Piñero (2001)

"Piñero" tells the story of the explosive life of a Latino icon, the poet-playwright-actor Miguel Piñero, whose urban poetry is recognized as a pre-cursor to rap and hip-hop. After doing ... See full summary »

Director:

Leon Ichaso

Writer:

Leon Ichaso

Stars:

Benjamin Bratt, Giancarlo Esposito, Talisa Soto

6 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Benjamin Bratt	...	Miguel Piñero
Giancarlo Esposito	...	Miguel Algarin
Talisa Soto	...	Sugar
Nelson Vasquez	...	Tito Goya
Michael Wright	...	Edgar Bowser
Michael Irby	...	Reinaldo Povod
Rita Moreno	...	Miguel's Mother
Jaime Sánchez	...	Miguel's Father (as Jamier Sanchez)
Rome Neal	...	Jake
Mandy Patinkin	...	Joseph Papp
Oscar A. Colon	...	Bodega Man (as Oscar Colon)
Miriam Cruz	...	Bodega Woman
Luis Caballero	...	Shooting Gallery Man
Sophia Domoulin	...	Shooting Gallery Woman
Robert Klein	...	Doctor

Storyline

"Piñero" tells the story of the explosive life of a Latino icon, the poet-playwright-actor Miguel Piñero, whose urban poetry is recognized as a pre-cursor to rap and hip-hop. After doing time in hard-core Sing-Sing for petty thefts and drug dealing, Piñero's prison experiences developed into the 1974 Tony-nominated play Short Eyes. The resulting notoriety and fame was too much for the Latino bad-boy genius who retreated to the darker corners of New York City.

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Plot Keywords:

miguel piñero | drugs | sing sing | latino | new york city | 

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Genres:

Biography | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for drug use, strong language and sexuality

Details

Official Sites:

Miramax Films [us] The film,cast, trailer

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 April 2002 (Brazil)

Also Known As:

Pinero

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$21,750 (USA) (14 December 2001)

Gross:

$1,418,314 (USA) (28 February 2003)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Burnside Entertainment, GreeneStreet Films, Lower East Side Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min 94 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

References Serpico (1973)

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Soundtracks

"Get Out Of My Way"
Written by Ubiquitous P. God
Published by Criterion Music (ASCAP)
Performed by Joe Torres
Courtesy of Blue Note Records, a Division of Capitol Records, Inc.
Under License from EMI-Capitol Music Special Markets

User Reviews

See it with an open mind

The critics generally were not kind to this film, but I submit that in most cases their middle class roots are showing. Anyone with a serious interest in urban America in the '70s should see it. The visual style is jagged and hyper but that fits the subject matter aptly. The effect on the viewer is you either pay attention or get lost. Also, this is clearly not a movie that's interested in creating a cardboard hero, but do we need another one of those? The filmmakers are keen on showing Puerto Rican influence on NY culture, an influence so deep that it's often ignored.

Benjamin Bratt did receive some kudos for his acting, but he deserved nominations. In the short documentary on the DVD, he mentions that in his teens he saw the film of "Short Eyes" and was frightened by the subject matter. He also mentions fear when offered the Pinero role, because he would be playing a real person. This must be one of the notable cases where an actor overcame some fear to turn in an astonishing portrait.

I hope I've suggested a few of the reasons to see this film. Among other things, it casts doubt on the mainstream as we've come to know it. Pinero would have liked that about it....