I watched this to find out more information about one person, Marylin Bonochea. She just so happened to be my fathers 2nd wife. I wanted to know more about her story and history since when I knew her she was in witness protection. The series captured the details of the kingpins story, probably too quick but their story is long and very detailed from what I've come to understand. I enjoyed this from a completely different perspective than most others.
35 Reviews
Not great, not terrible.
martinurban-214355 August 2021
Not up to Corben's usual standard
adgo8-803-4474054 August 2021
Skip the intro
tapefive17 September 2021
Good archive footage and story but I don't like how the narration is done by the people being interviewed.
Also i've never skipped an intro on Netflix as quickly in my life as I do with the theme song to Cocaine Cowboys: The Kings of Miami.
Also i've never skipped an intro on Netflix as quickly in my life as I do with the theme song to Cocaine Cowboys: The Kings of Miami.
A shell without a core
NicolaTesla5 August 2021
Warning: Spoilers
To me this feels like a cheap cashin on the, so much better prequels, Cocaine cowboys (9/10) and Cocaine Cowboys reloaded (7/10). This is more exposition and takes a very very long time to get to the point.
The music is done OK but also lacks the real 80's vibe compared to the original
I rather spent my time rewatching The other two.
The music is done OK but also lacks the real 80's vibe compared to the original
I rather spent my time rewatching The other two.
Interesting Series
Nomissimon106 August 2021
Interesting true crime series but too long
jologo-126497 August 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Being drawn to docudramas, documentaries and fictional films/programs about the drug trade, this 6-part series about two Cuban-American high school dropouts who became "kings of Cocaine" in Miami was a natural choice for me. It didn't disappoint.
I hadn't heard of Willy and Sal, so the story of their rise and - spoiler! - fall was one of which I was unaware. Despite brief references to other locales, changes in the "war on drugs" and the impact on the trade, the series is very much focused on the two protagonists (who are seen in historical video footage and photos) together with their families, and associates, on the one hand, and the FBI, government prosecutors and defense attorneys, on the other.
Of the many individuals who relate parts of the story, about six provide 80% of the onscreen commentary, with Sal's longtime girlfriend being the star, so to speak. Interspersed with historical local news footage, these interviewees come to dominate the narrative as it is transformed in the later episodes into a courtroom drama / morality play.
Overall, Cocaine Cowboys held my interest. But halfway through the 3rd episode, I expected that its end would conclude the series and looking back would preferred it had.
I hadn't heard of Willy and Sal, so the story of their rise and - spoiler! - fall was one of which I was unaware. Despite brief references to other locales, changes in the "war on drugs" and the impact on the trade, the series is very much focused on the two protagonists (who are seen in historical video footage and photos) together with their families, and associates, on the one hand, and the FBI, government prosecutors and defense attorneys, on the other.
Of the many individuals who relate parts of the story, about six provide 80% of the onscreen commentary, with Sal's longtime girlfriend being the star, so to speak. Interspersed with historical local news footage, these interviewees come to dominate the narrative as it is transformed in the later episodes into a courtroom drama / morality play.
Overall, Cocaine Cowboys held my interest. But halfway through the 3rd episode, I expected that its end would conclude the series and looking back would preferred it had.
what's a 1000 lawyers on the bottom of the ocean
howboutthisone_huh6 August 2021
Warning: Spoilers
While the series is not as good as the producers previous docs, it's still very entertaining and hard not to binge. It's confusing though because only a brief mention of giselda and almost nothing about other dealers or the cartels in miami as if they're starting the story all over again, with same titles, different chars. Like describing walmart as if amazon never existed. But, the most intriguing part was the lawyers. In one scene, this lawyer actually says that they explored ways of fabricating a story to acquit his client, which also involved getting witnesses to lie in court and fabricate evidence. No backlash on the attorney, which is amazing. Incredibly too the main trafficker is ultimately convicted of money laundering which was based on checks he wrote to his attorneys, which all insisted that he find a way to pay them in a way that they could later claim deniability even though all these attorneys knew his assets had been seized or frozen. Right there on the screen you're watching a crime being committed and the attorneys are slithering out of any accountability. Not the focus of the documentary but the most fascinating part.
Disappointing
mf28124 August 2021
When I heard that Billy Corbin was making another Cocaine Cowboys documentary I was over the moon, but it ultimately fell way short of his previous work. I don't necessarily think it's his fault, but it's on for too long. The first Cocaine Cowboys was exceptional, but this isn't near the standard set by that. It's still a decent watch, but don't go in thinking you're gonna hear from a Micky Munday or Jon Roberts kinda raconteur. It's just nowhere near that standard.
Great Series
sheast7 August 2021
I enjoyed this series. Maybe because I knew little to nothing about the Sal and Willy's story but I thought series was fun, fast pace, and even account from all sides. Got a lot of participation from those connected to the "tale." I feel in love with Marilyn!! She a person that is in the craziness but you can't help but root for her and laugh with her. All said & done, everyone right where they should be!
Good entertainment
ppowell00214 August 2021
Informative.... But ultimately boring.
SelenetheHunter18 August 2021
Not bad but doesn't hold a candle to other Drug Docs.
filmguy1-209-4720425 August 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Perhaps the part that seemed to ring untrue was that they were able to rise so quickly through the ultra violent Cocaine Trade without resorting to violence like other major trafficking gangs! Then they suddenly become violent once they're arrested! However, Cubans in Miami are a very tight-nit group. A fictional movie with a more in-depth insight on their colorful lives may be much more interesting.
Who's Responsible for this Soundtrack?
basel917122 August 2021
Better than I expected
bethcombs5 August 2021
I found this series to be better than I had anticipated, having seen the feature length docs previously. It was entertaining, detailed and surprising in spots. I truly did not think there could be a series that was as good as the previous productions, but this was. The music was great, too!
Addicting as....
weiss43078 August 2021
I found this story to be enthralling, captivating and very well done. Just when you thought it was going one way, there was another wrinkle. Ultimately it an icarus story. It's rare that a documentary makes you want to watch it all a second time. Very well done.
My Miami
Gswillis10 August 2021
I was a teenager when this was all going down and it was exciting and dangerous and all kinds of 80s bizarro fun!! The ironic part for me was the fact that the Prosecutors had no problem with destroying the family members of drug dealers because it was a means to an end.....exactly the mentality of the drug dealers! Never EVER trust the cops or the government, they are not there for you they are there for their careers.
Interesting and Detailed.
henryshear20 August 2021
The story of the Cocaine Cowboys was something that I was completely unaware of prior to watching this series. The exploits of drug lords such as Pablo Escobar are interesting, but Sal and Willie forever changed Miami and America forever.
Unlike most other drug traffickers, Sal and Willie were non-violent. They were absolutely beloved and considered icons in Miami. Even news stories called them by their first names. The money they earned from drugs was then given to others desperate for help.
Yet the government was committed to making sure both Sal and Willie lived their lives in prison. The tons of cocaine that they sold in the US most likely killed millions of people and destroyed countless lives. Their vendetta spanned decades and the series does a beautiful job of interviewing agents, attorneys and associates that really demonstrate the government's tenacity.
I enjoyed watching this series very much. The story was so interesting and I loved every moment. I highly suggest watching every episode and thank you for reading my review.
Unlike most other drug traffickers, Sal and Willie were non-violent. They were absolutely beloved and considered icons in Miami. Even news stories called them by their first names. The money they earned from drugs was then given to others desperate for help.
Yet the government was committed to making sure both Sal and Willie lived their lives in prison. The tons of cocaine that they sold in the US most likely killed millions of people and destroyed countless lives. Their vendetta spanned decades and the series does a beautiful job of interviewing agents, attorneys and associates that really demonstrate the government's tenacity.
I enjoyed watching this series very much. The story was so interesting and I loved every moment. I highly suggest watching every episode and thank you for reading my review.
wanna binge???...
ops-5253515 August 2021
Who tipped off the police for the ledger in Marilyn Bonacheas car
kokkios23-468-35544525 August 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I have a question. Who tipped off the police for the ledger in Marilyn Bonacheas car. Was it herself? Did she decide to shut them in jail for good serve some time herself and then live free with the millions she took from Sal?
Glorify drug dealers
boboceaelena6 August 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I love to see a story where the bad guys name themselves heroes or Robin Hood, where they don't have a ounce of remorse for what they have. They didn't seem to have payed for the harm that they have done but they recount everything extremely happy, proud and enthusiastic.
Great story but too long
cozyrosireviews4 August 2021
Not a bad documentary at all but it doesn't excel either.
roondogbb7 August 2021
I always like to read some of the reviews of other reviewer's prior to writing my own review in order to ger some perspective of what people are generally thinking about the TV show, in this case Cocaine Cowboys..... I have to say that here the reviews seems rather polarizing.... one review said, it's yet another cartel documentary and on that note gave it only star.... one could do the same thing for any marvel movie then.... ohh it's just another marvel therefore I'll give it 1 star because I want something different..... Its important when reviewing that you review the show in and of itself and don't always compare it the best thing you've watched in your life because that would be very unfair.
As to what I thought of the documentary series. It tells the tale of what was happening in Miami from a format of an A to Z narrative..... There isn't any beautiful cinematography here, nor does it have recreations.... both things can be found in seen documentary series on Netflix which is good. But this show is a telling of the details of the Miami drug trade from the mouth of the people who imported it and interviewers with journalists, investigaters, family members of the dealears and the dealers themselves.... I like probably everyone else has a vague idea of what Miami was like in the 80s through the media.... GTA Vice City comes to mind for me.... Yet I never knew the players and the ups and downs of their enterprise.. This show goes some way to filling us in... There is other documentaries out there that might be more to your taste. That's fine but it's unfair to rate a show so low if you think it's subjectively bad because you simply don't like drug documentaries... Anyway, I highly enjoyed the show. A relaxing watching and I'm sure other's will like it to (while others perhaps not) 8/10.
As to what I thought of the documentary series. It tells the tale of what was happening in Miami from a format of an A to Z narrative..... There isn't any beautiful cinematography here, nor does it have recreations.... both things can be found in seen documentary series on Netflix which is good. But this show is a telling of the details of the Miami drug trade from the mouth of the people who imported it and interviewers with journalists, investigaters, family members of the dealears and the dealers themselves.... I like probably everyone else has a vague idea of what Miami was like in the 80s through the media.... GTA Vice City comes to mind for me.... Yet I never knew the players and the ups and downs of their enterprise.. This show goes some way to filling us in... There is other documentaries out there that might be more to your taste. That's fine but it's unfair to rate a show so low if you think it's subjectively bad because you simply don't like drug documentaries... Anyway, I highly enjoyed the show. A relaxing watching and I'm sure other's will like it to (while others perhaps not) 8/10.
Kept my attention
rfadam21 December 2021
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