Cocaine Cowboys

This is a fascinating documentary about the rise of cocaine in the United States, mostly focused on Florida. It describes how some entrepreneurial, and morally lax, people managed to turn cocaine into a multi-billion dollar industry in the U.S. It explains how Miami, Florida became a dangerous place to live because of the wars between cocaine smugglers and the drugs immense social costs. It also shows how some people profited from the suffering the drug caused.

The film does not glorify the smugglers; it simply shows how they gained their wealth, and eventually how they lost it. What you will find most interesting is the amount of jail time that these big time drug peddlers received when they were finally caught.

In any case, the documentary was very thorough, and will keep your attention throughout. There is a sequel that I will definitely have to watch. I would rate this as a rent. I liked it but doubt I would watch it very often. I highly recommend checking it out.