Blow

Theatrical Release Date: 2001 04 06 (USA)

UPC: 794043123443

Studio: New Line Home Video

MPAA Rating: R   Contains:[Violence, Not For Children, Profanity, Substance Abuse, Sexual Situations, Drug Content]

Summary: Following the life of cocaine-trafficking pioneer George Jung in a way that recalls Martin Scorsese's Casino, Blow recounts the man's days from his 1950s childhood in Boston to his downfall in the 1980s. George (played by Johnny Depp) begins his life as the son of Fred (Ray Liotta), an earnest breadwinner, and Ermine (Rachel Griffiths), who frequently walks out on them in pursuit of a more fulfilling life. When George moves west to California in the late '60s, accompanied by best pal Tuna (Ethan Suplee), he becomes an entrepreneur in the marijuana business, which soon spreads to the East Coast as well, with girlfriend Barbara (Franka Potente) smuggling the product during her stewardess shifts. George is arrested in 1972 -- at which time Barbara dies of cancer -- but George finds a new ally in Diego (Jordi Molla), who proposes the idea that he become the American conduit for Colombian kingpin Pablo Escobar (Cliff Curtis). George flourishes in the heyday of the disco era, and falls for Mirtha (Penelope Cruz), a self-serving bombshell who eventually has a daughter with him. Trouble escalates as the FBI threatens to bring George and his crew down, while he desperately tries to be a stable parent to his young offspring. Blow also features Paul Reubens and Max Perlich in featured roles. ~ Jason Clark, Rovi

Category: Drama

Features: Relive the turbulent era of George Jung's rise and fall through remarkable vintage footage accessible while you watch the movie!
Commentary by director Ted Demme and George Jung
Deleted scenes
Character outtakes
Ted Demme's production diary
Nikki Costa Push and Pull music video
George Jung interviews by director Ted Demme
Lost Paradise: Cocaine's Impact on Colombia
Addiction: Body and Soul
Fact Track: Trivia subtitle track with direct access to additional features
Theatrical trailers

Blow

Format: Blu-ray

Release Date: 09/23/2008

Audio: DD5.1 Dolby Digital 5.1

Runtime: 123 Minutes

Sides: 1

Number of Discs: 1

Language(s) English

Subtitles: English

Jason Clark

Ted Demme's drug drama doesn't score many points for originality or daring (borrowing liberally from the works of Martin Scorsese and Paul Thomas Anderson among others), but the story of drug entrepreneur George Jung is still gripping enough to make this film worthwhile. In an unsurprising but effective turn from Johnny Depp, we see Jung's ups and downs as he teeters between infamy and respectability, and the film itself has a similar rickety pattern. The female roles played by Penelope Cruz and Rachel Griffiths are monstrous cartoons, configured to sneer easily; the characterizations take some of the wind out of the story, as they make it more retrograde than necessary. Furthermore, Jung's life is told with far too much sentiment, forcing the audience to sympathize with him more often than is needed and taking the darker edge off the film, which could have made it an irresistible crime tale much like Scorsese's GoodFellas. Scorsese told a very similar story with more black humor and a resistance to convention, while still managing to take the audience on a breathless ride -- something this film only hints at. ~ Jason Clark, Rovi

Cast and Crew: Nick Cassavetes  Screenwriter 
Denis Leary  Producer 
Michael De Luca  Executive Producer 
Ted Demme  Director 
Ted Demme  Producer 
Graeme Revell  Composer (Music Score) 
David McKenna  Screenwriter 
Allan Byer  Composer (Music Score) 
Georgia Kacandes  Executive Producer 
Joel Stillerman  Producer 
Johnny Depp  Actor 
Penélope Cruz  Actor 
Jordi Mollà  Actor 
Franka Potente  Actor 
Rachel Griffiths  Actor 
Ray Liotta  Actor 
Ethan Suplee  Actor 
Paul Reubens  Actor 
Cliff Curtis  Actor 
Miguel Sandovar  Actor 
Kevin Gage  Actor 
Max Perlich  Actor 
Jesse James  Actor 
Miguel Perez  Actor 
Dan Ferro  Actor 
Tony Amendola  Actor 
Bobcat Goldthwait  Actor 
Michael Tucci  Actor 
Monet Mazur  Actor 
Lola Glaudini  Actor 
Jennifer Gimenez  Actor 
Emma Roberts  Actor 
James King  Actor 

Country: USA