Memorable, crazy movie

everything you have heard about this movie is true.

As somebody who had not heard any of this before, it became a curious phenomenon to sit and watch a film and slowly have the realities begin to click into place.

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

Amazing documentary. The previous reviews don't do it any justice. This is a true yet sad story. A Story about the corruption and incompetence of the political leadership of a nation. Our neighboring Mexico. It is indeed sad. While this show doesn't show el-Chapo on camera, the filmmakers are able to interview his mother and his close associates. One can also see him in a different light, and perhaps even understand a little how important of a role he plays to so many Mexicans. Especially in the Sinaloa region. The government has failed their people in so many ways...and here comes this drug lord, who only sells narcotics and hard drugs to other countries and never to his own people (at east they convinced themselves of this fact. So in their minds, he never does) So this kingpin offers Mexicans work, money, protection, and even hope for a better future. This is why no one betrays him. The filmmakers are definitely neutral. They don't condone nor condemn. They tell a story as they see it. They show everything as is and leaves it up to the viewer to make up their mind about the man. It's a frontline documentary for God's sake. So you know it is great.The corruption in Mexico however has resulted in a big loss of lives at the hands of drug lords. It is incomprehensible to the point of saying that this can only happen in a failed nation. Very sad to say it: A Narco state.

Joaquin Guzman Loera aka El Chapo aka Shorty is one of the most infamous drug-lords of all time, he was the first person to be labelled PUBLIC ENEMY NUMBER ONE by the US government due to his billion dollar drug-business and ruthless antics to uphold his rep.And this documentary follows a team of journalists in the search for a meeting with the man and interviews many of Joaquin colleagues (and even family members) on their quest.And while many of the people that know El Chapo tells stories of his goodness and humble nature, it's obvious that they are holding a lot back very possibly due to fear of repercussions, so one has to read between the lines a little bit.Repercussions from law-men seem less of a worry since the drug-smugglers very gladly seem to share their very best drug-smuggling tips.Well worth seeing.

THE LEGEND OF SHORTY is a documentary which sees two journalists, one British and the other Peruvian, go hunting for "El Chapo" (or "Shorty") Guzman, the head of the Sinaloa Cartel. They lay out his rise from foot-soldier to the leader of the largest of the Mexican drug cartels, which is interesting if familiar to anyone who knows anything about the subject. Then they try to find the man - who was supposed to be the most wanted man in Mexico - who the government couldn't find. They don't meet him but they do manage to get to his ranch, meet his grandmother and hang out with his bodyguards. It seems likely that he's around, but unwilling to appear on camera. This is the most compelling part of the film, in part because of how uncinematic the life of the cartel guys is: they pretty much hang around in the boondocks drinking beer and killing cows to make steaks. The relative ease with which the journnalists find him shows what most people in Mexico already knew; that there is collusion between the cartels and the government (recently Shorty was captured, without a fight; like his earlier prison time, it's almost certainly all arranged before hand). Unfortunately this means that there isn't much for the journalists to do, so to bulk out their film to a feature-length of 90 minutes they play a lot of songs in full, which are mildly interesting but really slow it down. It probably would have been better as an hour of television.

A compelling, quest-based documentary that sees a pair of film-makers (one British, one Peruvian) travel to the USA and Mexico in the hunt for a notorious Mexican drug lord nicknamed 'Shorty'. This has much in common with the kinds of globe-trotting documentaries that Ross Kemp regularly makes for Sky these days, with the unwelcome addition of a number of musical interludes (I could have done without all the music, which is why this gets a lower rating than I'd have liked to give it).The narrative is focused and wide-ranging, exploring all of the different facets of the drug dealer's life and career, and you get a thorough overview of the whole situation. Camera-work and dialogue are fine. The film-makers manage to get themselves into a couple of dangerous situations, which makes for all the more compelling viewing, and there's some graphic footage of the ultimate consequences of the drug-dealing business that wouldn't be out of place in the likes of FACES OF DEATH, so be warned.