Review of Cocaine Cowboys 2 (2008) by Lee B — 26 Feb 2009

Documentary sequels ? gotta love?em. And with the first one, I loved it. And this one started off so perfect for me. Oakland, Ca. Brookfield. Here is where we are introduced to Mr. Cosby, who?s the opposite of Bill. Even better, here is an area where I would help my friend?s class as a TA in one of the most urban ghetto elementary schools there could be (at the time). And a place where later I had a co-worker who lived there and I dropped off a few times even though he had trouble getting carjacked and pistol-whipped before. Now, if it happens to me when I?m back there, I?ll name drop Cosby.

Back to the movie, Cocaine Cowboys (1) was a great movie that really set the scene and period for the rise of cocaine in 80s america. It was a great introduction to the players and how they fell into it and controlled a great deal of the western world. Part 2 brings it around to being more of bio piece on Cosby and the Godmother from the first one ? who was really the most interesting subject of the first one. And while it has some interesting and slick animation, it got bogged down in only really following these two and the fact that the director and his company are getting a little full of themselves with tracking shots, slow pans, re-enactments breaking interviews, and other style without substance efforts. Plus, it really could have done better by giving the Oakland story more of a chance like it did Miami for part 1.

However, at the end of the movie, I found that I had sat and watched the entire movie without my mind wandering. I was interested. And that wins back a star.