it may be unpleasant to watch, but it's all true

Rating: 8/10 (26 May 2005)

In "Blow", Johnny Depp plays George Jung, who brought Colombia's drug cartel to the United States in the 1970s. Jung arrived in California in the late '60s and got involved in transporting marijuana to the US. After a while, he got involved in the cocaine business. But, much like what happened to Tony Montana in "Scarface", the whole thing led to his downfall.
The movie shows a perpetually gritty and seemingly forgotten part of American history. Regardless of whether or not you like the story, strong performances by Depp and Penelope Cruz (as Jung's wife Mirtha) keep the movie from becoming unpleasant.