I don't know what happened to this diary series, but I'm gonna throw this out tonight. I like drug movies. Not just that, but I love movies about the business of drugs. Movies about drug dealing, drug trafficking, the consequences of a life spent hustling & cooking. Many drug movies seem to have the same arc to them. The plot usually begins with seduction & temptation, then the high life under the influence and the final act is normally the crashing down of harsh consequences for the lifestyle of trafficking. Though some of these films are cultural icons in their own right, some are lesser known gems that tell the familiar tale in their own unique way.
By far the most popular narco movie that comes to mind is Scarface. T-Shirts, desk clocks and money clips all bear the image of the immortal cultural icon of Tony Montana. His insatiable lust for power, money and bad dialogue inspired a generation of rap artists and endless parodies.
Another great narco movie that seems four hours long is Traffic.
Several interwoven stories about the epic fail of United States drug policy. Great performances that never go over the top and a redemptive ending for one of the main characters. I never much liked the series it was based on, but the Steven Soderbergh movie is entertaining if you can muster the four hours it takes to watch the thing.
For exploring the hellish consequences of drug use, the alpha and omega film in this area is most certainly Requiem For A Dream. Darren Araonofsky's masterpiece tale of the downward spiral of addiction is about as pleasant to watch as diving naked into a pile of rusted razor blades and then showering off with rubbing alcohol.
I only watched this film once and that's all it took. I could never see it again it was so degrading and nightmarish. The ending is one huge downer. A true classic.
A bit off the mainstream are films like 1992's Deep Cover, with Jeff Goldblum and a slender Laurence Fishburne. Also noteable for the first Dr. Dre/Snoop Dogg collaboration, this film was also the directorial debut of the guy who played Mac in Predator.
It's also a great study of a character going undercover to fight the war on drugs, only to get castrated by the feds when his work starts getting to close to the dealers the politicians are trying to protect. The dialgue is cool as hell. This scene when he succumbs to this paradox is my favorite:
"I'd been turned out like a two-dollar ho. Used. Abused. But with no towel. And no kiss."
Also cool is the underrated GO. Before he did Bourne and Brad Pitt, Doug Liman directed this gem about ecstasy and Breakfast Club references.
What narco movies am I missing?