has dealt with less than perfect circumstances. The movie is raw and strikes at the core of what makes an artist both successful and doomed- the ability to allow himself to feel and articulate life's beauty, hypocrisy, and irony all in one breath, paint stroke, song, dance, etc.

Rating
Date	August 24, 2004
Summary	Disappointing, but please check out Ichaso's earlier work
Content	I wish I liked 'Pinero' more than I do. I have a lot of respect for Ben Bratt and think he turns in a yeoman's effort here an Boriqueno poet Miguel Pinero. It's a complete transformation. Pinero's seedy, disheveled persona is a far cry from Bratt's polished, slicked-back 'Law and Order' look. And who doesn't root for Talisa Soto (Bratt's wife)? What a classy lady. The problem is that the jumpy, non-linear, confusing look and storyline of Pinero make it hard to generate any warmth towards the film itself or the characters. Which is a shame, because Director Leon Ichaso is someone I'd like to recommend. His 1996 release 'Azucar Amarga' (Bitter Sugar) about one man's disillusionment with Castro's Cuba is a singular accomplishment and a transcendant movie-going experience. Despite my disappointment at the way 'Pinero' turned out, I'd still urge you to check 'Bitter Sugar' as soon as you possible can.

Rating
Date	March 24, 2004
Summary	You'll Want to Bathe After Watching This One!
Content	This movie is a portrayal of the "Nuyorican" poet and playwright Miguel Pinero. Pinero wrote the play "Short Eyes" based on life in prison. It's a harsh look at the life Pinero lived, a life enveloped with crime, drugs, and disease. I'm not the one that picked out this movie, so I wasn't that interested in it even before it began. After watching the street life of Pinero I felt dirty!

Rating
Date	March 10, 2004
Summary	A great movie although very sad and tragic
Content	Pinero is based on the life of puertorican playwright, actor and poet Miguel Pinero. His life from early childhood was a constant struggle for survival since his father abandoned his mother (played by the great Rita Moreno)when he was a small boy. Pinero turned to a life of crime while still in his early teens and served time in Sing-Sing for arm robbery and stealing cars. While on the inside Pinero turned his anger and frustrations to writing short stories which later became plays such as his most successful and controversial play "SHORT EYES" which was nominated for a Tony Award as Best Play in the late 70's. Pinero also started a theater group in jail and perform for the other inmates plays that he had written. Joseph Papp, the legendary theater producer read Pinero's play "SHORT EYES" and decided to produced it Off Broadway while it became a success despite is limted run. I have never been fond of Benjamin Bratt as an actor but in this movie he did an excellent job and really transformed himself into the character. This movie is a bit strong and somewhat harsh since it depicts the reality of the character. Miguel Pinero was not only a convict but a drug addict who took heavy doses of cocaine and would inject large quantaties of heroin on his arms. Pinero lived the life of a bum through out his life and even as he reached moderate success as a playwright he still hard a tough time fighting his inner demons. He died in 1988 at the age of 40 of Aids (I believe) after he overdosed on more heroin. This movie is not for everyone but it is a good movie whose main character lived a very sad and tragic life and just as he lived life on the edge he ended his run on earth the same way.

Rating
Date	February 02, 2004
Summary	Miguel PiÃ±ero, 150614
Content	After his father abandons his family, Miguel PiÃ±ero starts a journey that will take him through the lowest and highest points imaginable. Miguel was prayed upon by perverted adults in his childhood, became a drug addict, and ended committing a series of crimes and going to prison (prisoner 150614). During his stay in Sing Sing a visit by his mother urging him to make her proud motivates him to start writing a play about life in prison called Short Eyes, which will be his first step towards stardom. Life after prison did not change much, he was successful as a poet and writer, but his personality made him return to his bad habits. His belief was that a painful and troubling life results in devotion to the truth, and therefore allowed him to write in such an exceptional way. The movie shows the particular relationship PiÃ±ero had with some of his friends, two of which appear as particularly prominent, Miguel Algarin and Tito Goya; the former a professor at Rutgers, the latter a partner in crime and drugs. This also shows the duality that was present in other aspects of his life. There are several other manifestations on this duality throughout the movie, for example Miguel had a "stable" relationship with Sugar, his girlfriend, but he also had amorous relationships with other men. The style in which the movie is presented corresponds well with the inner turmoil PiÃ±ero experienced. There is an interesting use of alternation between black and white and color scenes and the action keeps moving forward and backward in time without any clear array. The performance given by Benjamin Bratt is extraordinary. I do not like this actor particularly, but in this case I have to acknowledge he fitted the role perfectly. He also performed extremely well in the parts in which it is required from him to recite poems. This is an amazing movie and I think everyone should see it. Nevertheless, if you are uncomfortable with non-linear sequence in the action, or are not interested in the least in poetry, it would be better for you to skip it. On the contrary for those of you that have watched and enjoyed the show "Def Poetry" in the past, this movie will be memorable. The poem in the last scene will give you goose bumps and leave you breathless!

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