Supposedly the true story of the life of George Jung, Johnny Depp - who became involved in the drug trade after moving away from his Boston home where Mum - Rachel Griffiths constantly berates his father - Ray Liotta - for his lack of success. In California George gets a stewardess girlfriend Barbara, Franka Potente, and through her meets Derek, Paul Reubens, a hairdresser and marijuana dealer. George expands Derek`s business exponentially but is eventually arrested. While he`s in gaol he meets Diego Delgado - Jordi Molla - a Colombian who, on their release connects George with the head of the biggest cocaine cartel in the world, Pablo Escobar - played by the New Zealand actor Cliff Curtis. And it`s then that the good times roll, particularly when George meets Mirtha - Penelope Cruz.
This is actually quite a fascinating film as it tracks the developing cocaine trade in America. Although how accurate a portrait of George Jung it paints is debatable. He`s such a gentle nice guy as played by Depp, but an unlucky one in his business associates. What distinguishes the film are the performances, they`re pretty much all good, Ray Liotta and Rachel Griffiths are terrific, Penelope Cruz showing grit as Mirtha and quite mesmerising is Jordi Molla as Diego. Blow offers us insight into a world, an era, it`s also a cautionary tale.
