George Jung (Johnny Depp) fell victim to one of Americans most lofty aspirations: financial stability! In an effort to answer one of capitalist society?s most troubling questions, Jung turned to what seemed like a rock of stability in the financial world, the international drug trade. Some turn to Wall Street, George turned to Pablo Escobar.

“Blow,” a true biography of the international drug kingpin George Jung, is as much a critique of the American dream of the late 70s and early 80s as it is a film version of VH1?s “Behind the Music.” Like the VH1 series, “Blow” is filled the three basic symbols of social deviance, sex, drugs and rock and roll. In this respect, the film is filled with much of the same contrasts of immoral highs and apocalyptic lows as “Boogie Nights.” The constant imagery of the most innocent and dark sides of crime gives “Blow” a similar feel to “Nights.”

George?s motives for becoming the Bill Gates from hell point toward the entrepreneurial theme of “Blow.” In the beginning of the film, Jung witnesses the working class struggles of his father, Fred (Ray Liotta), a construction worker, and his mother?s dissatisfaction with living month to month. In an effort to escape this life, George turns to drug dealing. Throughout his meteoric rise as golden boy of the drug trade, images of decadence are abound. Brought up in a loving family, George sells his soul for money, prevalent theme in modern film noir. Thematically, “Blow” is literally “Treasure of the Sierra Madre” on crack, a film in which money corrupts.

“Blow” is less educational than Steven Soderburg?s drug docu-drama, “Traffic,” which it has been compared to in pre-release buzz. Rather than an expose on the industry, “Blow” is more character driven. It is an up close biography of one of the biggest winners and losers of the drug trade.

To characterize George?s journey, “Blow” recreates the sights and sounds of the era. It uses its soundtrack, vintage set designs, and clothing to resurrect the sights and sounds of the time. It often displays as nostalgic a feel as “Boogie Nights,” which helps connect the audiences with the character?s dramatics highs and lows.

At times, “Blow” lacks the fast pace rush of the best dark films. It could run shorter and leaner with a few scene deletions. Director Ted Demme (“Life,” “The Ref”) uses freeze framing and up-close camera angles to lend the film a dramatic effect.

Extra editing needed or not, “Blow” has enough sex, drugs and rock and roll to satiate the most rabid MTV watchers. Stick around for the moral lessons.

Four Sinatras

Lai Saechao

State Hornet

If a person is not familiar with the term “Blow,” the film will surely answer the question for you.

The movie is based on a true story and it begins with a 6-year-old George Jung (Depp’s character), watching his parents argue about, the root of all evil, money. At that moment George vows he will never be poor or struggle for money.

Moving on, the film takes you to Manhattan Beach, California, where George and his best friend Tuna (Ethan Suplee) gets introduced to marijuana.

During this time of exploration, Tuna gets the bright idea to start selling it on the beach for rent money. As the money mounted up, George was still not satisfied. He wants to find the suppliers and expand his operations.

Actually, the movie is the same as every other drug related movie. The person gets rich, buys everything, parties and gets caught.

Since the movie is based on a true story, it can be assumed that George should learn his lesson. But no, George has to be bigger and better than before. He moves onto cocaine as the drug of choice.

That is where the movie title comes from, for those of you who may not know the slang term of the word “blow,” either.

At any rate, the film is full of action and laughter for everyone and it even tugs at the heart.Depp’s talent as an actor shines through in his many characters as a beach bum with no worries to a power driven drug lord that parties hard.

The other great performance came from Penelope Cruz who plays Mirtha Jung, George’s wife. She is the independent, seductive woman that will do just about anything to get what she wants or to get out of any sticky situation.

The movie is a little long, but it was worth seeing. It had a good story line and a good lesson for us all to learn that “money isn’t everything.”