Not bad

Rating: Null/10 (8 August 2002)

I don't know whether I'm getting soft but this movie really got me. Yes, the script is often cliched. Yes, the persona of George Jung is probably sugarcoated to make him appear better than he really is. Yes, Marcelino from Seinfeld doesn't make a believable drug boss, but the movie still works.
It's riveting to watch this guy grow up and through a combination of chance and luck go from small-time hustling into the high stakes world of international cocaine smuggling where billions of $$$ are involved. Drugs are actually secondary here. Movie's background could have just as well been the embezzlement in real estate business, the primary story is the rise and fall of George Jung with many ups and downs in-between. With good narrative, credit to Demme, and marvelous Johnny Depp portrayal of Jung, we really get to know the guy, understand the circumstances he finds himself in and learn what makes him tick. Depp perhaps, has an advantage over say Woody Harrelson in "People vs. Larry Flint" or Will Smith in "Ali" as most people going to see this movie don't know who George Jung is. So, as opposed to the two previous cases Depp was able to take more liberties with the character rather than doing a straight impersonation. Others in the cast, Pee-Wee included, did a good job too, but this is clearly Depp's show. "Blow"'s success hinges on his performance, since the script is pretty much bare bones in complete service of just moving the plot along, and he delivers. The entire daughter subplot could have easily turned into a big sap fest but Johnny boy pulls it off.
Not a revolutionary event in the history of cinema by any means, but definitely worth seeing.