Blow (2001)

Director:

Ted Demme

Writers (WGA):

Bruce Porter (book)
David McKenna (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

6 April 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Crime | Drama

Tagline:

Based on a True Story.

Plot:

The story of George Jung, the man who established the American cocaine market in the 1970s.

Plot Keywords:

Cocaine | 1970s | California | 1960s | Prison

Awards:

1 win & 5 nominations

Cast

Johnny Depp	...	George Jung
Penélope Cruz	...	Mirtha Jung (as Penelope Cruz)
Franka Potente	...	Barbara Buckley
Rachel Griffiths	...	Ermine Jung
Paul Reubens	...	Derek Foreal
Jordi Mollà	...	Diego Delgado (as Jordi Molla)
Cliff Curtis	...	Pablo Escobar
Miguel Sandoval	...	Augusto Oliveras
Ethan Suplee	...	Tuna
Ray Liotta	...	Fred Jung
Kevin Gage	...	Leon Minghella
Max Perlich	...	Kevin Dulli
Jesse James	...	Young George
Miguel Pérez	...	Alessandro (as Miguel Perez)
Dan Ferro	...	Cesar Toban
Tony Amendola	...	Sanchez
Bobcat Goldthwait	...	Mr. T
Michael Tucci	...	Dr. Bay
Monet Mazur	...	Maria
Lola Glaudini	...	Rada
Jennifer Gimenez	...	Inez
Emma Roberts	...	Young Kristina Jung
Jaime King	...	Kristina Jung (as James King)
Charles Noland	...	Jack Stevens
Pamela Abdy	...	Beach Woman #3
Lisa Claire	...	Beach Vendor
John Harrington Bland	...	FBI Waiter #1
Jimmy Burke	...	FBI Waiter #4
Brantley Bush	...	FBI Waiter #3
Kevin Chapman	...	DEA Eastham (as Kevin H. Chapman)
The Dawk	...	Guard (Visit Area #2)
Ted Demme	...	Archie Sigmond (as Edward Demme)
Crystal Erickson	...	Stewardess #1
Daniel Escobar	...	Emilio Ochoa
Tracy Falco	...	Beach Woman #2
Jean-Carlos Felix	...	Prison Guard (Warden's Office)
Lazaro Galarraga	...	Band Singer
Brian Goodman	...	Guard Gus
Vanessa Grayson	...	Stewardess #3
Elif Guertin	...	Stewardess #2
Josh Herman	...	Detective #1
Faith Hoover	...	Stewardess #6
Brad Hunt	...	GG
Patrick Husted	...	Bank Manager
Kristina Jung	...	Clerk (scenes deleted)
Ralph Kampshoff	...	Guard (Visit Area #1)
Ajgie Kirkland	...	James Trout
Skip O'Brien	...	Customs Agent
Richard LaGravenese	...	Detective #2
Roberto Lopez	...	Guard (Danbury)
Lydell M. Cheshier	...	Inmate #3
Dorothy Lyman	...	Judge (Chicago)
Jodie Mann	...	Nurse (Cape Cod)
Charles Martiniz	...	Bank Employee
Genevieve Maylam	...	Beach Woman #1 (as Genevieve Maylem)
Gonzalo Menendez	...	Ramon Ochoa
Mauricio Mendoza	...	Benny
Carlos Mendoza	...	Tony
Alan James Morgan	...	Young Tuna
Randy Mulkey	...	Employee #1
Kathleen Mullan	...	Beach Woman #5
Meriah Nelson	...	Stewardess #4
Tony Perez	...	Bank President
Jack Polick	...	Ben
Michael Ralph	...	Inmate #2 (as Mike Ralph)
Raoul N. Rizik	...	Rafael Ojeda (as Raoul Rizik)
Matthew Robinson	...	Inmate #1 (as Matt Robinson)
Elizabeth Rodriguez	...	Martha Oliveras
Bert Rosario	...	Bank President (Panama)
Leslie Schirrmacher	...	Stewardess #5
Dale Snowberger	...	FBI Waiter #2
Sophie Tsimel	...	Beach Woman #4
Julia Vera	...	Clara Blanca
Santiago Verdu	...	Juan Carlos
Pamela Walker	...	FBI Waiter #5
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ricardo Azulay	...	Restaurant / Bar Patron (uncredited)
Twyla Banks	...	Inmate's Daughter (uncredited)
Anastasia Blue	...	One of Derek Foreal's Party Girls (uncredited)
Nick Cassavetes	...	Man in Derek's Salon (uncredited)
Al Coronel	...	Salsa Dancer (uncredited)
Anna de Cardi	...	Friend at Pool Party (uncredited)
Dana Emberson	...	Beach Cyclist (uncredited)
Janine Foster	...	Flight Attendant (uncredited)
Miguel Ángel Fuentes	...	Body Guard for Pablo Escobar (uncredited)
Jorge Jimenez	...	Alessandro's Guy (uncredited)
Jacque Lawson	...	Biker (uncredited)
Cynthia Loebe	...	Principal (uncredited)
Melissa Reneé Martin	...	One of Derek Foreal's Party Girls (uncredited)
Jo Price	...	Business Woman (uncredited)
Bobby Reed	...	DEA Agent (uncredited)
Leonel Rendón	...	Priest (uncredited)
Joe Rosario	...	Banker (uncredited)
Joey Sotello	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Crafty St. James	...	Airplane Mechanic (uncredited)
Bill Willens	...	Biker (uncredited)
Rayder Woods	...	FBI Undercover Agent (uncredited)

Directed by
Ted Demme

Writing credits (WGA)
Bruce Porter		(book)
David McKenna		(screenplay) and
Nick Cassavetes		(screenplay)

Produced by
Michael De Luca	....	executive producer
Ted Demme	....	producer
Tracy Falco	....	associate producer
Georgia Kacandes	....	executive producer
Denis Leary	....	producer
Jose Ludlow	....	line producer
Susan McNamara	....	associate producer
Hillary Sherman	....	associate producer
Joel Stillerman	....	producer

Original Music by
Graeme Revell

Cinematography by
Ellen Kuras

Film Editing by
Kevin Tent

Casting by
Avy Kaufman

Production Design by
Michael Z. Hanan

Art Direction by
David Ensley

Set Decoration by
Douglas A. Mowat

Costume Design by
Mark Bridges

Makeup Department
Sheryl Blum	....	assistant hair stylist
Desne J. Holland	....	key makeup artist
Whitney James	....	makeup department head
Jamie Kelman	....	key makeup artist
Candace Neal	....	hair stylist
Ve Neill	....	makeup artist
David Ruiz Gameros	....	makeup artist
Martin Samuel	....	hair styles supervisor
Randy Sayer	....	hair stylist
Rita Troy	....	key hair stylist
Karl Wesson	....	key hair stylist
Kevin Yagher	....	character makeup designer and creator: Johnny Depp
Barney Burman	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Mariano Carranco	....	production manager: Mexico
Carla Fry	....	executive in charge of production
Georgia Kacandes	....	unit production manager
Susan McNamara	....	production supervisor
Rick Reynolds	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Anne Berger	....	additional second second assistant director
Rosemary C. Cremona	....	second assistant director
Maria Mantia	....	second second assistant director
Nicholas Mastandrea	....	first assistant director (as Nicholas C. Mastandrea)
René Villarreal	....	first assistant director: Mexico

Art Department
Ruben Abarca	....	drapery
Damon Allison	....	fixtures
Gogo Amara	....	set designer: Mexico
Ron Ashmore	....	paint supervisor
Maria L. Baker	....	set designer
Scott Bobbitt	....	lead man (as Scott A. Bobbitt)
Steve Borgese	....	greens foreman
Erin Boyd	....	swing gang (as Erin Gould)
Timothy Braniff	....	storyboard artist (as Tim Braniff)
Raymundo Cabrera	....	property master: Mexico
Ryan Cassidy	....	set dresser
Amiee Clark	....	art production assistant
Skip Crank	....	set dresser
Jeff Damal	....	set dresser
Hana Espinoza	....	art department coordinator
Maureen Farley	....	property master
Kristen Gassner	....	set decorating buyer
Cheryl Gould	....	set dresser
Lance Gunnin	....	general foreman
Steve A. Hagberg	....	construction coordinator
Melo Hinojosa	....	set decorator: Mexico
Daniel R. Jennings	....	assistant art director
Adam Khalid	....	art department assistant
Kim Larsen-Santini	....	assistant props (as Kim Larsen)
Patrice Laure	....	lead man
Randlett King Lawrence	....	purchasing foreman (as Randlett Lawrence)
Hana Matsumoto	....	art department coordinator
Merdyce McClaran	....	assistant property master
Karin L. McGaughey	....	assistant set decorator
Paul A. Minitello	....	sign painter (as Paul Minitello)
Jason Puga	....	stand-by painter
Eric Ramirez	....	lead man
Cynthia C. Rebman	....	on-set dresser
Gabriel Rivera	....	construction foreman: Mexico
Mark Sakamoto	....	gang boss
Carlos Sanen	....	lead man: Mexico
Anthony Samuel Saso	....	tool man (as Anthony Saso)
Wayne Smith	....	stand-by painter
Meredith J. Stewart	....	set dressing assistant
David Storm	....	set dresser
Bill Taliaferro	....	set designer (as William Taliaferro)
Bernardo Trujillo	....	art director: Mexico
Victor Vallejo	....	lead scenic: Mexico
Alberto Villaseñor	....	construction coordinator: Mexico
Cheree Welsh	....	art department coordinator
Tony Wright	....	labor foreman
Ahmed Saker	....	construction medic (uncredited)
Michele Spadaro	....	prop construction (uncredited)

Sound Department
Brian Basham	....	adr recordist
Ron Bedrosian	....	adr mixer
Michael J. Broomberg	....	foley artist
Allan Byer	....	production sound mixer
Mark Choi	....	sound effects editor
Jamie Christopherson	....	additional sound
Patrick Cyccone Jr.	....	sound re-recording mixer
Dean Drabin	....	adr mixer
Richard Dwan Jr.	....	adr editor
Richard Dwan Jr.	....	dialogue editor
Victor Ray Ennis	....	co-supervising sound editor
Eric Flickinger	....	sound recordist
Nerses Gezalyan	....	foley mixer
Philip A. Hess	....	foley editor (as Phil Hess)
Michael Keller	....	sound re-recording mixer
Glenn T. Morgan	....	adr editor
Glenn T. Morgan	....	dialogue editor
James Moriana	....	foley artist
Gary Mundheim	....	foley editor
Mark Ormandy	....	additional sound
Tim Peyton	....	utility sound technician
Alan Rankin	....	sound effects editor
David Stanke	....	assistant sound editor
Mark P. Stoeckinger	....	supervising sound editor
Cary Stratton	....	adr recordist
Jeffrey Wilhoit	....	foley artist
Keenan Wyatt	....	boom operator
Greg Zimmerman	....	foley recordist

Special Effects by
Luis E. Ambriz Martínez	....	special effects assistant: Mexico (as Luis Ambriz)
Robert Bolanowski	....	special effects
Ron Bolanowski	....	special effects coordinator
Michael Duenas	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Akemi Abe	....	main titles
Lloyd Lee Barnett	....	digital compositor
Fish Essenfeld	....	compositing and 2D supervisor: Metrolight Studios
John Follmer	....	head of production: MetroLight Studios
James W. Kristoff	....	executive in charge of production: MetroLight Studios
Derek Ledbetter	....	visual effects
Heather MacPhee	....	2D artist
Stacie Manning	....	2D artist
Justice O'Neil	....	digital artist
Dobbie Schiff	....	visual effects executive producer: MetroLight Studios
Bruno Vilela	....	head of art department: Metrolight Studios, Inc.
Judith Bell	....	digital artist (uncredited)
Chris Crowell	....	digital compositor (uncredited)

Stunts
Brian Avery	....	stunts
Joni Avery	....	stunts
Rick Avery	....	stunt coordinator
Cameron Croughwell	....	stunts
David Gene Gibbs	....	stunts
Anita Hart	....	stunt double: Penelope Cruz
Anita Hart	....	stunts
Chris Howell	....	stunts
Danny Wynands	....	stunts (as Dan Wynands)

Camera and Electrical Department
Alfred Ainsworth Jr.	....	video assist operator
Alfred Ainsworth	....	video assist operator
Brandon Ainsworth	....	rigging electrician
Al Ambrosio	....	grip
Bryan Ashford	....	dolly grip
Randy Babchuck	....	rigging best boy
Kenneth Bender	....	second assistant camera
John Beran	....	grip
Erik Carter	....	rigging gang boss
Jesus Rodriguez Davalos	....	rigging gaffer: Mexico
Camille Freer	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Oscar Gomez	....	rigging best boy
Rob J. Greenlea	....	grip (as Rob Greenlea)
Juan Fernando Guzmán	....	electrician
Justin Holdsworth	....	lamp operator (as Justin Michael Holdsworth)
John Janusek	....	key grip (as John 'Beef' Janusek)
Steve Kagan	....	rigging electrician
Alex Klabukov	....	grip
Jeff Kluttz	....	key rigging grip
Michael Lyon	....	electrician
Jim McConocha	....	electrician
Fernando Moreno	....	gaffer: Mexico
John C. Nadeau	....	gaffer (as John Nadeau)
Gustavo Oliva	....	rigging gaffer
Simone Perusse	....	best boy electric
Jesús Rodríguez Barajas	....	key grip: Mexico
Andrew Rowlands	....	camera operator
Mark Santoni	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Lorey Sebastian	....	still photographer
John P. Shine	....	best boy grip
Sandi Sissel	....	camera operator: "b" camera (as Sandy Sissel)
Baird Steptoe	....	focus puller
Donald J. Sutherland	....	lamp operator
Don Telles	....	rigging grip
Henry Tirl	....	Steadicam operator
Henry Tirl	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Michael Tolochko	....	electrician
Roger Wall	....	camera loader
Jerald L. Wilson	....	lamp operator (as Jerry 'Dallas' Wilson)
John Young	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Mike Gerzevitz	....	lighting technician (uncredited)
Sandi Sissel	....	director of photography: second unit (uncredited)

Casting Department
Beth Bowling	....	casting associate
Alejandro Cairo	....	extras casting: Mexico
Rich King	....	extras casting
Andrea McBride	....	extras casting assistant
Megan Foley	....	extras casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Cha Blevins	....	costume supervisor (as Deborah Cha Blevins)
John Casey	....	costume supervisor: Mexico
Steve Constancio	....	set costumer
Jenny Eagan	....	costumer
Bridgitte Ferry	....	costumer (as Brigitte Ferry)
Lisa Hyde	....	costumer
Lisa Hyde	....	key costume wrap coordinator
Guy Miracle	....	costumer
Pablo Nantas	....	tailor
Mónica Neumaier	....	costume coordinator: Mexico
Donna O'Neal	....	set costumer
Anthony J. Scarano	....	costumer: Mexico (as Anthony Scarano)
Anthony J. Scarano	....	key costumer
Charmaine Nash Simmons	....	costumer (as Charmaine Simmons)
Lisa Tomczeszyn	....	assistant costume designer
Joanne Trotta	....	cutter/fitter

Editorial Department
David Berman	....	editorial production assistant
David O. Berman	....	editorial production assistant
Tom Dailey	....	first assistant editor
Danya Joseph	....	assistant editor
Jody Levin	....	executive in charge of post-production
Mato	....	color timer
Frank Roman	....	digital intermediate color timer
Mark Scovil	....	assistant editor
Earl Adams	....	colorist (TV version) (uncredited)
Carole Cowley	....	digital intermediate producer (uncredited)

Music Department
Wolfgang Amadeus	....	music mixer
Eric Amdahl	....	music preparation
Mark Curry	....	music mixer
Buck Damon	....	co-music supervisor
Richard Ford	....	music editor
Paul Haslinger	....	music programmer
Lesley Langs	....	assistant music editor
Amanda Scheer-Demme	....	music supervisor
Tim Simonec	....	orchestrator
Rick Fleishman	....	music coordinator (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Cesar Angobaldo	....	transportation captain (as Cesar Angebaldo)
Javier Gunther	....	transportation coordinator: Mexico
Buck Holland	....	driver: Johnny Depp
Craig Lietzke	....	driver
Kenneth Newland	....	transportation office coordinator (as Kenny Newland)
Carlos Ponce de León	....	transportation captain
Theresa M. Roehner	....	driver
Randy White	....	transportation coordinator
Dean Winton	....	driver

Other crew
Akemi Abe	....	main title
Victor Aguirre	....	physical production intern
Pamela Alch	....	script supervisor
Gerardo Arellano	....	assistant auditor: Mexico
Jose Manuel Ballesteros	....	caterer: Mexico
Lori A. Balton	....	location scout (as Lori Balton)
Lisa Behlendorf	....	post-production accountant
Kevin Berman	....	consultant
Nicholas Blasi	....	stand-in: Johnny Depp (as Nick Blasi)
Denise Blasor	....	adr loop group
Judy Blinick	....	first assistant accountant
Julio Bárcenas	....	location assistant: Mexico
R. Chris Cavaliere	....	craft service assistant
Caryn Cheever	....	construction accountant
Martin Corkidi	....	production assistant: Mexico
Peter Costelli	....	assistant location manager
Jason Cox	....	set production assistant
Allison Crane	....	production assistant
Kim Crockett	....	production assistant
Fermin Davalos	....	assistant location manager
Christi Dembrowski	....	assistant: Johnny Depp
Humberto Domínguez	....	production assistant
Jessica Drake	....	dialect coach
Leon Dudevoir	....	production executive
Karen Eisenstadt	....	production accountant
John Embry	....	production assistant
Adrian Enriquez	....	location assistant: Mexico
Mike Fantasia	....	location manager
Samuel V. Franco	....	assistant to producer
David Fulton	....	unit publicist (as Dave Fulton)
Agnes Gardette	....	production coordinator: Mexico
Emily Glatter	....	supervising production coordinator
Vanessa Grayson	....	stand-in: Penelope Cruz
Sarah Hendler	....	assistant: Mr. Stillerman
Jonas Hendrix	....	production assistant: Mexico
Elsa Hermoso	....	auditor: Mexico
Jean Hodges	....	food stylist
John Humber	....	production assistant
Marc Jacobs	....	production resources
Jeff Jenofsky	....	production assistant
Tish Johnson	....	location accountant: Mexico
Melissa Kinnicutt	....	assistant production coordinator
Elizabeth Kirkscey	....	assistant: Georgia Kacandes
Carlos Larios	....	production assistant: Mexico
Steven S. Lee	....	location scout
Xenia Linares	....	set production assistant: Mexico
G. Pekas Lozano	....	location manager: Mexico (as Gloria 'Pekas' Lozano)
Cathy Marshall	....	payroll accountant
Donny Martino Jr.	....	location assistant
Andrew Matthews	....	financial consultant
Nick Mestrundrea	....	craft service (as Nicholas J. Mestrandrea)
Hector Montalvo	....	assistant extras coordinator: Mexico
Norberto Nava	....	security coordinator
Mike Patlin	....	aircraft provider
Stacia Peters	....	development assistant: Ted Demme and Joel Stillerman
Adriana Poblano	....	travel coordinator
Alberto Rebollo	....	location manager: Mexico
Steven John Reynolds	....	assistant accountant
Arturo Saldivar	....	production assistant: Mexico
Maurice Schwartzman	....	choreographer: Dancer
Jim Serpico	....	production executive
Dee Dee Smith	....	location coordinator
Alexander C. Sohn	....	accounting clerk
Joe Steele	....	production office assistant
Jeffrey D. Stevens	....	key set medic
Jeffrey D. Stevens	....	medic
Lance Stockton	....	production assistant
Brenda Taylor	....	set production assistant
Emma Tillinger Koskoff	....	assistant: Ted Demme (as Emma Tillinger)
John Trujillo	....	layout board
Lee Tucker	....	preview technical supervisor
Nelson Tunon	....	assistant production coordinator: Mexico
Christa Vausbinder	....	production coordinator
Dick Wagner	....	production office assistant
Julie Wagner	....	stand-in: Franka Potente
John Burton West	....	assistant production coordinator
Cori Zucker	....	assistant: Tracy Falco
Eric Brown	....	assistant: Spanky Pictures (uncredited)
Marco Polo Constandse	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Mike Currie	....	set production assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
George Jung	....	the producers wish to thank
Kristina Jung	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Apostle
• Avery Pix
• New Line Cinema
• Spanky Pictures

Distributors

• New Line Cinema (2001) (USA) (theatrical)
• Alliance Atlantis Communications (2001) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Aurum Producciones (2001) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Distribution Company (2001) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• GAGA (2001) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Kinowelt Filmverleih (2001) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Metropolitan Filmexport (2001) (France) (theatrical)
• Nexo (2001) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Paradiso Entertainment (2001) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (2001) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Village Roadshow Entertainment (2001) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (200?) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (200?) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• New Line Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• New Line Home Video (2001) (USA) (VHS)
• RTL Entertainment (2005) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing) (RTL7)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (2002) (Sweden) (DVD)

Special Effects

• MetroLight Studios

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Claudia Becker & Associates  casting
• Custom Film Effects  opticals
• Direct Tools & Fasteners  expendables
• Magic Film and Video Works  negative cutting
• Mato  color timing
• Palace Costume and Prop Co.  costumes
• Picture Mill, The  title design: main titles
• RPM Group  promotion and marketing
• Rich King Casting  extras casting
• Soundelux  production sound

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for pervasive drug content and language, some violence and sexuality

Runtime:

124 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Chile:14 | Finland:K-15 | Germany:12 | Malaysia:(Banned) | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:M18 (re-rating) (cut) | Singapore:R(A) (original rating) (cut) | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R (certificate #37768) | Iceland:16 | South Korea:18

Filming Locations:

Spring Street Towers - 650 S. Spring Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Apostle

Trivia:

When George is in the courtroom the first right before he finds out that Barbara's sick, the words that he is reciting to convince the judge that he is innocent are lines from Bob Dylan's song "It Ain't Me Babe" and Woody Guthrie's song "Pretty Boy Floyd".

Goofs:

Continuity: When Georges party gets busted on his birthday the Fed agent that carries out his daughter is the same actor that was the police detective that escorted him out of his parents house.

Quotes:

[first lines]
George:That's a nice boy. Go get 'em, Dulli.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Gilmore Girls: Richard in Stars Hollow (#2.12)" (2002)

Soundtrack:

Little Ditty

A very impressive film!

I don't understand why many people I talked to either thought the film was bad or mediocre. Sure, it isn't a "great" movie, but when was the last time you saw 5 great movies in a row? A great movie comes along once in a blue moon, depending on your definition of great. I personally was very engaged in the plot. Johnny Depp gives a tour-de-force performance, fully engaging himself in the character. I'm sure he did lots of research on George Jung and tried to mimick his every mannerism, because this was far from a half-baked effort. Then again, I don't ever recall Johnny Depp doing a movie where he didn't put his full enthusiasm into the role. The movie has many tragic moments and many funny moments. The film is a little over 2 hours long, but the time flew by in a breeze. I was so enlightened that I'm anxious to do some research on the real George Jung. I'm not a fan of Penelope Cruz, and they could've chosen a much better actress, but she's only in the film about 20 or 30 minutes, so she isn't given enough time to ruin the film. Paul Reubens gives a surprisingly earnest performance as a flamboyant, bisexual hairdresser. It's too bad he's caught up in all this controversy, because he seems to have sufficient range as an actor. I loved hearing all the great classic rock songs in the soundtrack, and every time I watch the film the songs get stuck in my head and I start singing them for days on end.

"Blow" is a touching drama that doesn't try to exploit the world of drugs, nor condemn it. After seeing George's tragic outcomes as a world-class coke dealer, I doubt anyone would want to get in or get back into the "business," but that doesn't necessarily mean the message is preachy.

My score: 8 (out of 10)