1st of many good movies this year

Rating: 9/10 (22 April 2001)

I'd have to admit that I had no desire to watch this movie. I just went to watch it because everyone said it was good. I must say that I was astonished. This movie will almost certainly bring serious Oscar consideration for Johnny Depp, Ray Liotta, Best Cinematography, and maybe even Best Director, pending the releases of movies still to come.
I have gained a newfound respect for Johnny Depp. This movie does a lot to help erase the images in people's minds of Depp starring in Benny & Joon and Edward Scissorhands. He's always been a good actor, but now he has a movie like this to add to his resume.
Ray Liotta surprised me a lot in this movie. The role that personifies him will always be his role in GoodFellas. In this movie, he plays a caring, loving, and very understanding, father. But what really caught me off guard is that the played this role perfectly.
The only problem I have with this movie is its length. Usually with great movies, you're enjoying it so much the first time you see it that you don't even notice that your approaching 2 hrs and 30 min. This movie, while it was excellent, is a movie in which you would notice how long it is.
Many people compare this movie to Traffic. I guess because of it's subject matter. I not the biggest fan of Traffic, and would rate Blow way above it. I found Traffic to be a little too documentary-like, while Blow is a "movie" that you just have to watch.
This is an excellent movie all the way through, including the unexpected and very sad ending. My rating - 9.