Blow (2001) Movie Review, Trailer, Film Still and Poster

U.S. 2001
Director: Ted Demme
Cast: Johnny Depp, Ray Liotta, Penélope Cruz, Ethan Suplee, Rachel Griffiths, Franka Potente
Rating: R
Release Date: April 6th 2001
Running Time: 2 hours 5 minutes

The Movie Review

Blow film still 1


BLOW
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Ending:
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The bigger version of Miami Vice, now headlined by one of Hollywood's prominent actors, Johnny Depp. He roles in the latest movie about drugs cartel entitled Blow. Blow is based on a book by Bruce Porter, which also based on true story and real characters of George Jung and Pablo Escobar.

The storyline follows the life of George Jung, a will-be notoriously known as a drug smuggler, from his childhood days, the time he knew drug for the first time, his love life, his acquaintance with Pablo Escobar, until the movie ends (I don't want to spoil it).

Seeing the movie poster, you might think that it would be another fictional over-rated love story between Johnny Depp and Penélope Cruz. I was waiting for Penélope Cruz to show up, well she starts to appear in the second half of the movie (and that's after an hour from the beginning), and practically doing nothing acclaim-worthy for the rest of the film. For that reasoning, maybe the filmmakers should have altered its poster. Other cast members perform solid, particularly Ray Liotta who roles as Fred Jung (George's father) who is the only protagonist character in Blow and also rare to be found in the real life and serves as an example of a good and wise father.

Blow is okay in everything and all. Johnny Depp is great as always with his role, recalling that Depp has role in the similar vice-related theme in TV series 21 Jump street back in the 80s, so he's fine as dope dealer in this film. The cinematography is also ok; it takes place in several countries in year 70s and 80s complete with all those pretty wavy girls. The strongest aspects however are the dramatic scenes between a disoriented Son (George Jung) and his warm and affectionate father Fred, and realizing that this is based on a true story. Kudos for Ted Demme for directing this movie very nicely.

All in all, Blow is a good movie, nevertheless since it's a biopic movie, than you shouldn't get surprised by its running time. At some point Blow starts to feel too long, but just be patient, the end part is the best part and it gives you something to think deeply before it's all too late...

Some people may recognize Blow's similarity with Al Pacino's movie Scarface (1983), but Scarface is merely fictional and Blow is based on a life of a real person. However Blow for some people could be easily forgettable. There's nothing special enough to be remembered, except maybe the moral implications it tries to convey, and for that I think Blow conveys it very well.

© iwan pranowo of Movielogy.com