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Kingpin (2003)
Released By: LionsGate Entertainment   Rating: Not Rated   In Theaters: N/A
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Studio: LionsGate Entertainment
Genre: Action-Adventure
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Director: Adam Coulter
Language: English
Official Website: N/A
Theatrical Release: N/A
Home Video Release: N/A
Cast: Brian Benben, Bobby Cannavale, Yancey Arias, Angela Alvarado, Shay Roundtree, Ruben Carbajal
Published ID: 108772
UPC: 658149814523,
Plot: Widely touted as NBC's answer to The Sopranos, the six-episode series Kingpin also drew heavily from the British mini-series Traffik. The nominal protagonist in this seamy, violent tale of a Mexican drug-trading family was Yancey Arias as Miguel Cadena, the Stanford-educated heir apparent to the Cardena criminal dynasty. Together with his icy, coke-addicted wife, Marlene (Sheryl Lee), Miguel coolly guided the destinies of his worldwide family business, eliminating enemies, friends, and loved ones alike to maintain his empire. Others in the cast included Bobby Cannavale as Miguel's vicious enforcer brother, Chato; Ruben Carbajal as Miguel and Marlene's disillusioned eight-year-old son, Joey; Angela Alvarado Rosa as relentless DEA agent Delia Flores; Brian Benben as the Cardenas' personal plastic surgeon, Dr. Heywood Klein; and Shay Roundtree as Texas-born torpedo Junie Gatling, who acted as a sounding board for the other characters. Among the creative contributors to the series was Allen Coulter, who direct several episodes of The Sopranos. Originally slated for a March 2003 debut, Kingpin was moved up to February 2, 2003 to take advantage of a traditional network sweeps week. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
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KING PIN is worth watchiing
Added 4/11/2009

King Pin is a violent take on the leaders if a mexican drug cartel. Alot here call it Mexican Sopranos and thats a fair analogy. This was the only season of the show and When you view it like I did over a couople of days You kinda wish there was more . The fact there wasnt means NBC gave up on this series before the audiences found it . It would of been better served on a cable station like HBO but NBC gave this one good actors and nice production values. Plot was good and full of violence and sex and of course Family ties. Take a peek at this if you like the topic and You will likely be pleased. Overall...thumbs UP
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
love it
Added 4/1/2008

i loved the show when it aired of tv and i love the product now it is so good.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Too bad it was canceled
Added 3/22/2008

Finally NBC tries something a little cutting edge (even if a blatant copycat of other mafia shows) and what do they do, cancel it. No wonder they are no longer top dog.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
SOUTH OF THE BORDER SOPRANOS
Added 3/15/2008

Miguel Cadena (Yancy Aria) is a young American educated Mexican in the employ of one of the biggest drug runners in the country. This mini-series tells his story not only directly through his eyes, but through the lived of those his business touches as well.

When the drug lord goes insane and finds a price on his head, Miquel and his brother take matters into their own hands. Seeing the time is ripe to make their move, they take out their boss and attempt to maneuver themselves into his role. Just to insure things, they take out his son, the next in line as well.

But their plan gets twisted when the boss' brother comes out of retirement for the time being to run things. Even with him in charge, the pair make moves to increase not only their business, but their power as well.

As all of this goes one, we are also brought into the family life of Miguel. His wife (Sheryl Lee) is a high powered attorney who helps him in many of the decisions he must make. The pair is the doting parents of a young son, a boy they insure knows nothing of their lifestyle or business ventures.

As members of the organization move to take over and win their place at the table, Miguel must maneuver his way around them as often as he does the law. He does so with a smooth style, an ease, a coolness that reveals him to be more deadly an adversary than most would give him credit for.

Other plot lines? How about the plastic surgeon going through a nasty divorce who wants to divest himself from dealing drugs? All he needs to do is dispense with his last shipment and pay off what he owes. This leads to a hip hop record producer who uses the load to finance his dreams of making the big time. And he in turn connects with a DEA agent on the skids with the department after having lost a partner and being wounded by a drug dealer.....who works for Miguel. See how nicely these pieces all come together?

The story is believable and fascinating to watch. It's like seeing the strategies of a chess game made plain and understandable, feeling compelled to watch until the next move is played, and then waiting for the next and the next and the next. Which leaves you feeling a void once the show is over because it doesn't actually end! This was a series on NBC for a while that never seemed to draw in the ratings it deserved. Now we'll have to wait and see if they actually finish the story!

The last time this topic was given any intriguing attention was in the book by James Mills THE UNDERGROUND EMPIRE, which told the story of three individuals involved in the drug trade and where it took them. This show captures that feeling of being a part of the story and going behind the scenes. It makes for interesting viewing and dynamite television. Had it been given a chance to find it's core audience on a cable station, this show would have rivaled THE SOPRANOS for best crime family drama.

0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
One of the Best Series ever on NBC!!!
Added 5/16/2007

Kingpin was one of thee best shows ever produced on NBC! The characters are not A list actors, yet they do a great job.

The price cannot be beat either! When the DVD set first came out I paid around fifty bucks through the television site! Here at Amazon it's a fraction of the cost!

1 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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DVD
$13.49 @ Amazon