Rating: 
Summary: No classification
Review: It is interesting that most people look at this film and then compare it to other, over-the-top films involving drugs and violence. (Traffic, Goodfellas, etc.) But it seems that this film, being autobiographical, really isn't aiming to glorify or even evoke empathy for the protagonist. As a matter of course, this happens because of the subject matter, but I think it does so because it is such an interesting character study. George Jung doesn't come from a broken home. He doesn't have any good reason to become a drug dealer and as we find out later on, he really shouldn't have gotten married to a woman and fathered a child. But he did and the story is as riveting as I have seen on screen in a long time. Ray Liotta is the same type of Dad that George seems to want so badly to be. Liotta should, by the way, be up for the supporting role Oscar for this. Everybody seems to be saying bad things about Penelope Cruz in this film, but I think she performed exactly as she should have. She is supposed to portray a spoiled daughter of a Colombian drug kingpin. The fact that she is a witch should be no surprise. The one thing I think some people have overlooked is that George is really too nice a guy to be involved in the the drug trade as he was. I still keep wondering if he told his wife he was gay to protect her or if he really was gay. So once again, don't try to call this "Traffic 2" or "Gayfellas" or even "Scarface, Johnny Montana Returns". This is a story about a guy who went into business with friends and trusted too much and got burned. Probably snorted too much coke too.
Rating: 
Summary: A solid movie.
Review: When I saw the trailer, I expected the film to track off course in the beauties that linger in the drug world (excessive sex, money, fame & future). Having read the book by Bruce Porter* (higly recommended), I was disappointed how it didn't dive into the inner workings of the drug world. It kind of tapped along the edges and sometimes threw a little stereo-typical outlook on these illegal workings. However, the movie was extremely strong on ethics and morals. Johnny Depp gives a great performance while Ray Liotta swallowed the scenes with his stoic character. Penelope Cruz didn't and never has impressed me much. With her consistent portrayal of an average "Latina-chick" she has yet to crack through the envelope of being more than a person with an accent. She has yet to take scenes and have a presense. But she didn't ruin the movie by any means and for that the movie holds a pretty credible foundation. Now, The book didn't go deep enough into George Jung's feelings on matters. As for Demme's film, I do not know if his feelings are accurate, or just an artificially Hollywood-created personality but by the end I kind of felt sorry for him. Regardless of the drugs and deaths involved. And regardless to the drug wave that he helped sweep into this country. The movie, when all else is peeled and analyzed portrays a business man trying to support his family; trying to desperately fight off his father's predicament and he would've succeeded if he just knew when to quit.
Rating:
Summary: Stunningly Dramatic and Overwhelmingly Touching
Review: Never before has a criminal mastermind in any film captivated an audience as George Jung (played by Johnny Depp) does in this film. His interpretation is highly praiseworthy and what i believe to be an oscar-deserving performance. The supporting cast, including Penelope Cruz (who plays Mirtha Jung), make up the elaborate root scheme that supports the storyline from beginning to end. The casting is impecable and I sat in awe for the entirety of the film. To share with you one piece of praise, this is the only film that i have ever gone back to the theatre to see a second time. This film may go down in history as the best biographical film in the first century of movie-making. Approach this film with an open mind and a willingness to think. As the film closes, I promise you will find yourself wanting to embrace George because you feel as if you have formed a personal friendship with him. You may not laugh, but you will think and even possibly cry. This may be one of the best 5 films made in the last decade and, you heard it here, it is a must see!
Rating:
Summary: Kristina Sunshine Jung
Review: Nice name, somehow ..., the proud and self-conscious girl, characteristics inherited from her father, George Jung, the drug dealer, whose last fault she never excused. But of course, you should never swear anything by the life of your daughter, especially not while you're involved in crooked business.Starting quite hilariously and amusing, defining down the dangerousness of taking drugs and idealizing the job of the dealers, as if they were playing some sort of funny hide-and-seek game with the cops, the plot turns more and more to the ugly sides of the story: hard fights among the dealers, denunciation, revenge, murder ... (still it does not show the misery and suffering of the addicted). Jung is not up to this bloody struggle, and he's been set thinking by earlier stays in prison. Having lost all his millions of grifted dollars, his only wish left is to live modestly with his family, above all with his beloved "heart", his daughter. But life isn't for nothing, his wife is insolently demanding and the only job he learned is how to provide gras and blow. Not exactly the best prerequisites to keep the promise he gave his daughter by her life: to take her on a trip to California ... But yet, something else he swore earlier by his own life, not to be able to live without her, became true. Kristina Sunshine Jung didn't believe him then, now she'll never know, except maybe by this movie: The long years in prison without a sole visit of her finally drove him insane. Despite belittling some particular problems, a very impressing study on the drug scene, based on the true and moving story of George Jung. Great stand of the leading actor Johnny Depp and, although only in a small role, Franka Potente as Jungs first girl-friend.
Rating:
Summary: "Blow" is a rolicking drug study!
Review: "Blow" is amazing! It'll knock your sox off and rip your eyes out.
Rating:
Summary: Great movie
Review: This is a great movie, based on a true story. The performances here are top notch, starting with Johnny Depp. Penelope Cruz does a great job as well, and Ray Liotta is brilliant. This is based on a true story of how cocaine became mainstream, and I like the fact that they didn't glorify it too much, and showed the pitfalls of living a life on drugs. Definitely one to buy on DVD.
Rating:
Summary: "Blow is a top of the line drug drama"
Review: The film is based on a true story about a guy Johnny Depp (Sleepy Hollow) who moves to California without a job. So he finds that he can make a lot of money selling marjuana and get some advice from the first male hairstylist Paul Reubens (Pee Wee Herman Movies) and he tells him to sell cocaine it makes alot of money. It takes place in the 70's. This is a great drama. Also starring Penolope Cruz (Women on Top), Rachel Griffiths (tv's Six Feet Under) and Ray Liotta (Heartbreakers). -Michael Margetis
Rating:
Summary: From the Drug Dealer's Point of View
Review: I must say first off that I generally love Johnny Depp in anything. Thus, this movie had a good head start on its rating with his being the lead. Depp does a really good acting job of delivering the whole portrait of a real life drug dealer who is still in prison today. His primary motivation is that his father never has enough money for the family in the years that he is growing up. This is not a tremendously sympathetic "hook" though as lots of people with similar backgrounds have gone into legitimate professions or occupations to pull themselves up from their bootstraps. Ray Liotta does a fabulous job as Depp's father and may even eclipse Depp's performance in the movie. Naturally Depp has to marry someone from a drug family and that woman is played by Penelope Cruz, a lovely enough woman but nothing special (so far) in the acting department. Depp's character is going to pay for his sins in this movie but his relationship with his daughter is the cost that will hurt the most. This was a really good movie but the fact that you like and respect no one, except maybe Liotta, is problematic in turning this into a favorite, 5 star experience.
Rating:
Summary: One of, if not THE BEST movies of its genre that I've seen..
Review: I'll keep this short and sweet because most of these reviews are boring and if they are written by someone representing a newspaper, they're usually wrong. Well any way getting back to the point, this movie has got to be on your "I've got to have this on DVD or Video list." This film is amazing and is not to be missed.
Rating: 
Summary: Effective for what it set out to do
Review: I wasn't really familiar with the story of George Jung, but by the end of the movie I realized that he was a very tragic figure. However, I don't really know if he was tragic enough to make a feature length film about. The stuff he does is big scale and he even says that if you did cocaine in the late seventies or early eighties he had something to do with it, but for the most part the audience just drifts through this movie because of its fast pace. You really don't get to know George Jung as a person instead of a big drug dealer. That is what this movie is lacking, characterization. There a lot of interesting characters, but they're very one dimensional. The style of the film keeps it afloat with bright colors, cool camera techniques, and great music. It's worth a rent and if you like it buy it, but it's not for everyone.
|
