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| View Larger Image | Cocaine Cowboys | DVDStarring: Jon Roberts, Al Sunshine, Sam Burstyn, Mickey Munday, Bob Palumbo
Directed By: Billy Corben
Also With: Armando Salas (Cinematographer), Billy Corben (Editor), Billy Corben (Producer), David Cypkin (Editor), David Cypkin (Producer), Alfred Spellman (Producer), Bruno del Granado (Producer)
| List Price: | $14.98 | | Price: | $9.49 | | You Save: | $5.49 (37%) | | | Available: | Usually ships in 24 hours |
| | Binding: | DVD | | Rating: |  | | Run Time: | 118 minutes | | Format: | Color, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen | | Studio: | Magnolia | | Number of Discs: | 1 | | Aspect Ratio: | 1.78:1 | | Release Date: | January 23, 2007 | | Sales Rank: | 6,357th |
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FEATURES | - The cocaine trade of the 70s and 80s had an indelible impact on contemporary Miami. Smugglers and distributors forever changed a once sleepy retirement community into one of the world s most glamorous hot spots, the epicenter of a $20 billion annual business fed by Colombia s Medellin cartel. By the early 80s, Miami s tripled homicide rate had made it the murder capital of the country, for which a
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EDITORIAL REVIEWS |
Product Description
The cocaine trade of the 70s and 80s had an indelible impact on contemporary Miami. Smugglers and distributors forever changed a once sleepy retirement community into one of the world s most glamorous hot spots the epicenter of a $20 billion annual business fed by Colombia s Medellin cartel. By the early 80s Miami s tripled homicide rate had made it the murder capital of the country for which a Time cover story dubbed the city "Paradise Lost."System Requirements:Run Time: 118 minsFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: DOCUMENTARIES/MISC. Rating: R UPC: 876964000635 Manufacturer No: 10063 |
Amazon.com
More of a real-life exploitation film than a bonafide documentary, Cocaine Cowboys is tailor-made for anyone who worships Brian De Palma's Scarface. It's no surprise that this slick, energetic film found a niche audience among crime-obsessed hip-hoppers; from a journalistic perspective it's an irresponsible mess, but director Billy Corben is obviously more interested in capturing the thrills and danger of the drug trade that transformed Miami, Florida during the Miami Vice era of the late 1970s and '80s. Corben has no particular interest in seriously examining the sociopolitical implications of Miami's drug-fueled rise and fall, so Cocaine Cowboys lives up to its title by focusing on some of the most colorful, daring, and outrageously successful survivors of that era, when tons of cocaine were distributed through Miami by the kingpins of Colombia's notorious Medellin cartel. Chief among the many interviewees are Jon Roberts and Mickey Munday (who personally transported over $2 billion worth of cocaine into Miami) and Jorge "Rivi" Ayala, a convicted drug-trade assassin now serving consecutive life terms in prison. They're lively storytellers who are egotistically eager to share their coke-tales, and Corben's only too happy to capture their exploits on film, up to and including the dubious use of violent reenactments that could easily serve as a recruitment film for Tony Montana wannabes. It's simultaneously disgusting and compelling, especially since Corben has a knack for matching swift editing to the pulsing score by TV's original Miami Vice composer Jan Hammer. In the final analysis, it must be said that Cocaine Cowboys succeeds as a brash and breathtaking record of a bygone era, when murder rates were at an all-time high, coke was everywhere, and Miami was financially transformed into a nightlife mecca where criminals were kings. Or queens, as in the case of Griselda Blanco, the ruthless and self-appointed "Godmother" of the cocaine trade, who was responsible for countless murders and as of 2007 remained at large, her whereabouts unknown. All of this deadly life in the fast lane makes for a fascinating movie, but Corben and coproducer David Cypkin's breathless commentary makes it clear that they're young, immature thrill-seekers, and their film makes no apologies for glorifying the drug trade while exploring its bloody and frequently fatal consequences. Their commentary also accompanies an abundance of deleted scenes, and there's also a bonus featurette, "Hustlin' with the Godmother," in which Griselda Blanco's former lover and big-time coke dealer Charles Cosby tells his story, which clearly has all the makings of a Hollywood movie along the lines of Blow. You can bet that film will eventually be made, and don't be surprised if it's Corben who makes it. --Jeff Shannon |
CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.5 based on 46 reviews)
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Excellent documentary by Ligia I. Casanova (Florida)  5 Stars
October 12, 2009
I will recommend this documentary for an adult. Too much violence, drugs, murders, traffic of drugs, etc. but its the true reality of Miami in the 70 and 80's.
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WOW! I can't believe it took me so long to watch this! by GadgetChick 5 Stars
April 18, 2009
I had heard about this documentary from a friend of mine who raved about it. My "movies to watch" list is so long I just kind of added it to the list and didn't worry too much about it. I decided to sit down and watch it last night and WOW! I am sorry I didn't watch it sooner. This is an explosive, exciting story of real-life drug smuggling, murders, and high living in Miami in the 80s. One thing I loved about this documentary was that there was no narrator. So many documentaries get bogged down because the narrator just drones on and on, and won't get out of the story's way. In this documentary, the directors let the subjects tell the story and it is way more authentic and entertaining that way. I also really liked the innovative visuals, using still photographs and cutouts of photographs to illustrate things.
This documentary makes an interesting point - as bloody and destructive as the Miami drug wars were, they did result in the construction of modern Miami. Although one person in the documentary says "too many people died, it wasn't worth it" you do have to wonder where Miami would be today without the massive cash influx provided by illegal drug smuggling in the 1980s. As someone who believes drug legalization (at the very least, for marijuana and "softer" drugs) should be more seriously considered, I thought the point was interesting and well-made. Think how much money is generated by the drug trade each year; then think about what that money could do if it were harnessed and controlled by the government, who would also have more power to regulate drug violence.
This is an awesome documentary even if you are the type who hates documentaries. Captivating and compelling.
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One of the best documentaries I've seen by The Mandrew (The Dub-V) 5 Stars
April 06, 2009
Lets be honest; even at their best, documentaries can be a little dry. Its not the subject matter - its just that rarely is life truly as entertaining as art.
Not so with Cocaine Cowboys. Perhaps I'm baised, as I have a minor obsession with Miami (no idea why...its just always been. Whether its Miami Vice, CSI, Burn Notice, Dexter, etc, etc, etc, I just am ennamored with the whole city). Still, this documentary really delivers on its larger than life characters and most amazing to me, the way the 80's drug trade really shaped the culture and economic climate of today's Miami. Ironically, its the reason why much of the construction and industry is in place.
I just found this whole doc and subject fascinating, and if any aspect of Miami interests you, you will gravitate towards this amazing flim.
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Movie is a little over-done,cheap looking,and glorifies scumbags. by Jose Lopez (Miami,Florida USA)  3 Stars
March 02, 2009
Despite being a little over done,sometimes cheap looking film, It glorifies scumbags for instance,You cannot deny that the movie has a great point: Alot of the money went to building Miami.Of course Miami was a sleepy town that could have done without such help,Thank God it's cleaned up now.(Although not enough).
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I would give this 10 stars if I could! by J. Worley (Fayetteville, NC USA) 5 Stars
January 14, 2009
This documentary is one of the best movies I have ever watched. There is so much information crammed in you will have to watch it half a dozen times just to comprehend it all. Some of the things will amaze you (especially if you live in Miami). Billy Corben always does an amazing job with his projects, you don't even realize it is a documentary. I highly recommend this to anyone who has an interest in learning about the rise of cocaine, the drug trade, Miami, or crime in general and the money it produces. Make sure you watch all the extras on the DVD and watch the movie with the commentary on the second time around. There was so much information they could have made two movies from just this one.
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SIMILAR PRODUCTS |
| Cocaine Cowboys 2 - Hustlin' With The Godmother
Starring: Charles Cosby, Griselda Blanco
Directed By: Billy Corben
Charles Cosby's life is changed forever when he writes a fan letter to the "Cocaine Godmother" Griselda Blanco, who is serving time in a federal prison. Six months later, Cosby is a multi-millionaire, Blanco's lover, and the head of her $40 million a year cocaine business. Also known as "The Black Widow" for her propensity to permanently dispose of her men when she's done with them, Blanco stops at nothing to ensure that Charles is faithful. Cosby soon learns he's in way over his head.
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| Pablo Escobar: King of Coke
Pablo Escobar was the biggest cocaine druglord, in the history of Colombia and the United States. He ruled the Colombian Medellin Cartel with an iron fist, by murdering police officers, judges, and presidential candidates. He even blew up a commercial p
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| The Real Rick Ross Story - The Cocaine Campaign
Starring: Shabazz, Mel Roberts
Directed By: Shabazz
Ricky Donnell Ross aka "Freeway Rick" catapulted the crack cocaine explosion of the early 80's...considered illiterate by school standards, but brilliant in America's underworld...from the mid-80's to early-90's Rick would make an astonishing $300,000 to
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| Drug Wars
Starring: Artist Not Provided
People have been using drugs since the beginning of time and for almost as long someone has been trying to stop it. The war on drugs has been a constant battle in the world and there is no end in sight. The propaganda put forth by various governments ab
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| Mr. Untouchable
Starring: Louie Diaz, Leon ", Jazz", Hayden, Thelma Grant
Directed By: Marc Levin
This is the true-life story of a junkie turned multimillionaire drug-lord. With the first hand testimony of the Godfather himself, Nicky Barnes, who was the most powerful black drug kingpin in New York City history.
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