Drug Lord: The Legend of Shorty (2014) User Reviews

Compelling, sometimes shocking documentary

[Leofwine_draca · 6/10 · 10 December 2014]

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.

Looking for Shorty comes up Short in its outlook

[joebloggscity · 7/10 · 13 December 2014]

Okay with such a title of a documentary, there are tons of puns galore you can come up with on this one, but the subject matter is no laughing matter.

We have two journalists/documentary makers out to try to find the elusive Mexican drug lord El Chapo ('Shorty') who is currently the world's most notorious drugs crime lord. Going and escaping from wherever they can, our leads interview just anyone who is brave enough to talk. Quite often you will feel very disturbed by some of the replies from a selection of those interviewed.

This is a graphic and honest documentary, and the question is just what will he be like when or if the documentary do find him? That's the mystery.

It's nothing special in it making, and really we are watching our leads on a wild goose chase.

It's interesting and unsettling, worth a viewing but you'll get little out of it.

Finding Shorty's grandma

[YohjiArmstrong · 13 March 2015]

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.

What did you really film?

[minac-24125 · 3/10 · 30 June 2021]

Did you take bits and pieces from other documentaries?? The action scenes and the scenes where its being narrates are done with actors. This is not filmed im Mexico. I've watched plenty documentaries about this which is why I know the scenes where you're actually interviewing somebody that was involved was taken from other documentaries. All the other stuff is acting and not in Mexico some of the stuff you have on this they would not have allowed you in your a fake journalist. Anabele Hernandez did not have that interview with you. That's from 1 of her 2 documentaries.

Of Drugs and Power

[paul2001sw-1 · 9/10 · 27 November 2014]

The drugs business is a multi-million pound industry, and the head of the Sinaloa cartel, known as 'El Chapo', or 'Shorty' in English, was a semi-public figure. So how come he lived so long without arrest? He was finally captured earlier this year, but it seems that the authorities were complicit in his freedom, perhaps because it's easier to have a Mr. Big (or Mr. Small?) controlling a cartel than to cut off the head and look at what's inside. In 'The Legend of Shorty' two film-makers, who have an established interest in the subject, attempt what the U.S. and Mexican governments apparently could not do, and track down the man in person. Their quest illustrates the sad state of contemporary Mexico, and the damage that the cartels, and the war on drugs, have done to the country. It's a revealing portrait, enlivened by some brilliant Tex-Mex songs about El Chapo and the life in his gangs, but fundamentally depressing. Something is rotten in the state of Mexico; and it's hard to believe that Shorty's eventual arrest will actually change that much.

Very real

[mysamsungnotethree · 10/10 · 2 October 2016]

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.

Stellar doc on the drug-lord El Chapo aka Shorty

[Seth_Rogue_One · 8/10 · 18 October 2015]

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.