Some people just have that entrepreneurial spirit, do they not? Henry Ford, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs… They not only have a brilliant idea but also the insights needed to turn that idea into a world altering concept. Well, George Jung was one of them. Only his product wasn’t cars or computers. It was cocaine. And his insight was, as they usually are, brilliantly simple: ‘People seem to like drugs a lot. I know where to get them… I could get rich!’
For those of you who don’t know that particular name, allow me to introduce you to Mr. Jung. He was an American drug trafficker who played a major role in establishing the cocaine trade in the United States during the 1970s and 1980s. Born in 1942 in Massachusetts, he grew up in a middle-class family but always had a knack for entrepreneurship—even if it was on the wrong side of the law. He began smuggling marijuana in his youth and eventually moved on to cocaine, working with the Medellín Cartel. At the height of his career, he was responsible for importing tons of cocaine into the U.S., amassing great wealth but also attracting the attention of law enforcement. Jung spent much of his later life in prison but was released in 2014.
And then, naturally, they made a movie about it. This one! It stars Johnny Depp as Jung and the beautiful Penélope Cruz as his wife, Mirtha. It pretty much follows George Jung from his early days as a small-time marijuana smuggler in Massachusetts, learning the ropes and testing the limits of the law, to his first encounters with serious criminal networks. We see him navigating the world of cocaine trafficking, forming connections with established dealers, and slowly building his own operation.
His ambition and entrepreneurial instincts drive him forward, and he quickly discovers the potential for enormous wealth, while also experiencing the constant risks that come with the territory. Along the way, he falls in love and marries Mirtha, but the pressures of his lifestyle begin to strain their relationship. Friendships, too, are tested, most notably with his partner Manny, whose loyalty and eventual tragedy underscore the precariousness of Jung’s world.
As Jung’s empire grows, so do the stakes. He partners with the cartel, importing massive quantities of cocaine into the United States, living a life of luxury, and basking in the attention that comes with power and money. The film shows his lavish lifestyle in detail, but also the consequences that accompany it: paranoia, betrayal, and the relentless pursuit by law enforcement. Ultimately, his empire collapses, and Jung faces arrest, imprisonment, and the loss of everything he has built.
Directed by Ted Demme, Blow is slick and polished, capturing both the glamour and danger of Jung’s world. With supporting roles from Franka Potente, Paul Reubens, and Jordi Mollà, the cinematography and soundtrack, packed with 70s and 80s hits, is all high-quality. Depp is his usual charming self, bluffing his way out of impossible situations with a big, American smile on his face. Devoid of any heavy themes, this IS a fun drug movie. I thought so, at least.
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