Blow

This is the latest movie scribe chose for us to review. Its been a while since we've posted anything and I felt we needed to post something so here's my part of it. Hopefully my blog partner will own up and post his half soon. Until then, people...

GREEN’S “I CAN’T FEEL MY FACE” REVIEW”

“Blow” is the true story of the rise and fall of George Jung (Johnny Depp) and his friends. If you smoked cocaine in the late 70’s or early 80’s chances are, George Jung had a part in getting it to you. The story starts with George’s humble beginnings in Weymouth, Massachusetts as a kid who idolized his father amid a troubled family life. George’s life irreversibly changes when he moves to southern California and gets himself involved in importing and selling marijuana. He eventually gets arrested for smuggling but skips bail to be with his dying girlfriend Barbara, (Franka Potente). On a visit back home to his family, he is arrested and sentenced to federal prison. There he meets Diego, his cellmate, who gets George involved in the Colombian cocaine cartel once they get out of jail. The story goes on to relate events of George‘s dealings with Pablo Escobar and the relationship he forms with the beautiful Mirtha (Penelope Cruz), who becomes his wife. Together they have a daughter, Kristina (Emma Roberts and James King). Eventually Mirtha files for divorce and puts a strain on his relationship with his daughter. As the movie ends, George is in jail once again and imagines a visit from his daughter who he loves dearly, despite all of his drug related problems.

I had bought this DVD some time ago (from the $5 DVD bin at Wal-Mart) based on the hype I think I remembered during its theatrical run and on the reputation of Johnny Depp, one of the best contemporary actors in the business today. For whatever reason I had never gotten around to watching it until Scribe-o named it on his latest list of movie choices.

Suffice to say I was impressed by Depp in the title role. Arguably, this might be Depp’s career best performance in a career with many outstanding performances. Amazingly, this movie received no Academy Award nominations, not even one. The supporting cast is strong, including Paul (Pee-Wee Herman) Rubens, whom I have never considered more than a marginal talent. Ray Liotta and Australian actress Rachel Griffiths give strong performances as George’s parents. I find it interesting that Penelope Cruz was nominated for a Breakthrough Female Performance (2002 MTV Movie Award) and a Razzie for Worst Actress for the same role in this movie, though she won neither award, (personally I tend to lean toward the Razzie nomination over the Breakthrough Performance Award for Cruz.)

I had never really heard of director Ted Demme, who did a fabulous job directing the film, based on a book by Bruce Porter and screenplay by Nick Cassavetes and David McKenna. Demme, ironically, died about nine months after the release of this drug themed film from what IMDb calls an ’accidental cocaine induced thrombotic heart attack.’ You'd think Demme would have learned that cocaine is baaaad for you after filming this movie. Some folks never learn, I guess. Sad.

The extras on the infinifilm DVD are very well done, including a gripping, English subtitled documentary on the impact of the cocaine trade on the country of Columbia, its people and economy. A must see extra is Demme’s interview of the real life George Jung, from Otisville Correctional Facility in upstate New York, where he is currently serving a 60-year sentence. In this question and answer interview, among other things, we learn that Jung himself was impressed with Depp’s portrayal of himself and of the events depicted in the film. If the real life subject of your movie wholeheartedly endorses it, it has to be good.

**** out of *****



Blow (2001, R, 124 minutes), starring Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Paul Rubens, Jordi Molla, Rachel Griffiths, Ray Liotta, Franka Potente, Cliff Curtis and Miguel Sandoval. The screenplay was written by Nick Cassavetes and David McKenna. Based on the book by Bruce Porter. The film was directed by Ted Demme.