Cocaine Cowboys Reloaded

Cocaine Cowboys Reloaded is a documentary film that explores the rise and fall of the cocaine trade in Miami during the 1970s and 1980s. This period in Miami's history was marked by violence, corruption, and the rapid accumulation of wealth by drug traffickers who flooded the streets with cocaine.

The film is a sequel to the 2006 documentary Cocaine Cowboys, which was also directed by Billy Corben. Cocaine Cowboys Reloaded features interviews with key players in the Miami drug trade, including former drug kingpins, law enforcement officials, and journalists who covered the story. The film provides a detailed account of how the cocaine trade began in Miami, how it grew to become a multi-billion dollar industry, and how it ultimately came crashing down.

One of the key figures in the film is Jon Roberts, a notorious drug trafficker who became known as the "Cocaine Cowboy". Roberts was one of the first people to bring cocaine to Miami, and he quickly built a vast network of dealers and distributors across the city. The film includes extensive interviews with Roberts before his death in 2011, in which he recounts his experiences in the drug trade and reflects on the impact that it had on his life.

The film also features interviews with former law enforcement officials who struggled to combat the drug trade in Miami. One of the most notable of these officials is Edna Buchanan, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who covered the story for the Miami Herald. Buchanan discusses the challenges that law enforcement faced as they tried to disrupt the drug trade, and the difficulties that she faced as a journalist trying to report on a story that was often shrouded in secrecy.

Throughout the film, viewers are provided with a vivid depiction of the culture surrounding the drug trade in Miami. The film features footage of lavish parties, drug deals, and violent confrontations between rival gangs. The soundtrack is also a key element of the film, with a mix of classic rock, disco, and funk music evoking the era in which the story takes place.

Despite its focus on a violent and often grim chapter in Miami's history, Cocaine Cowboys Reloaded is also a fascinating portrait of a city in flux. The film shows how the drug trade helped fuel Miami's transformation from a sleepy retirement community into a bustling metropolis, but also how it contributed to the city's darker side. The film is a compelling glimpse into one of the most turbulent periods in American history, and a tribute to the people who lived it.

In conclusion, Cocaine Cowboys Reloaded is a must-see documentary for anyone interested in the history of the drug trade in America or the cultural and social changes that occurred in Miami during the 1970s and 1980s. It is a powerful, gritty, and engaging film that provides a nuanced look at a complex story.