April 25, 2001 – It seems like Hollywood has it in for Johnny Depp, or at least it's bound to cast him in sleazy roles. Emerging from a river rat, however charming, in "Chocolat," he shakes off that image only to become a true life sleaze, notorious drug dealer George Jung, in "Blow."
Jung is currently serving a 15-year sentence in real life, due to get sprung in 2014, according to reports from Hollywood. Jung is known for single-handedly importing cocaine into the states in the 1970's for Columbian drug kingpin Pablo Escobar. So, the story is about his auspicious rise in the drug world and his inevitable and dreary fall into the unfriendly arms of the law.
One source has it that it's not about that at all. "It's about hair and outfits. It's real mission is to display Depp in aviator sunglasses and sharp pusherwear." Well, whatever. Depp is joined by Penelope Cruz as Mirtha, his squeeze, later to become his wife, who is apparently as greedy and crazy as Jung.
There's one supporting role that shouldn't be missed. Paul Reubens ( Peewee's Playhouse) as Jung's connection, a gay, social-climbing Los Angeles hairdresser. So, "Traffic" it's not, but it might discourage some aspiring drug dealers.
It is directed by Ted Demme, and based on the book, "Blow: How a Small-Town Boy Made $100 Million with the Medellin Cocaine Cartel and Lost it All," by Bruce Porter. Perhaps we should have just used that title for this preview?
It's playing this week at Cinema One.