Elizabeth Banks' Cocaine Bear: The wild true story behind '80s thriller throwback

Elizabeth Banks' 'Cocaine Bear' Revisited

Ah, February 2023! A time when the world was captivated by the wild narrative of a cocaine-infused bear on the big screen. And who better to weave this bizarre tapestry of the ’80s than the brilliant Elizabeth Banks? As reported by IndieWire, Cocaine Bear was more than just your regular thriller. It took us back to a gripping 1985 incident where a bear met its tragic end after chowing down on 75 pounds of near-pure cocaine. 

From True Crime to Cinematic Gold

In the real story, the drugs, curiously, were remnants of a mishap by Andrew C. Thornton II, a once-law enforcer turned felonious drug trafficker. He met his fate plummeting from the sky, ensnared by his own parachute. "The bear was found to have died after ingesting 75 pounds of 95-percent pure cocaine from a duffel bag in the woods." An image difficult to forget!

Also Read: 'From goodfellas to Cocaine Bear': Celebrating Ray Liotta's illustrious career

This film, however, focused less on Thornton's misadventures and more on the havoc-wreaking bear, taking a fictional spin of it terrorizing Kentucky. Keri Russell, caught in the middle of this animal's spree, is flanked by a star-studded ensemble. One to particularly note was Ray Liotta, offering one of his final on-screen masterpieces.

A Director's Touch Like No Other

Elizabeth Banks, previously donning the director's cap for hits like Pitch Perfect 2 and the revamped Charlie Angels, brought her own flair to Cocaine Bear. The same actor who turned heads in the gripping drama Call Jane, steered this script towards excellence, alongside producers like the iconic duo from 21 Jump Street and The Lego Movie, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller.

Also Read: Elizabeth Banks takes the wheel as Ms. Frizzle: A magical ride awaits! 

Cocaine Bear is Banks’ third directorial feature effort, after Pitch Perfect 2 in 2015 and 2019’s Charlie Angels reboot. It's a testament to her evolving range and prowess in the industry.

Looking back, we can't help but appreciate the intricacies of the plot and the boldness of Banks' approach in bringing such a story to life. It's a testament to how the film industry is not afraid to explore the peculiar and the profound, and who better to guide us than Elizabeth Banks?

(Several parts of the text in this article, including the title, were generated with the help of an AI tool.)