Product: Blow [VHS] (2001)
Rating: 4.0
"In Collision With Every Stone He Ever Threw"
When I think of Ray Liotta,I think of the smiling Henry from Goodfellas. I think of a guy with a life full of youth no matter how old he is. In Blow, Liotta plays father to a kid (Johnny Depp) "George" and husband to a nagging wife. Liotta played his character with a lot of conviction. It was sad to see an old man listening to a tape recorded by his son. It was also sad to see him play his role as well as he did. To his son, he's the strongest man on earth. His character was extremely well painted & I don't think they could have possibly done any more justice to him.When I would think of Depp, I would think of Edwards Scissorhands.He plays George in this movie and almost every scene in Blow revolves around him. I must say I liked his introduction to the film.This movie is about a kid who grows up watching his mom leave his dad every now and then. They would quarell over money matters and he wished at that time he never was like them. He also decides to never be poor no matter what may come his way.I never thought Penelope Cruz (was almost in love with her) could play the role of a whiny wife as well as she did in Blow. She was good as she managed to make me grind my teeth each time she spoke harshly to George Jung in the prison. I also liked the fiance stealing scenes.Some of the high points of the movie came towards the end. Most films like to conclude with an endnig of dire sorts. Blow has a tragic yet believable ending. Depp became what he hates and it's quite amusing to see him realise at the same time he's lived the life of a man who's ambitions exceed his talent. Yes,I thought the film was about Cocaine but no! it's about the wrong steps a man takes in his life.Another heartbreaking scene was Depp acknowledging the fact that his dad (Liotta) was always right at the age of 42. Money is nothing.Pardon me for the random takes but it's not easy writing a review for Blow. It made me smile and it made me sad but on the whole it was a bit of a lesson in it's own way. Blow had a good ending(appropriate)I would recommend Blow to everyone who doesn't like over mushy endings and for those to whom reality matters.Excellent direction and good screenplay.Enjoy whatever works for you,reader.PS - Wonder what doing blow actually feels like :P