How to Make Money Selling Drugs (2013)

Director Matthew Cooke indicates just like the urban structure has told us over the years that any average Joe or Jane can sell drugs. All it takes is some brief knowledge and mathematics, a little bravery to sell this illegal product and a slight disrespect for any social laws. But like in any business, we all start rock bottom to get to the top or in the drug trafficking business, from the corner to the shipload. "How to Make Money Selling Drugs" focuses on the grim enterprise on one of the government's most disdainful antagonist by explaining in an arcade visual the proper steps to start from the bottom of the ladder to working your way to the top of the enterprise in documentary that is both captivating, even though shallow at some points.Backed up by myriad of ex drug kingpins from various locations as they explain their tricks to the respected trades as they narrate how they started as ragged teens who have abandoned their previous life coming from broken homes as an escape to start a new life. At least a better life than what they had already. From the rough and rugged gangs of Los Angeles, to the despotic outskirts of Florida, all the up to the frozen tundra of Alaska, drugs are selling faster than candy, but it's the quick cash that gets people into the industry. Refraining from any family support or the chances of obtaining a decent education, many people enter this dangerous and illegal enterprise primarily as an escape from their previous life in the doldrums as the only place to turn to make ends meet. It's a dark paradise for them. What I mean dark paradise is that the job is grim, the clients are intimidating, your life is on the line, but if your stuff sells, the money couldn't be more sweeter. While it's hard to find a job, people turn to drugs because it's easy to apply and the payoffs are quite rewarding. Cooke's loyal subjects lived the life for many years and each of them suffered their own fall, but Cooke refrains from narrating about their struggles, but instead to examine their contrasting methods to achieve success in the underground atmosphere of selling drugs.The subtle tongue and cheek humour in its showcase for drug trafficking derives in the same balance as Eugene Jarecki's "The House I Live In". But while Jarecki leans towards truths that stem from his own personal experiences, Cooke leads his documentary with a grimace until we reach the unpredictable climax about the real truth of what happens after ones rags to riches in the soliciting industry. Near the end law enforcers, attorneys and David Simon, creator of "The Wire" reveal what kind of sentences are faced when entering this kind of business and to add more flames to the fume, they hire hip-hop legends like 50 Cent and Eminem as decoys to prove their point across.Sure 50 Cent experienced what the drug life was about, and Eminem tried a few life threatening substances of his own, but I see no logic why they brought hip-hop artists into the mix. It brings about a bad cliché that all hip-hip artists have taken drugs before coming clean which is totally untrue. Cooke's take on the steps to become a successful trafficker to which leads to it all being taken away to the consequences one must and will face when entering this field. We miss out that billions of dollars of taxpayers money is for nought and how it has ruined lives that can not be fixed, and the many sentences one must face remains absent at times. Granted his storytelling is witty, cynical and vibrant, however, by Cooke taking this subject rather lightly he loses his grasp as his audience can't understand what his intentions are and in the end, he leaves them empty.

9.1 of 10. Starts out feeling like a comedy, a faux documentary, in part because of the title, but also because the opening few minutes mock the opening of any "how to get rich" or "how to be successful" TV/video nonsense. Then the alternate reality shifts into reality, but continues with the quick pace and fun attitude for what is a tragic look into the past and present of drugs.It's essentially The War on Drugs documentary for Colbert Report and Daily Show fans, maybe even South Park fans. About the only thing it does wrong is not provide enough charts and data. What it does provide are seamlessly integrated into the film. I would have also like the part on Portugual explored a little more deeply.But wait, there's more! No need for a gun, you can make money by selling drug fear too! This is more than a literal look at how to make money by selling drugs. It gets into the many different ways politicians and corporations are profiting from drug prohibition.

How to Make Money Selling Drugs is an entertaining and fast paced ride that delivers a clear message. Whether you believe in decriminalizing drugs or not, the film gives nuggets of perspective that allow the audience to go on a path of discovery of their own, while still maintaining the film's own voice. The actual delivery of the message was the highlight for me. The film follows people from all walks of life - giving the audience a well-rounded, well researched and well conceived view. I find that many documentaries, especially on such controversial topics, can come out one-sided, but this is a true exception where you never feel forced to feel a certain way, but come out forming your own opinions that somehow mesh with the film's core values. So, in sum, brilliant!

I am not a big documentary film watcher, but this movie is the exception to my rule. It was bold, exciting, entertaining and thought provoking. It's a subject matter that anyone can be intrigued by and I certainly was. First of all, the pace and tempo of the movie was incredible. Second, the talent is ridiculous to watch. Seeing actors that I don't think of as speaking out about the subject matter and doing it in such a candid way was fascinating to me. But besides these two things, hearing real accounts of people that went from street dealers to drug lords is sick to both watch and hear about. It's really different from a lot of the usual stuff I've seen on TV or in movies before. I would 100% recommend this film to anyone and I would even see it again.