"This (film) is crack for an Austin audience" - Harry Knowles at the SXSW screening of "Blow"

Ted Demme's "Blow" is a remarkable film. This is probably the most important film about drugs since Linklater's "Dazed and Confused." Of course, it's a much more dark and less humorous film than Linklater's as "Dazed" is about pot and "Blow" is about, of course, cocaine.

Based on a true story, the film revolves around George Jung, a Bostonian who grows up with a loving father and money- grubbing mother. A move to California in the early 70's opens George to the world of pot and this eventually leads to the world of cocaine. Jung, with Johnny Depp speaking for him, claims in "Blow" that he brought in 85% of the coke that came to America in the late 70's and early 80's. There is no reason to doubt him.

But "Blow" isn't really about cocaine or Jung. "Blow" is about one man's inability to grasp the true beauty of life. "Blow" is about the manipulation of greed into a supposed proverbial "America Dream." Always looking for easy money, Jung is never worried about his health or the health of those who do the drug. No judgments are ever made about right or wrong. The film simply shows us it's story. Jung never apologizes for his life and the ramifications of what he has done are never really addressed. There are no nosebleeds (from coke use anyway), no nose jobs or reconstructive surgery, and only Jung's own minor heart attack from the drug's use. This film assumes we are smart enough to know the big picture.

Demme's work here is beautiful and interesting. The only problem really is Depp's annoying voice-over narration that is usually unnecessary. Demme is so adept at showing us the story, no dialogue is really necessary to clarify what is being seen. At least the narration is only occasional. Another small problem is a repeated cinematic device of freezing on snapshots to tell a part of the story. This is certainly an acceptable device and Demme uses it well. It is just repeated directly after it's first usage and jars the rhythm of the film a bit.

The cast is phenomenal. We expect nothing less than spectacular from Depp and he delivers his usual perfect, Oscar-worthy performance. Ray Liotta is wonderful. Penelope Cruz delivers her best work yet. Actors like Max Perlich, Ethan Suplee, Franka Pontente, Rachael Griffiths, and Dorothy Lyman make zero missteps. But the real finds here are Paul Reubens (aka Peewee Herman) and Bobcat Goldthwait. While the latter only has a small role (where he again looks sickly), he makes the most of it. But Reubens appears throughout the film and proves himself an actor of immense talent. Playing a homosexual hair-dresser, Reubens at first swishes it up a bit but once he is behind closed doors, he is all business. It's a nice trick because it shows Reubens' character to be gay and capable of swish while also able to be a business person and capable of dealing with other men on a level playing field. He is never a victim and never a raging queen but at the same time his homosexuality is also never side-stepped. Demme and Reubens should be commended for this treatment of a gay character. It's really well-done. And Depp adds a dimension to the film by allowing Reubens to kiss his cheek in one celebratory scene and then returning the gesture. Fearless, really, without being manipulative or exaggerated. It's just the sexuality of a friend accepted.

At a little over 2 hours, "Blow" may be a bit elongated, but it's an important film with much to say. It's the story of a man who really didn't get the true meaning of life until it was far, far too late and how that inability to grasp the meaning of life cost him his own existence.

Note:

In English and occasional Spanish with no subtitles.

Script by David McKenna and Nick Cassavettes based on the biography by Bruce Porter.

Denis Leary, who produced the film, is listed as being in the film in several places but I did not snap to it if he was on screen. He may have been in make-up or in the background of a scene. Demme, who produces with Leary here, previously directed the actor in "The Ref." I think Demme has a cameo as a lawyer as well here.

Score by Graham Revell. Several classic rock songs are used in the film including The Stones' "Can't You Hear Me Knocking," Skynyrd's "That Smell," the forgotten RamJam song "Black Betty" and others.

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