Blow is a heady sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll ride through the life and times of former cocaine king George Jung; the man responsible for satisfying 85% of America’s nose candy needs during the late 70s and early 80s. Running fast and hard from its ominous beginning to its heartbreaking end, the film dazzles with the likes of Depp, Cruz, and Liotta in its cast. It also sheds a bright light on a dangerous yet fascinating world seldom seen by the average person. All up, Blow is a two-hour hit of powerful stuff.

George’s beginnings are modest, with his formative years spent listening to his working-class father, Fred (Ray Liotta), and his irascible mother, Ermine (Rachel Griffiths), bickering about money and social prestige. The Jungs have neither, and the lack leaves a mark on their son.

Eighteen eventually arrives for the quietly spoken kid, and he promptly leaves his cold Massachusetts home for a California flush with sunshine, bikini-clad flight attendants on vacation, and lots of marijuana. “This is the life”, thinks George and, in order to avoid the interruption of a regular job, he begins shipping the Golden State’s favourite herb back home to his old friends, at a tidy profit.

Moving larger and larger amounts of pot, George eventually bumps into the law and winds up with a small stint in the clink. It’s inside prison that the ambitious young man discovers a new and exciting way to stamp his mark on America’s drug culture. Cocaine.

What follows is a meteoric rise into fabulous wealth and influence for Boston George. Beautiful women, expensive cars, designer clothes, and stylish parties are just some of the perks available for a ‘coke star’ with tens of millions of dollars sitting in an offshore bank account. However, what goes up must eventually come down, and for George the descent comes with devastating effect.

Johnny Depp (Chocolat) is very adept at biding his time, waiting for exceptionally suitable roles to float his way. As the intriguing George Jung, Depp is well at home and at his emotive best. Whether flaunting across the screen as an upwardly mobile drug impresario or slumped as a despondent jailbird, he doesn’t fail to capture the moment. Although Depp may be prettier than the real life George (who himself admits to a passing resemblance to 1940s schlock-horror actor Bela Lugosi), the 40 year old actor narrows the margin with some truly outrageous hairstyles, including a startling Slippery When Wet-era Bon Jovi do.

The supporting cast of Blow, unlike George’s powdery wares, is of mixed quality. Ray Liotta (Goodfellas) delivers a fine performance as the aging Fred Jung, and Paul Reubens (a.k.a. Pee-Wee Herman) camps it up nicely as a loud hairdresser with a business on the side. However, Rachel Griffiths’ overacting, in her all too frequent bouts as George’s mother, taints the blend somewhat.

Of course, a review of Blow wouldn’t be complete without a comment on Penelope Cruz (Vanilla Sky) and her contribution. Contrary to popular opinion (as evidenced by her nomination for a Razzie Award for Worst Actress), the Spanish actress excels in her role, brief glimpses of her scantily clad and sporting a kinky leash aside. She brings the spirited and often petulant Mirtha Jung (George’s eventual wife) to life in very entertaining fashion. Full credit to her.

Blow is arguably director Ted Demme’s (The Bet, Snitch) best work. Although a little excessive with the time spent analysing George’s relationship with his parents, Blow generally flows smoothly and does George Jung’s moving story justice. Sadly though, the film is one of Demme’s last. The 38 year old filmmaker suffered terminal heart failure during a celebrity basketball match in 2002. With terrible irony, the coroners found traces of cocaine in his system.

Blow is part poignant tragedy and all wild ride. As a capsule of George Jung’s extraordinary life and the interesting times in which he moved, Blow’s effects are lasting. More than just a movie, it’s a popular culture history lesson delivered with style. Four stars.

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age