Product: Blow [VHS] (2001)
Rating: 5.0
No classification
It is interesting that most people look at this film and then compare it to other, over-the-top films involving drugs and violence. (Traffic, Goodfellas, etc.) But it seems that this film, being autobiographical, really isn't aiming to glorify or even evoke empathy for the protagonist. As a matter of course, this happens because of the subject matter, but I think it does so because it is such an interesting character study. George Jung doesn't come from a broken home. He doesn't have any good reason to become a drug dealer and as we find out later on, he really shouldn't have gotten married to a woman and fathered a child. But he did and the story is as riveting as I have seen on screen in a long time. Ray Liotta is the same type of Dad that George seems to want so badly to be. Liotta should, by the way, be up for the supporting role Oscar for this. Everybody seems to be saying bad things about Penelope Cruz in this film, but I think she performed exactly as she should have. She is supposed to portray a spoiled daughter of a Colombian drug kingpin. The fact that she is a witch should be no surprise. The one thing I think some people have overlooked is that George is really too nice a guy to be involved in the the drug trade as he was. I still keep wondering if he told his wife he was gay to protect her or if he really was gay. So once again, don't try to call this "Traffic 2" or "Gayfellas" or even "Scarface, Johnny Montana Returns". This is a story about a guy who went into business with friends and trusted too much and got burned. Probably snorted too much coke too.