Hotel Cocaine

I just finished watching Hotel Cocaine and have to say I really enjoyed it. I love these narco, drug cartel type shows so this was made for people like me. It was created by the same people that made the amazing Narcos & Narcos: Mexico series on Netflix and the very good Godfather of Harlem. While this isn't anywhere near as good as those three shows it's still good enough to spend your time watching. It's a true story about a Cuban exile named Roman Compte (Danny Pino) who is the general manager of a hotel called The Mutiny, he's also the brother of one of the biggest drug dealers in Florida at the time named Nestor Cabal (Yul Vazquez). When a DEA agent (Michael Chiklis) makes Roman help him arrest his brother all hell breaks loose. As long as you're not expecting it to be as good as Narcos then I think you'll enjoy it.

Well what can I say?

Hotel Cocaine is a thrilling dive into the hedonistic and dangerous world of 1970s Miami, centered around the infamous Mutiny Hotel, where the lines between luxury and lawlessness blur. The series immediately sets itself apart with its vibrant energy, drawing viewers into a whirlwind of decadence, crime, and high-stakes drama.

Danny Pino shines as Roman Compte, the hotel's general manager, delivering a compelling performance as a man caught between family loyalty and the demands of the DEA. His portrayal of Roman is layered, showing both the character's cool competence and the cracks that form as he navigates the treacherous waters of the Miami drug trade. The Mutiny Hotel, with its kaleidoscope of colours and constant buzz of activity, becomes a character in its own right, serving as the perfect backdrop for the chaotic events that unfold.

One of the standout aspects of Hotel Cocaine is its ability to maintain a high level of excitement and tension throughout. The show's directors infuse the series with a sense of exuberance and excess that mirrors the wild atmosphere of Miami during this era. The creative team's choice to embrace a more colourful and lively aesthetic, as opposed to the often dark and gritty tones of similar shows, breathes new life into the crime drama genre.

Despite its intense subject matter, Hotel Cocaine manages to balance its drama with moments of levity and humor, especially through its portrayal of real-life celebrities who frequented the hotel. These moments provide a refreshing contrast to the otherwise high-stakes narrative, making the series as entertaining as it is thrilling.

For fans of shows like Narcos, Queen of the South, and Snowfall, Hotel Cocaine offers a fresh, vibrant take on the crime drama, with enough twists and turns to keep viewers hooked from start to finish. It's a series that not only captures the spirit of its time but also delivers a captivating story full of intrigue, danger, and unexpected moments of fun.

If you're a film junkie like myself then you'll appreciate the time and effort that Chris Brancato and everyone else put in to make this happen.

I enjoyed it. Not my place to say where it could have been improved. It is what it is.

Thank you.

Me, myself, I have always been fascinated with crime stories from drug dealers, mafia, and just organized crime of all kinds. I really like this series, and the fact that it's set in the 80's is also a plus. A lot of stories, documentaries and podcast are starting to come out about crime organizations, from The Supreme Team, to BMF, to the twins flipping on El Chapo, even Griselda Blanco, there's a story to be told. I love listening and watching movies about those experiences. I never knew about this one though 🤔. I'm glad I ran across it, and the podcast about Roman and his brother, and the story about The Mutiny. I liked every episode and I'm looking forward to seeing it for a second season. I also really like the opening theme, Swizz did a great job 👏

Don't know why some people are giving it bad reviews. It is based on a true story so it may be bland and boring to some but the storyline and settings is exactly how it was then.

Flim critics don'like it because it is a real story and not made up fantasy.

The acting was good for the most part. I have read critics saying that the main characters acting was bland and had no emotion...well DUH...based on his background and where he came from he had to be cool and level headed. I think Micheal Chicklas character was a little over the top but back then the feds could treat drug dealers and thise associated with them however they wanted. That is just how it was back then.

One of the best things I have seen on screen in a long time I will give it a 10 for episode one to 6 it is all tight scenes running into each other in an elegant fashion and one thing that has to be said for this series the acting is first class from most of the players in fact practically all of them certainly all the main ones. Between six and 10 there is too much chopping and changing too many changes it gets a little frantic overintricate too many turns as if the makers thought we need to speed this up and frankly that really mars it

• Earlier this year I watched Griselda (2024) which was grimmer than this one here but pretty much the same territory i.e. Florida second half of the 70s Cocaine wars etc etc not a big fan of the aspect of that series which is to do with the cocaine and all that but it is extremely well acted and although it loses a bit of its shine towards the end the final episode being a little bit cheesy towards the end it is still overall a really really great series highly recommended I certainly hope they run a second series

But for me they will need to stop adding plots and subplots and plots within the plots in the words of Mies Van Der Rohe less is more They should abide by that

• PS The whole time I am watching this and the main actor the one playing Compte Danny Pino the more I look at his face and think I recognise this guy I have seen him before; and then it dawned on me that I am looking at a Latin version of Neil Young same features but Latin when I realised this was who I thought I was looking at I could not afterwards stop thinking about Neil Young every time I saw him.

-PS2 the teen romance in there was just darling.