If you did coke in the late '70s, there's an 85 percent chance it came from me...

George Jung is the "hero" in the movie Blow, but is he really a hero? "Boston George" as he came to be known has had his life story told many times, in this movie as well as in the book the movie was based off of, Blow: How a Small-town Boy Made $100 Million with the Medellin Cocaine Cartel and Lost it All.

As Johnny Depp's girlfriend, I am forced (totally willingly, of course) to see and purchase all his movies. One I purchased about a year ago was Blow, which, I'm ashamed to admit, I knew nothing about as I dropped my debit card on the counter. No worries, though, because it fast became one of my all-time favorite movies. I've seen it numerous times since I bought it, and I'll undoubtedly see it many more times, enjoying it more and more with every viewing, most certainly.

Blow starts out with a preview of what's in store for George Jung later in his life. We see cocaine being manufactured, and finally we cut to George's childhood; playing with his friend Tuna and learning about Fred Jung's (Ray Liotta, Hannibal) and Ermine Jung's (Rachel Griffiths, The Rookie) money troubles. George listens to his mother gripe about not having enough money often, and when the family goes bankrupt, he decides then and there that he will never live like that; George Jung will always have money.

Fast forward to George (Johnny Depp, Secret Window) and Tuna (Ethan Suplee, Butterfly Effect) as adults; they've moved to California to start a new life, a life with lots of girls, and lots of marijuana. Tuna comes up with an idea, "We can sell this stuff, man!" and George's girlfriend Barbie (Franka Potente, The Bourne Identity) introduces them to someone who can get them some real pot, Derek Foreal (Paul Reubens, Pee Wee Herman!!!). They sell for awhile, then realize there is much more money to be made on the East Coast, bringing about their first trip south of the border, to acquire mass amounts of marijuana.

It's during these times that George is living large and enjoying life with his group of friends and girlfriend Barbie. He eventually gets caught and ends up in jail for awhile, where he meets Diego Delgado (Jordi Molla, Bad Boys 2) who tells him (and this is one of my favorite lines in the movie), "Do you know why you failed, George? Because you had the wrong dream." Once out of jail, George and Diego meet up, are eventually introduced to Pablo Escobar (Cliff Curtis, Collateral Damage), and so George's love-hate relationship with blow (cocaine) begins. George meets his wife Mirtha (Penelope Cruz, Vanilla Sky), and eventually has a baby with her, Kristina Sunshine Jung.

It was the greatest feeling I ever had. Followed abruptly by the worst feeling I ever had. ~George Jung

As you might guess, blow can make people act much differently than they might normally. Diego has problems with George, who has problems with Mirtha, who is insane (my personal opinion, sorry), and so on. While selling cocaine makes Boston George a very rich guy, the troubles that accompany any drug dealer become overwhelming. George quits the business, gets back in, and gets screwed over. Of course. The story of George Jung and his life with Blow is a roller-coaster.

Sometimes you're flush and sometimes you're bust, and when you're up it's never as good as it seems and when your down you never think you are going to up again. But life goes on. Remember that. ~Fred Jung

Blow is the kind of movie that you will either love or hate. I personally loved it. One of my good friends hated it. It's closely based on the true story of a man who distributed marijuana and cocaine to many Americans. I love the camera movements, shots, angles, the detailed costumes, the actors and actresses, the flow, the emotional rollercoaster you are forced to ride on. My friend hates the romanticizing the movie does. "He ruined so many people's lives, how can they make a movie about him?" While I somewhat agree, I choose to look at the movie as just a story, true or not.

Blow's attention to detail is probably the most grabbing factor to me. The vastness of the characters make the movie a little confusing at times, but they're all portrayed so differently and so well. Derek Foreal is quite fruity, Mirtha is sexy, yet crazy at times, George is relaxed and an entrepreneur, Pablo Escobar is intimidating, etc. Also, while the movie could be divided into sections of George's life (his childhood, his marijuana "West-Coast" days, his wealthy blow days, etc.) it still moves along fluidly, keeping you involved. There are funny parts where I laugh out loud (even after seeing it so many times) and serious parts that literally send shills up my spine every time. There are sad parts; times when you feel sorry for George (whether he deserves the sympathy or not).

The soundtrack to Blow is very fitting, in fact I've purchased it and will be writing about it shortly. The music doesn't dominate the movie, but when you hear it, its definitely there. Everytime I hear "Blinded by the Light," I think of George's high times; when I hear "All the Tired Horses" I remember George's not-so-high times. Ahh, but I'll save this for another review.

This movie has lots of drug use (duh), some sexuality and violence, and lots of cussing. I wouldn't let kids under the maturity level of 15 view it. It was directed by Ted Demme and is rated R.

So in the end, was it worth it? Jesus Christ. How irreparably changed my life has become. It's always the last days of summer and I've been left out in the cold with no door to get back in. I'll grant you I've had more than my share of poignant moments. Life passes most people by when they're busy making grand plans for it. Throughout my lifetime I've left pieces of my heart here and there. And now, there's almost barely enough to stay alive. But I force a smile, knowing that my ambition far exceeded my talent. There are no more white horses or pretty ladies at my door.



Cast (In case you missed it the first time):

George Jung- Johnny Depp, Secret Window, Edward Scissorhands
Mirtha Jung- Penelope Cruz, Vanilla Sky, Gothika
Diego Delgado- Jordi Molla, Bad Boys 2
Derek Foreal- Paul Reubens, Pee Wee Herman!!
Pablo Escobar- Cliff Curtis, Collateral Damage
Barbara Buckley- Franka Potente, Bourne Identity,
Tuna- Ethan Suplee, Butterfly Effect
Ermine Jung- Rachel Griffiths, The Rookie
Fred Jung- Ray Liotta, Hannibal

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older