I just watched (and loved) Blow this afternoon. I always felt a connection between this film and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (don't know why), but while Fear and Loathing left me a little bit disappointed, Blow surprised me in a very good way. it is one of the most well-done, well-acted, entertaining, and as I'd never expect, touching films I have ever seen. Johnny Depp (obviously) is awesome in the role of George Jung, the man who, single-handedly was responsable for the Colombia-USA connection in the cocaine industry. and as well as Depp, Penelope Cruz, Ray Liotta (in his best role since "GoodFellas" - waaay better than Narc), Rachel Griffiths and the whole acting crew did an excellent job, and the story is perfectly told, as I can't say I have a single unanswered question about this film, except one: "Why is it so underrated?" - Roger Ebert's review, for instance, says "Take away the drugs, and this is the story of a boring life in wholesale." - well, this white-haired-respectable-old-sir must be having a LOT of fun... I thought it was imposible to even relate the word "bore" with "Blow". George's life is a non-stop trip that flips back and forth through drugs (soft, heavies, legals, illegals...), federal prisions, last-minute trips to Colombia, handling international drug lords and having wild sex with Penelope Hot Cruz. how Roger Ebert thought this is "boring" is beyond me. Ebert also says that "millions of lives had to be destroyed by addiction so that George and his onetime friends could arrive at their crossroads." and "all he did was operate a toll gate between suppliers and addicts. You wonder, but you never find out, if the reality of those destroyed lives ever occurred to him.". - well, let aside the etic side of the discussion, is ridiculous that Mr. Ebert decided to claim for the justice of coke-snorters in a movie review. I personally think that is lame, naive and stupid to blame the drug dealers for any drug-related issue. but hey, I'm giving elder Ebert too many credit. the fact is that I loved this movie. 8,5 out of 10, or anything up!

Blow *
2001, Demme, US
The true story of George Jung, a Boston boy who grew up to become America's biggest smuggler of Colombian cocaine in the 70s.
Because of similar stuff that has gone before, the director feels it can succeed without a narrative; as a frenetically paced depiction of a man on the rise and then on the inevitable fall, it entertains as long as it lasts.

Depp's performance keeps it afloat amidst creeping boredom. The clichéd character arc of a man on the rise and fall due to drugs (in both), and the Scorsese-like way in which it's made doesn't do much for me.

Mick

I for one liked the movie, and felt sorry for poor old George.

Not everything I watch has to be oscar.

I agree,i think its an excellant film

I love this movie.

I guess this is a film that you either like or you don't. I happen to love this film, and as a film based on cocaine and the whole "rags to riches" schtick, I happen to like it more than Scarface (1983). It doesn't have the shock value or immediate "in your face" entertainment value as De Palma's film, and I'm not saying Blow is necessarily better, but I like it more. And I agree 100% with fathersson, not everything I watch has to be Oscar-worthy. Hell, I watched White Chicks the other night and almost pissed my pants.

I agree, it's a good film and much better than Scareface.
It has a more real feel to it presenting the "Crime Does'nt Pay" moral to the story, and you can't help but feel very sorry for George at the end. Who feels sorry for Tony at the end of Scareface?

Good casting

"Oscar-worthy" doesn't necessarily mean a great film. Million Dollar Baby (2004) is a nothing more than an ordinary film.

Mick

You know, I was just thinking.
Ted Demme (RIP) gets great performances from his actors.
As I commented Blow IMO was well cast with some great performances, including Paul Pee Wee Reubens.

Another film of Demme's which buy no means is Oscar worthy, but very entertaining is "Beautiful Girls". Nice ensemble cast with good performances. Another very real feel to it. Some may call it a chick flick. I do reccomend watching with a chick or in my case my wife.

He also did a film about a low level Irish mob set in a Boston suburb, I can't think of the name now. I hate to repeat myself , but it was well cast, with an authentic feel, and grest performances including Dennis Leary.

Too bad he died at such a young age. He certainly had a promising career

well I agree that "'Oscar-worthy' doesn't necessarily mean a great film", and I still feel that "not everything I watch has to be 'Oscar Worthy'", since I'm sure "Oscar Worthy" is just a figure of speech here :p

yes, Blow is not the greatest film I ever watched, but it's still a great film in my opinion, only not as great as Scarface. I don't even think they are in the same league, and I did feel sorry for Tony Montana in the end of Scarface, obviously not for the same reason I felt (very) sorry for George Jung in the end of Blow.

How could you feel sorry for Tony Montana, he was a lousy piece of chit...

much of the piece of shit he turned out to be was because of the drugs. I don't think he was a "natural born killer", as Bill would say.