30 for 30 (TV Series) The Two Escobars (2010) User Reviews

The Hopes And Dreams Of An Entire Country Rested On 2 Men With 1 Name

[TheAnimalMother · 9/10 · 12 December 2012]

I feel that this documentary must be praised for its openness. The lack of bias displayed by the films writer/directors must be applauded. Sure, there may be the odd thing in this film that people may question or debate. However when you consider all the happenings and parties that are involved in the events of this story. Then you can easily see that this really is an amazingly well told and open minded attempt to tell this complex and far reaching tale. People from multiple sides are given a chance to express their views, and that is exactly how documentaries should be.

The Two Escobars...

They were two of the most prominent faces in Columbia. Both men became fairly well known figures around the globe. Two very different men with the same name, both raised in the vast poverty of the Colombian slums, and both with similar bloody fates.

One, Andres Escobar, the Captain of the beloved Colombian National Soccer Team. A man of integrity who was slated to play European Football for the legendary Real Madrid in Spain. The other, Pablo Escobar, the world's most notorious multi-billion dollar drug dealer of his time. Strangely enough, to the vast majority of the Colombian people, they both became national heroes. One was an honourable and inspirational athletic hero, the other gained his local reputation as a Robin Hood of sorts. While the lives of the two Escobars raised the hopes and dreams of their country to heights never seen before or since. Their deaths shook the Colombian dreams into a chaotic nightmare. This documentary is the story of how two men with the same name left a long and lasting impression not only on Columbia, but on the world.

This is an incredible story. Watch it, thank me later. ;)

9.5/10

Two Unrelated Escobars: One of Violence, The Other Peace,...A Deadly Connection.

[AudioFileZ · 8/10 · 11 September 2016]

I realize the 30-30 documentary series from ESPN is uniformly excellent. After recently finishing the second season of the Netflix series Narcos I decided to research this period of instability in Columbia. This led me to the 30-30 documentary called "The Two Escobars". This is in reference to, of course, Pablo and the fact that although no relation, star Columbia National player Andres Escobar's last name was the same. If that was only a coincidence there would not be much to make a film about. As Pablo Escobar had been a major contributor to the rise of soccer in Columbia the story goes much deeper, more inflammatory on the public relations front, truly stranger, and, worst of all, deadlier.

Jeff and Michael Zimbalist have told a story the world needs to know. It's a unbelievable tragedy of the far reaching effects of unbridled anger and violence. How that darkness corrupts good things and spills over to the worst men can do. Andres Escobar was caught in it much against his own will. His only mistake was being human, but he was an exceptionally talented and good human. Andres words and spirit live on to which this film is a great testament. This is a highly recommended documentary.

The Two Escobars

[bradley-mark · 8/10 · 18 August 2010]

I too, as mentioned by some previous re-viewers, was intrigued with the subject matter. Being a huge football fan, always leads me to the path of such films, but twinning Andres Escobar's story with Pablo seemed to add an extra bit of intrigue for me. So I watched with fascination a world so far away from my own, now I don't really know much more about Pablo, other than the headlines. But this film seemed to make him out to be bit of a "Robin Hood" character. Maybe justified maybe not, but I suppose one of the best aspects of any docu-film is to inspire the viewer to find out more, which this film has. From a pure football prospective, it was a shame that some of the football commentary was "American" as they don't really get football, the one which stuck out was where they referred to the 2nd half and the "final half". I know I'm been picky, but hey that's what reviews are for? Overall if you're a football fan, you'll enjoy, if your interested in the drug world, again you'll enjoy, if your interested in what Colombia was like around that time, again you'll enjoy. So to the Zimbalist Brothers good job and looking forward to seeing your next movie.

The differences between two men with the same last name

[velezdesign · 10/10 · 24 June 2010]

I went to watch this documentary full of apprehension, I had to try and summon the courage to face some old demons. This story for me was personal on many levels. I am Colombian; I grew up in Medellín in the 1980s. I went to school with Andrés Escobar's fiancé. And I was at the Rose Bowl in 1994, when Andrés scored the infamous "auto-goal" in a failed attempt to prevent the ball from going into the net. As I drove to the theater last week, I could feel my emotions gathering up in my chest, and old forgotten wounds felt suddenly brand new. I've tried very hard not to think of that day in June of 1994, but I remember it well. Even though the disappointment was palpable, there was no shame in our defeat. I was proud of our team! It was difficult to feel proud of anything Colombian in those days. Perhaps it was fortunate that I didn't yet know of the insurmountable amount of shame that would fall upon all of us a few days later, on the day Andrés was killed.

I've lived in the U.S. for over 25 years now, and I've learned to suppress pain and anger when both strangers and friends make "funny" drug related comments in my presence. Few non- Colombians have been able to grasp the magnitude of the damage Andrés' senseless murder caused. It wasn't about "bad sportsmanship". This was more than another black mark on our well-tarnished national image. The death of Andrés branded all Colombians as savages, it vanished the role models of millions. It stole the hope of an entire nation. It made us all infamous!

The Two Escobars utterly surprised me. Although the title might suggest an emphasis on the similarities of these two men, it really highlights the vast difference in their moral fiber. Two young American brothers were able to weave this documentary, that eloquently expresses what an entire nation hadn't been able to verbalize in over a decade. The Zimbaslist brothers didn't tell us what happened. They showed us what happened using Colombian footage, using our own words, interviewing the surviving protagonists—villains, heroes, and victims alike. The documentary is well balanced. They not only show the horror of what we Colombians have lived through, but also how far we've come. I am so immensely grateful for this film, and to Michael and Jeff Zimbalist for their commitment to tell a story that wasn't their own. I want to dare everybody I know to go see it, not because it paints my compatriots in a good light, but simply because it is honest and enlightening, and I hope it shatters some tiresome stereotypes. It's important to remember that every time we label something or someone based on a generalization, we betray our own ignorance. Every story has a Pablo Escobar—a despicable characters that makes headline news—but fortunately every story also has someone like Andrés Escobar.

Forget the sport of football (soccer), this is a MUST watch film for everybody.

[mookiebomber · 10/10 · 22 June 2010]

I am a very big football (soccer) fan, and I have always been intrigued by the story behind Andres Escobar's own goal and the chain of events that the event triggered.

At first when I saw the trailers and ads on ESPN I wasn't too sure about also including Pablo Escobar in the same documentary, but boy was I wrong. This is one of the most powerful documentaries I have ever watched, it should be of high interest to anybody, not only football fans, and football was just an excuse for ESPN to show it in my opinion.

The story of Colombia is an incredible story that needs to be told and shown to people who live in similar countries, Mexico should take note on the film and the violent history of the very rich nation which is Colombia.

I hope to watch it again as soon as it is released on Blu Ray, and I would highly encourage you to watch it and be moved by the incredible story behind Pablo Escobar and the people of Colombia. I did and it completely changed my perspective in the way I judged Pablo Escobar, though now I have a lot more questions on the topic, but I plan to do a little reading after today.

10 out 10

Unbiased story

[ulygraves · 29 June 2010]

One of the greatest documentaries I have ever seen. I liked the director's unbiased approach to telling this story. The poor people of Colombia didn't love Pablo because he was a drug dealer, they loved him because he was their savior. In the Americas Colombia has the third most number of Blacks behind U.S. and Brazil. In Colombia, just like U.S. and Brazil, the Blacks are predominantly poor and uneducated and governments do nothing but flood ghettos with drugs and welfare systems to barely keep people breathing. Pablo didn't flood the ghettos with drugs, he instead built schools, hospitals, houses and soccer fields. I am not praising Pablo for being a drug dealer, but let's not sit here and pretend that our leaders are not as corrupt as the leaders were in Colombia.

A Gripping, Sad and Beautiful Story

[mvassa71 · 10/10 · 11 July 2010]

I admit that this topic is right up my alley. I love (football) and I have always had a fascination with Colombia. That said, I only knew a few details surrounding Andres Escobar. This film provides the history and background, and skillfully illustrates the bloody connection between Colombian football and the drug cartels, and shows just how insidious the underworld grip on the national team was by the time World Cup 1994 started.

The documentary is simply thrilling. The stories are surreal in their horror, and shattering in their impact. The final blow is just devastating, even if we know what's coming.

The filmmakers managed to interview many critical figures in the story, and you have to think that this is the definitive document on the subject.

They illustrate how the country was thrown into a state of unprecedented political violence due to what amounted to a one man assault on the state, by Pablo Escobar. Ironically, just as the country was sinking into chaos and despair, the fortunes of the national team soared, and the run up of games leading to qualification to the World Cup united the country, and raised their expectations. By the time the tournament began, Colombia were favorites to win it.

What transpires during and after the tournament is simply unbelievable and tragic. The death of Andres Escobar shocked the world, and triggered the steady decline of Colombian football. Andres was a thoughtful family man and elegant player who was on the brink of super stardom when he was shot and killed in cold blood. He remains a hero in Colombia, and a symbol of integrity.

The film affords a certain freedom to the viewer to assemble his or her own emotions as we watch. It never forces the drama or cheapens the tragedy through glamorization.

It is a towering achievement in documentary film-making, and I will never forget it.

And I will never forget Andres Escobar, "The Gentleman" of football.

A True Portrait

[carlos_correa_98 · 10/10 · 25 May 2012]

I don't know how the Zimbalist brothers managed to portray with such perfection the truth behind the last thirty years of Colombian history, they did an outstanding job. I really felt moved watching this documentary made for the ESPN series 30 for 30. It reflects all the pain and suffering mixed with the joy for the game of football (soccer)and the wonderful team of players we had at that time, the best ever. It shows the good and the evil, the yin and yang of human nature in the symbol of such wonderful man as was Andres Escobar and the ruthless evil figure of Pablo Escobar also shown to have a good side. This was captured in a very objective manner again a wonderful job by the Zimbalist brothers. Although being from Colombia, some of the stories told in the documentary were just gossip to me at the time but watching it, confirms all of it as true, a sad but true episode that we still carry to this day.

"It is only a game"

[udar55 · 10/10 · 23 February 2011]

This fascinating documentary was made as part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series and highlights the rise of soccer in Colombia in the 1980s. Naturally, the infusion of drug money helped build the teams and drug kingpin Pablo Escobar got behind the National team. The other Escobar in the story is Andrés Escobar, a middle class kid who grew up to be the captain of this team. Soccer fans take their sport VERY seriously and this film showcases that. There are quite a few shocking things that happen to the team as they made their way to the World Cup in the United States in 1994 that will make cringe. Directors Jeff & Michael Zimbalist use tons of old footage and seamlessly bounce from the war on drugs to the wars on the soccer fields. Now when you get me to care about soccer, you know you've done something right.

Great but the last 30 minutes.

[berg-74532 · 8/10 · 6 May 2021]

The first hour and a half detailed the ascent of Colombian soccer and the link to Pablo Escobar and the other drug lords. Then the last half hour is a whole lot of people talking about how their lives were adversely affected by Pablo Escobar death highlighted by two individuals both wearing costumes, but very different costumes. The first costumed individual would be really easy to guess not by name but by what they are wearing prison jumpsuit. Pablos murdering "right hand man" who admits to killing hundreds of people with his bare hands and thousands more with gun and bombs placed in building and on planes for the sole purpose of ending Colombia's extradition treaty with the US the second costumed individual was Pablos sister and her costume was that of a very wealthy incredibly well dressed with vey expensive jewelry and strangely I have a much bigger problem with her than the strangling mad bomber psychopath. The psychopath says exactly what you'd expect "the government" was as bad as they are throwing in that they were in league with the other cartels. The sister first claims, like every criminals family who has lived that they had no idea where the money came from then after she knows where the money comes from goes on TV the day Pablo pays for his (and her) opulence she vows that his death won't end the violence inciting murder the kidnapping of family members of those who opposed and facilitated his justified end. Andres Escobar was a hero his whole life never once hurting anyone and at one point he risked death by refusing to go to the prison when summoned by Pablo. Unfortunately the story of Andres life is such a small part of this which is immediately overshadowed by the rest of the corrupt individuals saying whoa is me including the former president of Colombian soccer who went to prison for helping launder billions of dollars in drug money who claims he is a victim when he help to facilitate murder on an enormous scale. This plays fast and loose with the facts and try's to turn the US government as bad because of the role they played in riding the world of the evil of the "Two Escobars." If you don't want to be on the verge of puking with disgust at very selfish people claiming they are victims when they helped victimize other stop watching after the video of Andres Escobar is shown.

A good story

[MrVibrating · 7/10 · 20 September 2010]

The title is important to note. This is, much like the recent "King of Kong", a strictly structured and carefully trimmed story, grafted out of real events. It is probably mostly true, but what we see is a heavily controlled emotional piece of filmmaking, designed to tug our heartstrings and send a message. It's a bit more "based on a true story" than a documentary.

Still, it's very ambitious and covers a lot of material in an efficient way. As a European, I don't know much about ESPN, but I gather it's a sports channel? If so, it's certainly been brave with this project! Football wonder-child Andres Escobar is not really the main character, but rather the glue that holds the story of Colombia together.

The documentary chronicles the rise of drug barons, the enormous problems the government has with them, and the unfortunate and somewhat perverse infiltration of narco into sport. It's done in an interesting way, keeping focus on the sport when it needs to and on the drugs when it needs to.

All I could have wished for is that the directors could have relaxed a bit in the style section. The shots and music can get a little bit over-dramatic, and some small things become annoying(the reversing of footage when it isn't quite long enough to fit with the pacing, or the mirroring in some interviews). Subtitles seem quite simplistic as well, but I don't speak Spanish, so I can't be sure.

All in all, however, this is a very watchable documentary, both for fans and non-fans of "soccer".

How the mix of drugs and sport could be explained with mentos and diet coke

[TheDocHierarchy · 8/10 · 26 February 2012]

The early-90s in Colombian football was the era of 'narco-soccer'. As drug barons sought to exploit their power and grip on parliament and society, they turned to football to launder their profits. Stadium attendances and the transfers of big-name players could easily be doctored to legitimise and legalise drug revenues; as such, it soon became the only game in town. The leader of the Medellin cartel, Pablo Escobar, was the biggest fish in a sizable pond, and his financial backing of his local side would ultimately lead them to the highest honour on the continent, victory in the Copa Liberatores. The young, fresh-faced defender in Escobar's team that night was Andres Escobar.

The Zimbalists' film, initially created as part of ESPN's (wonderful) 30 for 30 documentary series, does not seek to pontificate on the ethics of the drug barons, or whether the effect they had on Colombian football was ultimately positive or not. The investment of Escobar, not just in the city's football teams but also in the construction of new pitches in the slums, garnered him much popularity; similarly, the ability of the clubs to keep its star players unquestionably had a large part to play in the country's improved international form. Despite this, the intimidation and terror that emerged between cartels and their respective teams was not tenable, and the government was forced to act to bring the charade to a stop. Colombia's cities, with the rule of law held together by the hierarchy of the cartels, dissolved into anarchy. Yet, just as the cartels held out against the authorities, so too did the effect of their investment into football have lingering effects.

In the final game of qualification before the 1994 World Cup, the much-heralded Colombian football team travelled to Buenos Aires to play the Goliath of Argentina. Jeered as they entered the country for being mere play-toys of Colombia's drug barons (who the government was struggling to catch and prosecute), the team would thrash the home side 5-0 and receive a standing ovation from the capacity Argentine crowd. Marking the successful culmination of a qualifying campaign that had seen the side box well above its weight, the Colombian side captained by the reserved Andres Escobar was the only saving grace in a collapsing state. The nation would look to Escobar's team to prove, at the World Cup, that they could rise above the internal divisions wrought by the war on the drugs.

What happens thereafter marks the piercing of the bubble of optimism in Colombia that hoped the nation's football team could weather the storm of violence and instability that was vitiating the South American state. That the President chose to use the country's footballers to re-invigorate Colombia's battered image whilst at the same time targeting the likes of Escobar, who were responsible for their success, is the ultimate irony. You can't have it both ways. The country was so encapsulated by their football team's success that they failed to recognise its origins in the very men they considered so detrimental to law and order.

In as much, the retreat of Colombian football into the regional also-ran (it has never since made a World Cup) was the price that had to be paid for the re-assertion of the power and rule of legitimate authority. It might not excite the fans who wept at the funeral of Pablo Escobar, but it is the lesser of two evils.

Football crazy

[Lejink · 7/10 · 5 July 2011]

I caught this documentary on ESPN, the sports channel but this fascinating film deserves much wider exposure. As a football fan, I vaguely remember the story about the Colombian footballer, supposedly murdered by a disillusioned fan for his team's poor performance in the World Cup of 1992. I was grateful to be put right on the circumstances of his death but also to learn of the intertwined story of the slain footballer Andres Escobar's namesake Pablo Escobar, the notorious drug-baron coincidentally with a passion for football.

Each of the two stories could certainly have been worthy of a film or documentary of its own, but it was certainly an imaginative stroke by the director/producers Zimbalist brothers to combine the two stories and by so doing paint a vivid bigger picture of the wider Columbian society in the late 80's and early 90's.

The football story may just have been a pub argument that spilled over into a fatal row, but it's not clear. What is clear though is that Andres Escobar seemed to be a good footballer and a decent man, keen to portray a better image of his country to the world at large on the stage of the world's biggest sporting event. Sadly the team under performed and lost both their opening matches, eliminating them from the tournament at the earliest opportunity, with the fatal own-goal by Escobar against the unfancied USA proving vital. On returning home, albeit in disgrace, he played down the significance of the failure with an optimistic dictum that "Life doesn't end here" and despite stories of heavy gambling losses suffered by gangsters, who may have been out for blood as a result, refused to stay indoors and hide away as most of his team-mates did. His violent death (shot six times in the back) and the apparent setting up of a patsy to take the blame for the two gangsters likely behind the deed, reunified the country in its indignation against the criminal fraternity.

The counter story of the other Escobar, Pablo is even more fascinating. His rags to riches story echoes Al Capone's in the ruthless way he got to the top of the drugs cartels and yet he became popular with the country's poorer citizens by building houses and sports facilities for them, fuelled by his love of football, albeit as a means of a massive money-laundering operation. Targeted by the George Bush-led US government's in the war against cocaine dealers, Escobar cleverly if brutally played the system,using bribery and intimidation to have himself elected an MP to avoid his extradition to America.

However his tenure as an untouchable drew rivalry from other drug barons and a combination of this and a steelier government resolve saw him initially jailed and later hunted down and slaughtered when on the run. With his demise the flow of money into football which had boosted the game immeasurably, stopped and Colombian football fell back down the ladder.

The twin narrative is fast-paced, cutting from one story to the other, with contributions by interested parties, especially on the football side. The viewer is left in no doubt as to the lawlessness of the country and the delicate position its sportsmen were placed in by having to cooperate with the drug-lord paymasters. Verite footage of the rise and fall of the national football team and Pablo Escobar are interspersed with the interviewees to tell a shocking story.

I found it fascinating and found myself feeling naturally sorry for the gentleman footballer so senselessly killed but much more ambivalent, as I believe I was meant to over the Robin Hood-type figure of the altogether more complex Pablo Escobar.

A Masterpiece of Tension and Drama

[Michael_Elliott · 28 June 2010]

30 for 30: The Two Escobars (2010)

**** (out of 4)

This entry in the ESPN series is somewhat of a masterpiece even though while watching the thing you have to keep reminding yourself that it's all true and not some sort of strange fiction from Hollywood. The documentary tells the story of Colombian drug trafficker Pablo Escobar whose love for soccer had him donating money and soon various other dealers were involved in the sport. We also meet Andres Escobar, a Colombian player who in the 1994 World Cup scored a goal against his own team and soon after wards he was murdered. That just briefly sums up the story told here but it goes even further as Pablo is buying off the government to continue his trade but when he's killed, the underworld pretty much went wild, which could have been one of the reasons why Andres was allowed to be killed. This documentary runs just under two-hours and it's some of the most amazing and downright sad images you're likely to see. Learning how the drug trade pretty much took over the sport and then eventually brought it down. While watching this film it was hard to believe that all of this took place such a short time ago and the fact that this own goal was scored against the U.S.. Directors Jeff and Michael Zimbalist do a terrific job at building an incredibly tense atmosphere that is constantly flowing throughout the film. They really make you feel uneasy while watching these events so you can imagine how horrid it must have been for the players and coaches. The film does a very good job at telling all sides of the story. To some poor people Pablo was seen as a God-like person even though he was killing hundreds of people. Seeing how evil someone could be but at the same time he probably saved thousands by building them homes, keeping food on their table and by making jobs for them. With Andres, reports would vary about what really caused his death but the site of sports players going around with death threats and bodyguards is certainly something you don't see everyday. The amount of danger they were dealing with makes for some pretty big revelations towards the end of the movie. Once again ESPN must be given a lot of credit for playing this movie uncut as it does features some very risky subject matter and contains some bloody images of the death surrounding these events. The film is in Spanish with English subtitles, which was another brave move by ESPN but once again this series pays off.

Interesting but way overlong.

[planktonrules · 6/10 · 18 August 2012]

This film is about the influence of the Columbian drug cartels on the national soccer team. The team was, at one time, financed by Pablo Escobar--the world's most notorious drug lord. And, following his death, this team of super-stars was expected to win the World Cup. And, when they didn't, mobsters in Columbia decided to exact revenge on players and their families--culminating with the assassination of Andres Escobar (no relation to Pablo).

While this is a very compelling subject matter for a "30 for 30" film and I am glad I watched it (as I'd remembered Andres' murder). However, the filmmakers REALLY needed to tighten this one up, as it ran over 100 minutes--much longer than a typical episode of this series. 60 minutes would have been plenty--and as a result, I found my attention flagging. Now this is NOT because I can't take long films (heck, I watched a three hour movie just a couple days ago)--but pacing is the key, not length of a show...and the pacing was a bit issue.

If you do watch this one, be cautioned--it is pretty bloody and you'll be looking at quite a few corpses.