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Blow

Blow Image
Metascore
52

Mixed or average reviews - based on 34 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.9

Universal acclaim- based on 218 Ratings

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  • Starring: ,
  • Summary: A high-velocity look at George Jung's (Depp) spectacular rise and fall -- based on the true story of how powder cocaine turned into America's biggest drug problem and how one man from the blue-collar suburbs became the 35 billion-dollar a-year conduit to the Colombian cartels. Ted DemmeA high-velocity look at George Jung's (Depp) spectacular rise and fall -- based on the true story of how powder cocaine turned into America's biggest drug problem and how one man from the blue-collar suburbs became the 35 billion-dollar a-year conduit to the Colombian cartels. Ted Demme directs this riveting look at the manic allure -- and dangerous reality -- of a drug smuggler's everyday life, and unfolds one of the great untold stories from the recent annals of American crime and culture. (New Line Cinema)… Expand

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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 34
  2. Mixed: 19 out of 34
  3. Negative: 3 out of 34
  1. Rolling Stone
    Reviewed by: Peter Travers
    100
    Scorches the screen with a badass bravado all its own. Smart, sexy, funny and dangerous this high-wire act is a movie and a half.
  2. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Owen Gleiberman
    75
    Carries little in the way of passion or revelatory charge.
  3. Baltimore Sun
    Reviewed by: Michael Sragow
    63
    Too soft on its lead character and too willing to chalk up America's drug appetites to the times-that-were-a-changin' in the '60s.
    All this critic's reviews
  4. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Edward Guthmann
    50
    It's an honest portrayal, but it leaves the audience stranded, without the emotional hook of a character we can care about.
  5. Wall Street Journal
    Reviewed by: Joe Morgenstern
    50
    A textbook case of a film that's befuddled by its subject.
    All this critic's reviews
  6. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Dana Stevens
    50
    Depp's witty, spare performance gives the picture a poignancy -- a depth of feeling, if you'll allow the pun -- that Mr. Demme's hectic direction and the hurried script by David McKenna and Nick Cassavetes don't quite earn.
  7. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Stephen Hunter
    30
    You can't make an epic about a mouse.

See all 34 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 26
  3. Negative: 2 out of 26
  1. cwp62492
    Nov 14, 2011
    10
    One of those movies where you will laugh your ass off at parts, but want to cry at others. Overall very good. Depp, as usual when playing aOne of those movies where you will laugh your ass off at parts, but want to cry at others. Overall very good. Depp, as usual when playing a drugged out crazy guy, delivers an excellent performance.… Expand
  2. JohnC.
    Dec 19, 2007
    9
    This movie was so great. I don't understand whay is has such a low average score.
  4. ImA
    Nov 5, 2009
    9
    Wow, can't believe the critics on this one.
  5. BlakeJ.
    Mar 11, 2007
    7
    Good, but not as good as the teenage crowd makes it out to be. Johnny does a fine job. Penelope Cruz is so evil I wanted to reach into the Good, but not as good as the teenage crowd makes it out to be. Johnny does a fine job. Penelope Cruz is so evil I wanted to reach into the screen and choke her, that's acting.… Expand
  6. Spangle
    Jun 24, 2016
    7
    Blow is certainly an interesting film that paints a good picture of George Jung, both as a man and as a drug dealer. However, it simply feelsBlow is certainly an interesting film that paints a good picture of George Jung, both as a man and as a drug dealer. However, it simply feels like it has been done before. This was essentially Ted Demme's take on a Martin Scorsese movie, just minus the guy being an abusive jerk. Instead, the women are jerks, but all the same. The film takes a typical approach to the subject with typical narration and time jumping to tell a more complete story. While George Jung is certainly an interesting man, the film simply does not do much to separate him from other figures and their respective films. That said, Johnny Depp and Ray Liotta do a very good, though their make-up team dropped the ball since they do not age over the course of twenty years aside from their hair. Overall, Blow is a compelling real life tale, but is beat-for-beat what you have come to expect from a biopic about a drug smuggler in the 1970s-90s.… Expand
  7. DarylD.
    Apr 5, 2010
    5
    A crappy version of Goodfellas. I mean they copied almost everything.If you want to watch a movie about drugs just watch 'Boogie A crappy version of Goodfellas. I mean they copied almost everything.If you want to watch a movie about drugs just watch 'Boogie Nights' or something. Sure a great performance from Johnny Depp and great directing from Ted Demme but even with that, it doesn't cut it. It felt like I already watched this movie and got nothing out of it.… Expand
  8. ryancarroll88
    Aug 27, 2010
    2
    A half-baked attempt at a variety of ideas that were better used in greater films (namely Goodfellas). Depp and Liotta give entertainingA half-baked attempt at a variety of ideas that were better used in greater films (namely Goodfellas). Depp and Liotta give entertaining performances as usual, but the fun burns out quickly.… Expand

See all 26 User Reviews

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Awards & Rankings

#81 Most Discussed Movie of 2001
#5 Most Shared Movie of 2001

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