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Blow
(Reviewed March 10, 2001, by James Dawson)
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This is one of those "based on a true story" movies that makes you think 90 percent of what transpires onscreen actually was made up, because Hollywood has such a HUGE credibility problem on that score. For example, when Johnny Depp's dope-king character travels all by his lonesome to a Caribbean island for a face-off with a backstabbing rival who has armed guards aplenty on hand...who for some reason do not bother to search Johnny D. to see if he is carrying a weapon as soon as he arrives onshore...well, let's just say I'm not buyin' it.
The odd thing about this movie is that it almost manages to be terrific. Depp is damned good, Penelope Cruz does her best work to date (okay, that's not saying much) as his Colombian squeeze, and things move in an entertainingly melodramatic fashion. But every now and then the movie lapses into "Boogie Nights" territory (shallow 1970s-novelty-costumed two-dimensional cliche characters), with a touch of "Goodfellas" thrown in (Depp at times seems to be playing Ray Liotta's "in too deep" character from that movie, which is funny, considering that Liotta plays Depp's father in this one).
Still, "Blow" is remarkably watchable, and it has a terrific ending, so you could do a whole lot worse. Plus any movie that kicks off with the Rolling Stones' "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" gets extra points right from the git-go. (Man, I love that song. I had to play it twice today, in fact; first the classic version, then a live Mick Taylor version from 1995. And right now, right this very second, I'm playing it again. Good God, can Bobby Keyes ever play that sax! If you don't have a copy of "Sticky Fingers," brother, you just ain't livin'.)
Also, lest I forget (and how could I?): There is a fine, fine, superfine yellow AMC Gremlin in the background of a Miami parking lot in one scene of "Blow," which made me go all misty-eyed and sloppy. Gremlins were the most beautiful damned cars ever made by the hand of man! Why did I sell mine? Why? Why??? WHY????
Excuse me, I've gotta go learn how to drink. Heavily.
Back Row Grade: B
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