| Year: |
2001 |
 |
| Genre: |
Biography / Crime |
| Director: |
Ted Demme |
| Cast: |
Johnny Depp - George Jung
Penélope Cruz - Mirtha Jung
Franka Potente - Barbara Buckley
Rachel Griffiths - Ermine Jung
|
Drugs used: Marijuana,
Cocaine
Tagline: Alright. Well, in
all honesty, I don't feel that what I've done is a crime. And I
think it's illogical and irresponsible for you to sentence me to
prison. Because, when you think about it, what did I really do?
I crossed an imaginary line with a bunch of plants
The Story: I don't think
George Jung was a corrupt, sleazy drug smuggler, but, more or
less, a young businessman making money to support his family and
wild lifestyle. That is what makes Ted Demme's "Blow" different
from other drug movies-it does not portray its characters as
addicted lowlifes, but as recklessly successful, high powered
individuals who simply want to live the American dream. The film
Blow is based on the true story of George Jung, whose image went
from the average Joe next door, a high-school football star from
a small Massachusetts town, to the world's premiere importer of
cocaine from Colombia's Medellin cartel, who once supplied the
States with over 85% of the total amount of imported cocaine in
the 1970's and 80's. "Blow" is one of the best movies of the
year.
George Jung's motives for pursuing drugs may have been
triggered by his family life as a child. His father was a nobody
construction worker who often struggled with money and his
marriage. In the film, Ray Liotta plays George's poor but
content father, with the versatile Rachel Griffiths as his
bitter, unhappy mother. George vows to never live his life in
poverty, no matter what.
He moves to California as a young adult where selling
marijuana supports his independent lifestyle. Paul Reubens and
Ethan Suplee play George's drug-dealing comrades. Eventually,
the authorities send him to prison for a while, where he meets
Diego Delgado (Jordi Molla). An insider in Colombia's rising
drug trade, this man educates George about the profits of
selling cocaine. After serving his time, Jung becomes partners
with Pablo Escobar (Cliff Curtis), the billionaire godfather of
international cocaine trafficking.
While Blow is stylish, smart and hard edged with good stuff,
the film also has compassion and feeling, inparticular in the
third act which gives this movie a clever turn. Also with
brilliant acting from the cast (the ensemble includes Depp, Paul
Ruebens, Penelope Cruz and in a twist of a role from GoodFellas,
Ray Liotta as Jung's dad) and a well told story, Blow is one of
the best bio-pics and drug movies ever.
|
