Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski
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Jeff reviewed...
Cocaine Cowboys (2006)
Cocaine Cowboys is an interesting documentary about the cocaine trade… More
Cocaine Cowboys is an interesting documentary about the cocaine trade in Miami in the 1970's. The subject is fascinating and the interviews are from the guys who took part in the illicit trade. Jon Roberts and Mickey Munday recount their experience. The film also takes a look at the lawlessness of Miami due to Cocaine wars. This film is raw, gritty and intense. The film is quite good, but due to kinetic editing and awkward pacing, it is hard to follow. It almost feels like the director didn't know to find a perfect pace for the film. Aside from that, this is still entertaining and there is plenty of information that will bring to light this interesting subject. This is not a film for everyone, but it is a must see for people interested in true crime subjects. This is a compelling film, but it should been done better. The way it was put together feels amateurish, but luckily enough the subjects tell a good account of events, which what makes this standout and overcome its flaws. Some of the accounts are quite bone chilling and disturbing. This is a worthwhile documentary, but not the best I've seen. The film feels like a made for TV documentary, but nonetheless it's interesting for what it is, but is not a film worth watching again and again. Cocaine Cowboys is flawed of course, but if you love true gangster stories of real accounts, then this is the film for you, but be warned, it's not well edited and it feels a bit rushed in terms of the way it was filmed. For such a topic, you'd think that it would be a great documentary, but it's merely a good one at best.
15 hours ago via Flixster
Jeff reviewed...
Cocaine Cowboys 2 (2008)
Sequel to Cocaine Cowboys takes a look at the Oakland crack cocaine… More
Sequel to Cocaine Cowboys takes a look at the Oakland crack cocaine trade seen through the eyes of Charles Cosby. Cosby recounts meeting Griselda Blanco, the Godmother of Cocaine, and the film takes a look at her life as well. This is quite interesting, but like the first film is raw and gritty, however this film feels less compelling even if it's an interesting topic. I really felt that this documentary could have been better and due to its subject, should have been something memorable. As it is it's a worth seeing, but is not a documentary that stands out either. The subject is good, but I feel that the documentary could have been reworked to be a much better document. If you enjoyed the first one, you might like this one, but it is a film that just ends falling short of its potential. The subject is interesting of course, but it isn't great either. The way it is presented is not to glorify this form of lifestyle, as I find this lifestyle appalling. The film shows how bad this lifestyle is and its consequences. Yes, it is easy money, but people who go into this business never last and each one faces an unavoidable downfall. This follow-up along with the first shows just that, but in the end it's not a film that you want to rewatch. This film is for people who enjoy crime documentaries, and it gives you an interesting portrait of the illicit trade. I liked it, but it is far from the best documentary that I've seen. Worth seeing once, but not more. The film had potential of being much better, but it is an average film in the long run.
15 hours ago via Flixster
Jeff reviewed...
Pain & Gain (2013)
Pain & Gain is the latest effort from director Michael Bay. Based on a… More
Pain & Gain is the latest effort from director Michael Bay. Based on a real story, this film should have been a far better film than what it turned out to be. Bay is good for one thing only, mindless popcorn movies that are designed to thrill, and even then, he is hit and miss. Of all the films that I have seen that he has directed, The Rock and Transformers were his best films. Afterwards, his career was laughable. Bay struggles to tell a dramatic story, but it just ends up being a decent affair. The dialogue is too often cheesy and the cast seem to struggle with the material, but they do what they can with the script. I didn't hate the film, but I felt it could have been done better and I also believe that a different director could have done a far better job in directing this film. The actors are what kept me interested in the film, and the story itself is interesting, but it definitely deserved a proper treatment. I really thought that this film could have been much better than what it turned out to be, but to summarize it, it's typical Michael Bay trying to do something serious, and the results are mixed. The film decent, but it doesn't warrant multiple viewings. Mark Wahlberg has made some very good films in the last few years, but with Pain & Gain, he acts in a film that just wastes his potential. There are parts where Bay tries to put light hearted humor in disturbing scenes, and it just makes you feel uncomfortable. If you hate Bay's work, avoid it because it won't change your mind about his directing style, but if you can tolerate him, watch it, but it's not a stand out film either. Pain & Gain should have been much better than this and you can just imagine how good it could have been.
1 day ago via Flixster
