Cocaine Cowboys

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Actor(s):

Jon Roberts (III), Al Sunshine, Sam Burstyn, Mickey Munday, Bob Palumbo

Director(s):

Billy Corben

Label: Magnolia
Publisher(s):

Magnolia

Studio: Magnolia
Manufacturer: Magnolia
Binding: DVD
Brand: MAGNOLIA HOME ENTERTAINMENT
MPN: MAGD10063D
Format(s): Color, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Rating: R (Restricted)
List Price: $14.98
Our Price: $5.99
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

In the 1980s ruthless colombian cocaine barons invaded miami with a brand of violence unseen since prohibition-era chicago - and it put the city on the map. This is the true story of how miami became the drug murder & cash capital of the united states told by the people who made it happen. Studio: Magnolia Pict Hm Ent Release Date: 07/29/2008 Run time: 118 minutes Rating: R

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

A kaleidoscopic world and the party that seemed as if it would never end

This 2006 documentary about the rise and fall of the cocaine trade in Miami in the 1970s and 1980s is so fast-paced and intriguing that I stayed glued to the screen for the full two hours. It is the story of how the city of Miami changed from a sleepy vacation spot into the hub of the international cocaine trade in just a few short years.

Newsreels from the time bring back the styles and habits of the 1970s. Interviews with real-life criminals who have served or are still serving time in prison brings the stories to a personal level. There is money - millions of dollars in cash. There are drugs - hundreds of tons of cocaine and marijuana. There are clever schemes to hide it all. And lots of ways to spend the money.

The participants who are interviewed are all nostalgic. They explain how it all worked - how the drugs were shipped, how they were stored, and how it was distributed. Their lifestyles were opulent. It was exciting and fun. The social effect on Miami was to bring prosperity to the car dealers and jewelry stores. It was a kaleidoscopic world and a party that seemed that it would never end.

And then there was the violence. We see a newsreel of a hit in a shopping center. We hear an interview with a man now in prison who murdered a dozen people. Often, even children were not spared. There were Columbians, Cubans and Panamanians involved. The worst was a woman who ran the whole business who is rumored to have had more than 200 people killed.

Eventually, the gangs were disabled, the perpetrators were sent to prison and the whole cocaine traffic ended. Miami seemed to be destroyed. But then it came back.

The best part of this film is that it was all real and the filmmaker presented it well It was all done rapid-fire. There was not a dull moment. I enjoyed it immensely.

A True Hollywood Inspiration

This film is why, movies like Scarface, Blow, and Many other drug movies were made, true documentary of life in Miami Where drugs ruled the town. I loved it.

Eye-opener! Thrilling real-life story of the beginning of Miami as we know it.

I had seen bits of pieces of this program on Showtime as was hooked. Ordered the DVD and watched it the whole way through- I couldn't even force myself to get up! We've all heard the stories of how coccaine used to flow through Miami in the 70s and 80s but never in my life had I even imagined just how much money was changing hands.

This real life story of the the Miami coccaine trade is just totally amazing. The amount of money, guns and drugs in Miami during the "cowboy" days was unimaginable. If I didn't know for a fact that this was based on a true story I'd think it was impossible. This is like the movie "Blow" without the fictional storyline...

GREAT DOCUMENTARY ABOUT COCAINE

THIS IS A MUST WATCH, ITS REALLY GOOD AND ENTERTAINING. IT'S A TRUE STORY IN HISTORY THAT DID AFFECT HOW LIFE IS TODAY. IT'S AMAZING THAT THIS REALLY DID HAPPEN AND NOW ITS ALL OUT IN THE OPEN FOR US TO WATCH. THE EDITING WAS GREAT! IT LEAVES YOU WANTING TO KNOW MORE AND MORE, YET VERY INFORMATIVE. YOU WON'T REGRET IT. (ESPECIALLY IF YOU DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT DRUGS AND WANT TO KNOW BUT DON'T KNOW WHERE TO START)

Captivating and Entertaining

I don't usually get too wowed by documentaries, but this one is really well done. No matter what your political views are on illegal drugs this story of how the culture and infrastructure of an entire city were transformed by drug trade over a 2 decade period is fascinating. An added bonus is the musical score by Jan Hammer--so aptly matched to the theme and tenor of this movie.

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