Synopsis:

George Jung (Johnny Depp) is the son of a struggling small business owner. Seeing his family struggle to make ends meet and failing, George vows never to share a similar fate. Moving to California, he starts his own pot pushing operation in which he finds both success and imprisonment. In prison, he meets a cellmate who introduces him into a partnership to the lucrative new market in cocaine. Upon release, George Jung quickly becomes instrumental in establishing the exploding US market for cocaine in which he claimed that he handled about 85% of the supply in the 1970's. However, for all the fabulous wealth and power he gained, the true costs of his dangerously treacherous occupation catch up with him in ways from which he would never recover.

Brian's Rating: B : A good recommendation by our friends Eric & Leah.  It is based on a true story about one of the leading cocaine smugglers in the late 70's and early 80's.  Johnny Depp does a good job in the role, and the supporting cast is good also.

Intertwined in the story of a rags to riches emerging drug kingpin is a good message about family values.  George has a daughter that he clearly loves, and that daughter was his only regret. 

There was one scene with the daughter where I saw one of the camera men in the picture in the background.  I cannot believe they did not catch it in editing.  The movie had a lot of the same feel as GoodFellas, although it was not as good.  Ray Liotta even has a part in this movie to further strength the likeness in your mind.  I have to assume that this casting decision was not on accident.

The Freak's Rating: B+ : Having one of the best soundtracks possible, harnessing the power of 70s rock perfectly, Blow soars off the screen.  Depp is perfectly cast as Jung and pulls off desperation and joy when applicable.  Penelope Cruz is incredibly sexy in this one, a semi-launching pad for her which does showcase some dramatic range.  Drug dealer storylines have stuck me to the screen since I snuck off to watch Scarface when I was 8 years old.  Though Tony Montana he is not, Depp pulls off enough magnetism to keep you enthralled for two hours.  With somewhat inconsistent storylines of guilt and pleasure, I felt it was just shy of an A rating. 

comment here to add your review!