Blow

Yes, there are definitely strong moments that touch your heart, but overall it takes time for the film to get to those moments. It's similar to Scarface, it just doesn't have as much drive. Depp's hero evolves differently; his self-destruction isn't as bloody, yet the contrast between the film’s beginning and end is interesting. It's as if they were two different films. It’s an interesting story, and the fact that it is based on a true event somewhat enhances its significance. (06/12/2013)

I love these half-biographical, half-crime films where we follow the life journey of a half-good, half-bad person, although in this case, there's not much of corruption to speak of. George Jung, played by an excellent Johnny Depp, comes across as a purely good guy, whom we root for, relating to the roller coaster ride of his life, where one day you're on top and the next you're on the bottom, and it's up to us how we make it work. The script is superbly written, with a strong touch of nostalgia that floats through American society in the stoned 60s and 70s full of hippies and marijuana. And the ending is masterfully crafted, powerful and moving, and it’s only there that we fully realise how beautifully Ted Demme has had it in his grasp all along and what a compelling and real story he has created. (12/08/2012)

Blow reminded me of the productions of Canadian television and film companies based on the West Coast that specialize in the mass production of biographical films and so-called films based on real events that flood the market and usually end up airing at less attractive broadcasting times. This film is an average affair in every way with a predictable plot, characters, and character development, only elevated by the presence of popular actors. However, Penélope Cruz is completely unnecessary because her role simply does not require anything from her and it could easily be played by a second-rate actress with an attractive appearance or even a model aspiring for an acting career. Depp is, of course, consistently good, but he cannot do much on his own, especially when the script and dialogues do not work in his favor. The problem lies primarily in the approach to the entire project. If Ted Demme could have directed the true story of a drug smuggler as a stylish comedy or tragicomedy, as Steven Spielberg did in the film Catch Me If You Can, it could have been a very successful affair. The presence of Ethan Suplee, known as the retarded Randy from the series My Name is Earl, who is perfect for comedic parodies, would have helped with that. But the creators went in a different direction and since they probably paid the real George Jung for exclusive information and filming rights, they also let him influence the script in such a way that we are following the story of a "hero" who faces misunderstanding from his parents, the loss of his beloved partner, betrayal from his closest friends, and the money earned through crime, and in the end, he fights in vain for the favor of his daughter. The self-pity that emanates from the film is embarrassing, and it compels me to reduce my reliable three stars to only two and an overall impression of 45%. (01/01/2012)

The premise of Blow with its start resembling Tarantino's Jackie Brown which soon transforms into an uncertain blend of De Palma's Scarface and Scorsese's Goodfellas, promised a lot. However, it eventually stops at an unbalanced sentiment associated with the inevitable reckoning of the law. Especially if it’s all based on real events. But in order to make the journey to the top and down still interesting, it needs an innovative approach to its execution. Director Ted Demme opted for a two-hour fact-based format that doesn't deviate from the average, except perhaps in the category of performances, which are superbly led by Johnny Depp as always, along with excellent performances by Ray Liotta and Jordi Mollà. Penelope Cruz tries to at least partially erase the image of being a beauty, but I've seen the stylish partying of young ladies doing drugs done much better in other films. All in all, it’s an uninteresting and unremarkable genre film that could have given us more. Or maybe not? (02/09/2005)

I used to confuse Blow with El Mariachi for a long time and I thought I had seen this sprawling biography, but the truth is that I probably hadn't seen either of those movies whole or at least most of them before. However, I have now corrected this and Cocaine has unjustly eluded me for a long time. Depp excels more with his natural charisma than with his acting, and at least we are talking about times when he didn't smear himself with a thick layer of makeup. The movie doesn't age and still gives me shivers today. Similarly to Lord of War, a gem of the genre, although that one is one step higher. P.S.: I won't forget that scene with the room full of money boxes just like that... 8.5/10 (08/05/2016)