Excellent

Rating: 10/10 (19 September 2004)

I'm no fan of drama, always wary of the false note, the upside-the-head didacticism, the sodden sentimentality. But Blow was excellent, until the tearful final 15 minutes. I'm astonished that some people have called it bland: I found it fast-paced and crisply, often strikingly, shot. Johnny Depp is wonderful, as are Ray Liotta and Paul Ruebens, and as for Penelope Cruz -- this is the movie that made me reconsider her talents.
Even keeping in mind that this is Jung's version of his story, and therefore likely to be self-serving, the final scenes are too sticky for me. But that was the only flaw I found. Otherwise, it was well-written, well-shot, well-acted; entertaining and compelling as the devil.