Blow

Blow
by Ted Demme (2001)

The true story of George Jung, the head of Colombian cocaine trafficking in the USA for Pablo Escobar during the 1970s.

Quote.

“𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘢 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘯, 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭. 𝘐 𝘸𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘋𝘪𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘮𝘢 𝘪𝘯 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘫𝘶𝘢𝘯𝘢,
𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘗𝘩𝘋 𝘪𝘯 𝘊𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘦.”
(𝐆𝐞𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐠)

BOSTON GEORGE, THE AMERICAN.

Is it possible to become someone important if you come from a mixed-heritage family struggling with severe financial difficulties and marital tensions?

George Jung’s story seems to suggest a clear answer to that question.

Certainly, much depends on the context, the historical period, your morality, your courage, and a good dose of audacity, but if all these variables work in your favor, there’s no limit to what you can achieve.

Starting from California, a land always rich with opportunities, to becoming the king of marijuana dealing on one of those vast oceanic beaches, alongside your loyal friend Tuna.

The business can then expand, thanks to the formation of a true team and the right connections: Fiji Islands, Mexico, Palm Springs.

It’s known that for certain products, demand is always increasing, as is your popularity, your fame in the underworld.

And finally, the ultimate step: direct acquaintance with his majesty Pablo Escobar; your direct entry into the white powder trade that is exploding in American culture like an atomic bomb.

Now, your ambition has far surpassed your talent.

Considerations.

Director Ted Demme brings to life his last film (he would die a year after its release), which is also his first to achieve great success.

Accustomed to directing comedies, here he completely changes genre to bring to the screen the story of one of the most famous criminals of the 1970s.

Blow is more interesting in its first part, where the protagonist’s childhood and early forays into the world of crime are recounted.

In my opinion, the middle and final parts lack something to elevate the film to cult status, especially considering the models it aspires to.

Although it’s not quite a masterpiece, Blow is still enjoyable and worth watching, enriched by many well-crafted dialogues and a good pace.

Moreover, there’s extensive use of the soundtrack. It ranges from Louis Armstrong to Springsteen and Dylan, to Clapton, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and the Stones, just to name a few.

Johnny Depp, for his part, is truly remarkable, delivering one of the best performances of his career at a time when he was at the peak of success and fame.

To prepare for the role, he had a meeting with the real George Jung and improvised a lot on set, often coming up with lines that weren’t in the script.

His way of bringing to life a greedy and ambitious character who ends up betrayed by friendships is one that stays with you over time.

The other cast members also perform well, from the loving father Ray Liotta, to the excellent Diego Delgado (Jordi Mollà), and a convincing Pablo Escobar (Cliff Curtis).

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