Documentary Movie Reviews

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Cocaine Cowboys (2006)

Rate: 10
Viewed: 10/25

CocaineC
10/25: Remember Miami Vice?

Cocaine Cowboys explains where it all started in the 70's: Colombia. It's an absorbing documentary that's chock-full of information. To get more insight into the other side, I recommend The Two Escobars.

I knew Max Mermelstein had to be part of the picture after reading WITSEC: Inside the Federal Witness Protection Program. Having an unparalleled access to the Medellín Cartel for an American, he was the man who tore everything down which allowed Miami to recover from the cocaine-fueled mess of violence. Before the city was completely transformed by drug money, the best way to see how it looked like is Tony Rome.

If there's one aspect I'm always surprised by, it's the lenient punishment doled out. How is it that people like Griselda Blanco and others who were knee-deep in the transportation and sale of illegal drugs getting off lightly? The former would be assassinated in 2012 while Mickey Munday went to prison in 2018 for auto fraud-conspiracy and will probably die there. Jon Roberts and his girlfriend passed away in their 60's.

All in all, it's not often a documentary is done right with no bias, and Cocaine Cowboys is among them.