First-time feature documentary director Matthew Cooke's 'How to Make Money Selling Drugs' is about exactly what the title says it is about. There is no clever misdirection, grand illusion, trick or outright lie
it is about making LOTS of money while selling drugs.
In what has been described as a "shockingly candid examination", Cooke interviews a cross-section of "insiders" – dealers, big pharma lobbyists (ka-ching!), prison employees etc. -- who know this world of secret deals and cutting and mixing as few others who have survived to tell their tales. While this entertaining documentary deals with unsavory subject matter, Cooke keeps the footage rather PG-13 and his style and format are quite engrossing. It doesn't feel like an "old school" documentary -- this one is fun (and with this title ... it could spell trouble!)
Cooke starts the viewer out with a little Joe Schmoe selling drugs to his high school friends and teammates before escalating his "business" over the course of a relatively short amount of time into a multi-million dollar, international conglomeration complete with mules (some very unfortunate souls) and chefs and high profile clientele.
While Moore shows the audience how frighteningly "easy" a global market can be obtained (which brings in the BIG bucks) with proper work ethics and technique, he never once glamorizes the trade without depicting the harsh realities (cops, fights, bad deals, DEATH) that are never more than a few steps away at any given time of day.
In order to not boggle down the mind of (some) viewers and to keep the film fresh and interesting, Cooke breaks his film into segments one might come across in an "Idiot's Guidebook to ..." manual.
It is made clear that just about anybody can sell some drugs and possibly make some money but it is NOT a wise profession. It is an interesting watch which might sadly influence some pathetic copycats who would be quite dangerous as they would be dumb enough to miss ALL of Cooke's warnings.
This is an enjoyable, entertaining and informative documentary.
In what has been described as a "shockingly candid examination", Cooke interviews a cross-section of "insiders" – dealers, big pharma lobbyists (ka-ching!), prison employees etc. -- who know this world of secret deals and cutting and mixing as few others who have survived to tell their tales. While this entertaining documentary deals with unsavory subject matter, Cooke keeps the footage rather PG-13 and his style and format are quite engrossing. It doesn't feel like an "old school" documentary -- this one is fun (and with this title ... it could spell trouble!)
Cooke starts the viewer out with a little Joe Schmoe selling drugs to his high school friends and teammates before escalating his "business" over the course of a relatively short amount of time into a multi-million dollar, international conglomeration complete with mules (some very unfortunate souls) and chefs and high profile clientele.
While Moore shows the audience how frighteningly "easy" a global market can be obtained (which brings in the BIG bucks) with proper work ethics and technique, he never once glamorizes the trade without depicting the harsh realities (cops, fights, bad deals, DEATH) that are never more than a few steps away at any given time of day.
In order to not boggle down the mind of (some) viewers and to keep the film fresh and interesting, Cooke breaks his film into segments one might come across in an "Idiot's Guidebook to ..." manual.
It is made clear that just about anybody can sell some drugs and possibly make some money but it is NOT a wise profession. It is an interesting watch which might sadly influence some pathetic copycats who would be quite dangerous as they would be dumb enough to miss ALL of Cooke's warnings.
This is an enjoyable, entertaining and informative documentary.