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Directed
By: Ted Demme
Starring: Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Franka Potente, Paul
Reubens, Jordi Molla, Ray Liotta, Rachel Griffith
Rated:
R (Sex / Drugs / Rock & Roll) Running Time: 124 Minutes
Buy this poster!
The
film Blow is based on the true story of George Jung, a relatively
normal kid from Massachusetts. In search of a better life,
he moves to California during the 1960's, finds that the pot
there is much better than the stuff back home, and, with a
little help from his friends, begins to distribute the happy
weed to anyone willing to buy. It seems there is quite a market
for his little plants, and his business and fortune soon begin
growing at exponential rates. Through another series of plot
revealing circumstances, he eventually becomes the central
supplier of high-grade cocaine for the American west coast
during the 1970's and early 1980's.
Sounds
good so far, doesn't it? Well, because Blow is based on the
life of George Jung, as told by George Jung, the film has
quite a bias toward making him someone you would like to have
succeed. Yes, when things don't go right for George, this
movie actually wants you to feel sorry for him! For me, this
is where Blow starts to do just that... blow. Seriously, George
Jung is so completely self-centered that he believes people
should feel bad for him. There is no mention in Blow of the
countless other lives ruined by his distribution of Colombian
cocaine. There is no mention of the irreparable harm his product
has done to society. There is no mention of his actually caring
about anyone other than himself, unless he has something personally
to gain by that show of emotion. There is no thought of redemption
or teary epilogue with George realizing that what he had done
is wrong. There is just poor, poor George. Oh, he had so much
wealth. He had so many toys. He had possessed more than most
people could ever imagine, and now it's gone. Poor, poor George
Jung. We should all feel so sorry for him. Well, that's an
incredible load of crap. At the end of this movie, in defiance
to it's intended self-serving message, my actual reaction
was more along the lines of, 'Good. Serves you right!'
Technically,
however, this film is very well done. The acting is quite
good, and Johnny Depp gives his all to portray George Jung
in a sympathetic light. Also, it was great to see former 'Pee-Wee',
Paul Reubens, acting in something serious. His and Johnny
Depp's performances were the standouts of the film.
As
far as directing is concerned, that was also quite good. I'll
even go so far as to say that Ted Demme has succeeded in executing
one of the most professional rip-offs of Martin Scorcese's
directing style that I have ever seen. Blow is what happens
when aspiring directors watch the movie Goodfellas one too
many times. I realize Ted has a few projects under his belt,
but guess what? Ted Demme is still 'aspiring' to become a
decent director. It's such a shame. Poor, poor Ted Demme.
I really feel for him. (Oops, there goes my sarcasm again!)
So,
to recap, unless you're overflowing with compassion for people
who, by all accounts, deserve to rot in prison for the rest
of their useless lives, then it would be wise to pass up that
line for Blow.
Allen
J Vestal
A.J.'s
Place: Movies & More!
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