Diagonaldi Very well executed

StunnaKrypto Self-important, over-dramatic, uninspired.

Cody One of the best movies of the year! Incredible from the beginning to the end.

Phillipa Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

bowmanblue Believe it or not, there was a time when Johnny Depp could do no wrong. 'Blow' was an example of one of the many - possibly only average - films which his presence and screen-charisma elevated to more than just a run-of-the-mill biopic of a drug dealer. Depp plays 'George Jung' - possibly the most notorious American-born drug dealer of the seventies and eighties and 'Blow' charts the man's rise to power and subsequent fall, leaving off where he (literally) is today (or at least where he was in 2001 when this film was released).Besides Depp, there aren't that many famous faces on show here. Penelope Cruz seems to relish taking a break from playing 'nice girls' back then in favour of being Depp's crazy, coke-fuelled on-screen wife and Ray Liotta pops up as Depp's long-suffering father (with occasional dubious make-up to show how he's aged throughout the story). Besides them, it's a Johnny Depp film all the way. I do wonder whether, if it was released today, it would have been half as popular, as Depp's last few big screen ventures have brought nothing but scorn from critics at the Box Office. However, here he shines. Yes, he is certainly a rogue - someone only interested in the 'good life,' but despite being a criminal, he's never a violent one (of course some may argue that spreading addictive and deadly drugs to the masses constitutes 'harming' people!).Being a 'real life' tale (or, as Hollywood tends to do, takes aspects of the real events and forms a more compelling narrative around them) Depp provides a lot of voiceover which does tend to 'tell' the story, as opposed to 'showing' what transpires. Plus this turns into a convenient tool with which to fill in blanks when the film moves from time period to time period (I think - technically - it starts in the fifties and ends up in the nineties, so many time-jumps are required). And, if a voiceover isn't there, sometimes you get a montage to quickly get the audience to the next major point in Jung's life. These can come across as a bit jarring and make the film (which most likely could have been a whole TV series about this man's life!) feel a little rushed in places.If you're into crime films (based on real life events, or otherwise) you should enjoy this. It's definitely very watchable and, from what I've seen online, presents a reasonable attempt at portraying the facts surrounding Jung's life. Plus, if you're into Depp in his heyday, then you'll get your money's worth here.

natamity There is too much storytelling crammed into the running time that it skims over what would have been poignant moments in George Jung's life. A lot happens, but without much depth and insight, and to the point where the story feels disjointed in places. Delving deeper into some of the sub-stories with further character development could have lifted this film into something great. Instead, you are taken on a moderately entertaining ride but left without any real insight into who Jung was and with more interest in the sub-stories that this film only lightly touches upon. The direction and cinematography are not strong enough to hold up the film on entertainment value alone; it needed some soul.

AlexanderExtazy This is an inspiring film that tells the story of an entrepreneur who started in the "illegal" profession at a young age, and because of that he just couldn't release it from his life.George Jung always knew how to connect the dots from A to B.There was a demand, and he knew how to supply; therefore he did it.This is one of those movies which teaches you that incarceration is absolutely brutal and inhuman... it not only abstains us from living our lives, but it sharpens our criminal skills too.The whole smuggling tutorial thing in the movie is one way to sharpen, but by meeting fellow criminals in the same building can gather oneself a great amount of connections for the next life to come upon release.The movie was lovely.. however the end where the father listens to the son's voice on recording, was very heart breaking and a crucial point in the movie where the viewer realizes this is the end of the road for Mr. Jung, and so it was.

pat-davitt Blow is a very original, and true story about drug lord George Jung who allegedly imported 85 percent of all of America's cocaine in the 1970's and has served as an inspiration for many other films. It is directed by Ted Demme. In the Film, George Young escapes from his poverty stricken life in a small town in Massachusetts to California where he begins to sell Marijuana. As business grows George and his friend Tuna begin importing there dope from Mexico. After a jail sentence, George gains connections in the world of cocaine and begins importing the drug from Columbia and distributing it throughout the U.S.A. Johnny Depp delivers a brilliant performance as his character gets more and more caught up in the wealthy lifestyle, betrayal, and risk of life as an international drug dealer. Blow demonstrated how a many can go from the highest point that a person to be, having more money than he could ever imagine, having a beautiful wife, and consuming large amounts of narcotics, to being stabbed in the back by his closest connection and having to run from the police. Blow is a story of success, money, drugs, but most of all regret. At the end of the film George asks himself from inside prison "Was it all worth it?" With his family destroyed, his money taken, and his heart broken, he simply answers "no".