Blow

[poliphilo]

 George Jung is an  all American, blond, beachboy type who gets into dealing drugs (in the nicest possible way) and is disappointed to discover that his criminal associates (Pablo Escobar for example) aren't as pleasant and upright in their dealings with him as he is with them. The poor chap (in spite of being the cocaine king-pin of the mid to late 70s) is a born victim who never raises a gun in anger or his fist to anyone and ends up getting ripped off everywhichaway and betrayed to the Feds- when all he  wanted from that  last job (honest!) was to raise enough money to take his little daughter on the holiday of a lifetime to California.

And lets not forget what a deep and wonderfully supportive relationship he has with his salt-of-the-earth, blue-collar dad (in spite of his mom trying to spoil it  by grassing him up) or how scarred he is when his lovely girlfriend dies (beautifully) of leukemia. 

But it's his daughter he loves most. She's his heart (he tells her)-  the only thing he ever truly cared for. Awwwww!

And now he's serving 60 years in the pen and it's just not fair.

And then at the end of the movie Johnny Depp's noble phizog changes into the authentic weaselly countenance of the real George Jung and you realise (what you've suspected all along) that you've been sold a pack of sentimental, self-pitying lies.

According to a final title, George Jung's daughter has never visited the old monster in prison.  We are treated to her full name so,  if we ever happen to meet her,  we can upbraid her for her unfilial behaviour. Heartless girl, to treat her poor old father so!

I find this unforgiveable. Leave her alone, for Chrissakes. 

Shame on you, Mr Depp.

Comments

[cataptromancer.livejournal.com]

phizog? Is this a neologism (or neoslangism) of yours? It's great.

[lblanchard.livejournal.com]

Not to speak for poliphilo, but I suspect it's short for physiognomy. And I don't think P. is sufficiently charitable toward His Deppness.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Actually it's 19th century slang (the word is often shortened to phiz). lblanchard is right about the derivation.

[lblanchard.livejournal.com]

Awwww. He meant well. Sentimental old softie. And he visited George Jung in jail and all...

And also he was newly a dad when he made the movie (can you say "projection"?). And I don't think he's one of the world's deep thinkers, although he tries, bless his little heart.

[karenkay.livejournal.com]

Do you think the use of her full name was deliberate?

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I think the intention was to publicly shame her.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I'm normally in favour of Mr Depp. I think he's a great little actor. Maybe we should charitably conclude he just got out of his depth with this on.

[lblanchard.livejournal.com]

I shouldn't mind-read on the guy, but I believe he has a soft spot for messed up guys, and he also has a strong believe in the redemptive power of parenthood. I do know that he spent some time visiting George Jung in prison and lobbied, unsuccessfully, for his release. Some links:

http://www.deppimpact.com/blow.html

And it appears to have worked. This from Wikipedia:

"His daughter, Kristina Jung, was portrayed in the movie 'Blow' by Emma Roberts (and briefly by Jaime King) and now lives in California with her spouse and children. In the spring of 2002, she visited him and said '[she] was sorry for not coming sooner.' Kristina Jung was in the movie 'Blow' but she doesn't appear in the film - her scenes have been deleted."

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Interesting interviews.

I still say it's a misbegotten movie. I compare it with Scorsese's movies about life in the criminal underworld and it's nowhere. Put it next to Goodfellas (also based on the memoirs of a "reformed" crook) and it looks like something designed for the Hallmark channel.

[jackiejj.livejournal.com]

I never saw this movie. Too depressing!

But I love to look into Johnny's brown eyes. He's beautiful.

Laura will concur.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

We're bought a job lot of Johnny Depp movies the other day. Some I like and some I don't.

The one I'd really recommend- I think it's a terrific movie all ways round- is Ed Wood.

[jackiejj.livejournal.com]

I loved the Ed Wood movie.

[ex-kalymura481.livejournal.com]

*hopes Ninth Gate was amongst the lot* I know you're going to say it was a load of mystic mumbo-jumbo, but I'd still like to read that review.

You surprised me by disliking Blow, though. Or is it that you dislike having been taken in by the bad guy? It's this that still gets me. I tut, and think: damn that bastard got me again. For which, I think Mr. Depp should be conmgratulated!

Love Ed Wood.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I think Blow is a deeply sentimental movie. And I don't believe a word of it. I don't think you get to be the cocaine king of America by being the sweet, inoffensive family man that Johnny Depp portrays.

Ed Wood is a terrific movie- in a different class entirely.