Blow (2001)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Ted Demme

Writers (WGA):

Bruce Porter (book)
David McKenna (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

6 April 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Crime | Drama

Tagline:

Based on a True Story.

Plot:

The story of George Jung, the man who established the American cocaine market in the 1970's.

Plot Keywords:

Cocaine | 1960s | California | 1970s | American

Awards:

1 win & 5 nominations

Cast

Johnny Depp	...	George Jung
Penélope Cruz	...	Mirtha Jung (as Penelope Cruz)
Franka Potente	...	Barbara Buckley
Rachel Griffiths	...	Ermine Jung
Paul Reubens	...	Derek Foreal
Jordi Mollà	...	Diego Delgado (as Jordi Molla)
Cliff Curtis	...	Pablo Escobar
Miguel Sandoval	...	Augusto Oliveras
Ethan Suplee	...	Tuna
Ray Liotta	...	Fred Jung
Kevin Gage	...	Leon Minghella
Max Perlich	...	Kevin Dulli
Jesse James	...	Young George
Miguel Pérez	...	Alessandro (as Miguel Perez)
Dan Ferro	...	Cesar Toban

MPAA:

Rated R for pervasive drug content and language, some violence and sexuality.

Runtime:

124 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

South Korea:18 | Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Chile:14 | Finland:K-15 | Germany:12 | Malaysia:(Banned) | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:M18 (re-rating) (cut) | Singapore:R(A) (original rating) (cut) | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R (certificate #37768) | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico

Company:

Apostle

Trivia:

George Jung's daughter, Kristina, had a bit part as a clerk but her scene was cut.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Flipped shot: When George is first taken to Colombia to meet Pablo Escobar and the plane is landing in the background, the Chevy bow-ties on the front of the pickup trucks in the foreground are backwards.

Quotes:

[first lines]
George: That's a nice boy. Go get 'em, Dulli.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Palo Alto, CA (2007)

Soundtrack:

Pretty Boy Floyd

A few bags of 'pot' leads to tons of cocaine.

Director Ted Demme gives us an engrossing look at the very high highs and lowest of lows in the life of one of America's pioneer cocaine dealers George Jung(Johnny Depp). This story spans three decades: starting with Jung happy just to buy and sell 'pot'; being the first gringo to move cocaine into America from Pablo Escobar's Colombian cartel; and daydreaming while tending a garden in Federal prison. Jung lived life in the fast lane with the best of them. Soon there was trouble in paradise that led to life on the run from the FBI and DEA.

Depp is to be commended on his superb job in the challenging lead role and holding an awkward script together. Cliff Curtis is the stern and powerful Escobar. Ray Liotta is Jung's passive, but concerned father. Paul "Pee Wee" Reubens is Jung's back stabbing gay friend/dealer. Jordi Molla is Diego, Jung's ruthless partner and former cell mate. Penelope Cruz is Jung's wife Mirtha that lives for three things: cocaine, sex and money. I am not impressed with anything that Miss Cruz brings to the movie. The most disliked character in this movie is Jung's snob of a mother played by Rachel Griffiths.

This may not be everyone's cup of tea, but those who view the movie will have the story lingering in their thoughts. Violence and profanity are scattered about in this sometimes disjointed tale.