{"id":46346,"date":"2019-12-28T21:48:14","date_gmt":"2019-12-29T04:48:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=46346"},"modified":"2021-01-18T19:08:13","modified_gmt":"2021-01-19T02:08:13","slug":"short-eyes-1977","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=46346","title":{"rendered":"Short Eyes (1977)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t know you had a mother; I didn&#8217;t know human beings gave birth to dogs.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Short-Eyes-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Short-Eyes-Poster-203x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"203\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-46349\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Short-Eyes-Poster-203x300.jpg 203w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Short-Eyes-Poster-86x128.jpg 86w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Short-Eyes-Poster.jpg 675w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 203px) 100vw, 203px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nWhen a white child molester (Bruce Davison) arrives in prison, he meets a variety of fellow inmates &#8212; including a white leader (Joseph Carberry), a black Muslim leader (Don Blakely), a handsome young Puerto Rican (Tito Goya), a surly Puerto Rican (Shawn Elliott) with an eye for Goya, and and a father-figure Puerto Rican (Jose Perez) who attempts to keep the peace.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Play Adaptations<\/li>\n<li>Prisoners<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nRobert M. Young directed this adaptation of <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Short_Eyes_(play)\">a play by former prisoner Miguel Pi\u00f1ero<\/a> &#8212; clearly someone who knew this setting and understood how the introduction of a child predator (the lowest of the low in prison) would bring instant suspense to an already tension-filled situation. Other than one overly lengthy explanatory monologue by Davison (playing an undeniably tricky character), the screenplay comes across as authentic: we believe in this setting, these characters, and the natural conflicts (racial, sexual, and otherwise) that arise between them. Young (filming on location in <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Tombs\">&#8220;The Tombs&#8221;<\/a> of New York) and Pi\u00f1ero impressively highlight both the claustrophobia and the camaraderie of the prison &#8212; including the complicated role of complicity played by correctional officers &#8212; and the entire ensemble cast is both believable and natural. (An interview with Young on the DVD indicates that he was highly intentional in the casting &#8212; including switching out one actor in a key role when it was clear he wasn&#8217;t a good fit, and hiring numerous former convicts and ex-junkies as extras.)   <\/p>\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> &#8220;Short eyes&#8221; is a slang term created by Pi\u00f1ero to refer to child molesters. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Fine performances by the ensemble cast<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Short-Eyes-Carberry.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Short-Eyes-Carberry.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-46351\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Short-Eyes-Carberry.png 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Short-Eyes-Carberry-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Short-Eyes-Carberry-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Short-Eyes-Carberry-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Short-Eyes-Goya.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Short-Eyes-Goya.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-46352\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Short-Eyes-Goya.png 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Short-Eyes-Goya-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Short-Eyes-Goya-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Short-Eyes-Goya-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Short-Eyes-Davison.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Short-Eyes-Davison.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-46356\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Short-Eyes-Davison.png 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Short-Eyes-Davison-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Short-Eyes-Davison-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Short-Eyes-Davison-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Short-Eyes-Blakely-Elliott.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Short-Eyes-Blakely-Elliott.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-46355\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Short-Eyes-Blakely-Elliott.png 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Short-Eyes-Blakely-Elliott-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Short-Eyes-Blakely-Elliott-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Short-Eyes-Blakely-Elliott-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Short-Eyes-Perez.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Short-Eyes-Perez.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-46354\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Short-Eyes-Perez.png 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Short-Eyes-Perez-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Short-Eyes-Perez-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Short-Eyes-Perez-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Strong direction and cinematography in a confined location<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Short-Eyes-Location.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Short-Eyes-Location.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"853\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-46350\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Short-Eyes-Location.png 853w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Short-Eyes-Location-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Short-Eyes-Location-128x72.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Short-Eyes-Location-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, as a powerful prison drama. Listed as a Sleeper and a Personal Recommendation in the back of Peary&#8217;s book. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Good Show<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0076706\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thespinningimage.co.uk\/cultfilms\/displaycultfilm.asp?reviewid=3922&#038;aff=13\">Spinning Image Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1977\/09\/28\/archives\/film-short-eyes-eloquently-adapted.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tvguide.com\/movies\/short-eyes\/review\/117641\/\">TV Guide Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;I didn&#8217;t know you had a mother; I didn&#8217;t know human beings gave birth to dogs.&#8221; Synopsis: When a white child molester (Bruce Davison) arrives in prison, he meets a variety of fellow inmates &#8212; including a white leader (Joseph Carberry), a black Muslim leader (Don Blakely), a handsome young Puerto Rican (Tito Goya), a surly Puerto Rican (Shawn Elliott) with an eye for Goya, and and a father-figure Puerto Rican (Jose Perez) who attempts to keep the peace. Genres,&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=46346\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-46346","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46346","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=46346"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46346\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":64302,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46346\/revisions\/64302"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=46346"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=46346"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=46346"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}