Rating: 
Summary: It "Blows"
Review: Not many movies have a major-league drug dealer as their protagonist. But "Blow" grimly marches over that line with the story of George Jung, who almost singlehandedly created the cocaine industry. His meteoric rise and fall are worthy of a rock star, but somehow Depp and Demme manage to make us care about George a lot more than we should.George (Johnny Depp) was raised in a fractured version of the ideal 50s household. His parents' repeated splits over money made him vow never to be poor. In the late 60s he ventures to California with his best buddy Tuna (the highly underrated Ethan Suplee), and soon discovers the joys of beach life, pot, and a particular California stewardess, Barbara (the highly overrated Franka Potente). Barbara introduces them to a flamboyant drug distributer, Eric (Paul Reubens), who helps Tuna and George make money without work: smuggling pot in Barbara's luggage, then in a stolen plane, and selling it to East Coast college kids. Then Barbara dies of cancer, and George is imprisoned for a long while -- turned in by his own mother. He manages to pull himself back into the industry and begins distributing cocaine with a new partner, Diego (Jordi Molla). When in Columbia, he falls for a luxury-loving shallow beauty named Mirtha (Penelope Cruz), and after they have a daughter he goes on the straight and narrow path. But like all good things, it can't last. Theoretically, we shouldn't like Jung. He took the easy and illegal way to riches and paid the price; his little speech in the courtroom is too outrageously self-serving for Depp to save. However, Depp's low-key acting and Demme's tight direction make us like Jung, to some degree: We feel sorry for him when Barbara dies, when his mother betrays him, when he's beaten up and betrayed, when his money is snatched, when his daughter snarls at him and stomps away. Depp does an outstanding job -- viewers will feel just about anything (well, except a cocaine-induced seizure) that he does, from his love for his daughter to his fury at Diego. While he seems to want to go straight after a while, it no longer seems to be an option as his marriage frays and the police pounce on him once again. Paul Reubens seems at first to be a stereotype, but he too shows unexpected depth. Ray Liotta, sporting a bad graying job as George's long-suffering dad, is perhaps the most sympathetic and underrated character. He is presented as George's other choice -- you can live hard and make lots of money and crash, or you can work hard and live steadily. You may be poor, but you will have dignity and integrity. One of the best moments in the movie is when Jung Senior says, "You would have been great at anything, George." The women are a problem, unfortunately. Franka Potente lurches through this movie without a single high point; most of the time, she is simply the perky blond stewardess, with no more depth than that suggests (and the dye job stinks). In her floral and paisley prints, she sometimes resembles a tank in a slipcover, and her accent veers wildly between a clipped semi-German accent and an exaggerated Californian drawl ("It is SOOO PRIHHHDEEEE!"). Why did they get a German to play a Californian? Who knows. Penelope Cruz doesn't fare much better -- though she has a few squirmingly good moments, usually when being verbally abusive or snappish, has very little to do than utter profanities and shimmy in shiny designer gowns. And Demme appears a little too fond of her hair. Whenever she's in a scene, the hair is all over the place. Astonishingly, this movie neither glorifies nor condemns the drug trade. Rather, it seems to show that the quick'n'dirty paths are still dirty. There may be huge houses, parties, beautiful members of the opposite sex, and money galore. But there is no honor among drug dealers, and it can all be taken away by a quirk of fate -- especially if you are essentially an American guy with little understanding of essential backstabbing. Perhaps the biggest question is "why should we care?" Very few people have heard of George Jung, and ultimately, no matter how sympathetic he seems, he caused a great deal of harm. Considering what Demme died of, it's not surprising that the overall message about drugs is deeply clouded, not even mentioning the gag-worthy speech in the courtroom that tries to justify drug-peddling. And, of course, you can tell from the opening moments of the story just what is going to happen to Jung, you can tell from the start that he won't live happily ever after with Barbara, and that Mirtha is a luxury-loving slut who will drop George the moment he loses his money. This is definitely not a movie for kids -- if you include the soundtrack, there is sex, drugs, and rock'n'roll. If you are a fan of Ted Demme, you may wish to watch it. But otherwise, you will probably not be able to entirely care. And if you do, you shouldn't.
Rating: 
Summary: Blown Away
Review: I won't go into much detail about the movie since there's enough of that already. I just wanted to comment that this not only is a story about the rise and fall of a notorious drug dealer, but also the story of a man and his family. It's about the love a father has for his daughter and the promises that he tries but in the end can't keep. In the beginning of the movie, George Jung(Johnny Depp) deals drugs to make money. After his daughter is born though, he gets out of the business and tries unsuccessfully to lead a more 'normal' life with his wife and kid. In the end though it all falls apart for him since he's penniless and dismissed by both his wife and daughter. It's a tragic story that will leave one with the pangs of regret for not only the mistakes that Jung made but also of the love he missed out from his daughter,ie. his whole world.
Rating: 
Summary: Strong Powder
Review: BLOW is based on the true story of George Jung (Johnny Depp). In the 70s and 80s, Jung was the single largest importer of Columbian cocaine, to the United States. Therefore, he alone, changed America, and helped to create the "drug culture" in this nation. At the film's center is the partnership between Jung and Pablo Escobar, (Cliff Curtis) and how they operated, with and against each other. It really is true what others have said about Depp's performance in the film. He doesn't let this highly complex role intimidate him. He pulls it off brilliantly. He scenes with Penelope Cruz are pure magic. Directed by the late Ted Demme, BLOW offers viewers an inside look into how some people got very rich off of other people's addiction to drugs. Even though some have blasted the film because, in their opinion, it glorifies drug use, I see it more as an anti drug film. Having said that, dont expect an overt anti-drug message in the movie either. My take on it is that the "message" hides as a subtext as an implied theme. If the film does have any connection to any indictment against drugs, that comes from the fact that Demme died last year from apparently using the stuff himself. The DVD is part of New Line Cinema's Infinifilm series. Like all other discs in the series, it is packed with extras, allowing viewers to have more of an interactive experience, while watching the film. Hearing Demme talk about drugs on the commentary track with Jung, may unsettle some, given what happened to him, but there really isn't much of that on the track. The deleted scenes don't really add much to the film and were properly edited out of the picture. The Ted Demme Production Diary is cool because it takes us through how movies are made (I always enjoy that stuff). Rounding out the standard features are trailers, filmographies, and a Nikka Costa Music Video. The disc also has a few DVD-ROM extras. The Infinifilm extras include interviews with Jung conducted by Demme, a trivia track, among others. Use of the Infinifilm mode gives you access to these features for a unique look at BLOW. Thanks to powerful performances and solid, well produced extras, BLOW is a Highly Recommended film/DVD **** and a half stars.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining and stylish. A must see.
Review: "Blow" is neither the most innovative or well made movie about a the ups and downs of being a drug lord, but it succeeds as a docudrama about a drug dealer who's short lived success hardly made up for all the wrong choices he made. Johnny Depp, as usual, has the art of character acting down to a fine art. Depp plays George Jung, an ambitious kid who became a drug czar in America in the 1970's and 1980's. He came from a working class background where his father (Ray Liotta) worked like a slave to support the family. The catalyst was when his father filed for bankruptcy, and there Geroge vowed never to live in poverty. He moved to California, made connections, including a flamboyant hairdresser (Paul Reubens, in a standout role), and started the drug trend in America that "exploded like an atomic bomb". The movie has it's share of ups and downs, and George learns that maybe drug dealing isn't a wise career choice. He only learns this through a series of betrayls and blunders. "Blow" is directed in a retro style similar to that of "Boogie Nights". The wild music, the over-the-top acting and characterization, and the stylish dialogue. While heavily dramatized, "Blow" is based on a true story, and according to the real Geroge Jung, was pretty accurate. Johnny Depp and Penelope Cruz both excell themselves in their excellent performances. Ted Demme, who died after "Blow" was released, did an excellent job. He was definitely a rising star in the Director's Guild. The Infinifilm DVD package is a must own. The entertaining movie aside, it is crammed with extra features which are just as entertaining as the film. It has the usual featurettes, plus the examination of the story behind the movie. It shows the real George Jung, and the director's commentary is very insightful. In short, "Blow" is a fun and wild movie worth repeated viewings.
Rating:
Summary: What a movie!
Review: This is an excellent movie in many respects. The perspective is certainly original: it talks about drugs from the point of a drug dealer. He (Johnny Depp - great performance) starts as a small marihuana dealer in California, just to smell the big business changing to harder stuff. I would show this film to kids to show them the brutal world of drug dealers. The message is that even if you think you have friends and you are on top of everything, it is only an illusion that changes very quickly. Go buy it. You will watch it more than twice.
Rating: 
Summary: sweet movie with a good moral message
Review: johnny depp is one of my favorites and he does a great job and is entertaining as ever to watch in this film. the beginning of the film in the sixties is fun. but the movie gets long and at times seems to drag. towards the end depp gets a fake beer belly- and it really looked fake to me. so that also annoyed me.
not my favorite film ever, but certainly a good one.
i would recommend it -and you will even find a great moral message inside the objectional content.
Rating:
Summary: Blows the show
Review: Johnny Depp is Blow. The movie like the intrinsic narcissism of the drug, spirals out of Depp's eye. J.D. is fast becoming a hell of a character actor a la Val Kilmer. Only stylized acting like this transforms such a script into a movie I'll watch every few years. Depp's sensibilities, the cat-house cool, the vaunted respect balanced with a well hidden cockiness are all the vital inflections needed against the drug lords and soldiers he encounters in the movie. George Jung's ambitions far outweigh his talent. The gringo-makes-nice with a far-off world. Yea the documentary facade of the film is obvious, and all the nasty trappings of the Life are well delivered, but to rest on this is missing the point. Blow is a metaphor for the edge, Kristeva's semiotic unspeakable. Like any Eastwood movie, character, not the voice tracking of mainstream acting, is the true anima to an new economy. The late Ted Demme's eye for character is astounding. Jordi Malla's part as Depp's partner is brilliantly creepy and cloying, the devil in disguise. Cliff Curtis, who plays Escobar, is necessary, beedy eyes and all; not to mention Paul Reubens, the Bobcat and even Ray Liotta, who brought something essential. Yea this all happened I guess, no Scarface, but definitely a Boogie Nights.
Rating:
Summary: Ted Demme's Best and Final Film
Review: With the recent loss of the maker of this film, Ted Demme, I believe you owe it to the guy to see this film. Not only as a tribute to the guy, but also cause this film is amazing! Based on a true story, it shows the eventual decline of Johnny Depps character into the sinister world of drug trafficking. What started as an easy way to make some cash, leads Depp into becoming the cocaine baron of America. With a rocking soundtrack, great perforamances from Depp and Penelope Cruz, this is truly a fantastic film.
Rating:
Summary: Ultimately a Tragedy for Ted Demme
Review: There are really two distinct reasons for watching this film, the movie itself, and the interviews with the man whose life is chronicled. To miss the interviews, conducted by Director Ted Demme at the prison where George Jung is living until at least 2015, is to miss one of the most tragic aspects to the film and its making. Ted Demme speaks of the absolute essential guidance that only parents can provide their children and by extension help their offspring steer clear of drugs. Now it is reasonable to feel terrible for the family that Ted Demme left behind when he dropped dead on a basketball court, and then cocaine was found in his system. Did the drug kill him, who knows, it certainly did not enhance his health. But as you watch the interview with Ted Demme talking about the evils of drugs and how becoming a father has made him even more aware of the dangers, it is hard to get beyond the hypocrisy. Whether he was a user during the film, or began after, either way his death underscored why there is a drug trade in this country. No one forced Ted Demme to take drugs; he was part of the problem, for he was part of the market demand for the cocaine he condemned on camera, and then used in his private life. This film does not have chain saw wielding psychos as in the film, "Scarface", and there is none of the romanticizing of organized crime as many films have showcased. Like another film Johnny Depp starred in, "Donnie Brasco", this is based on a real man's life, a man that confirms the film's accuracy in extended interviews. That the interviews take place in a federal prison where he is serving a 30 year sentence makes the film all the more real. The film does depict, for portions of his life, the parties, the cars, big houses, and the one million dollars a week he made the first year he dealt cocaine. But in the end the film deals out brutal reality, an initial sentence of 60 years without parole, financially broke, betrayal by his closest friends, and the destruction of any chance of a relationship with his one daughter. At his peak of importing cocaine, if you used the drug there was an 85% chance that he had brought it to this country, that's a staggering figure. Excellent performances are given by Johnny Depp and Paul Reubens as Derek Foreal. Penelope Cruz is easy to hate, but I believe that was the goal, but generally her part was secondary. Jordi Malla also did a great job as George's partner and nemesis, and Ray Liotta was excellent as always. This film and the actors did not get the attention they deserved. The entertainment industry has always been a consumer of the cutting edge lifestyle, and drugs, specifically cocaine was enthusiastically purchased by the ton. The subject probably hit too close to home to even nominate the actors for their work. One note on the format of, "Infinifilm", this format installs an additional proprietary DVD player on to your computer. Had I known this I would not have purchased the DVD. I do not want nor need companies adding redundant proprietary software to my computer. The death of Ted Demme is sad; the irony that cocaine played in his death is almost more believable as a movie than a real life tragedy. Unfortunately for his family, the latter is all too true.
Rating:
Summary: Demme's last and best film
Review: Ted Demme was on his way to making more great movies. But his death stopped him. This movie is great. It should of won many many awards. George Jung was amazed the way that Johnny Depp portrayed him. I would be to. The costumes were great, very relevant to the time, the hair was right on track, and it was all very beleivable. Well it did happen... This isn't just about George Jung smuggling over 600 lbs of Blow over the border it's about his developing relationship with his family. His first wife, his second wife, and his daughter. The real George is in jail until 2015 and will be around 80 then. His daugher still hasn't visited him. But i'm glad this movie was made. I suggest buying it.
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