Blow (2001)

Think of Blow as a rise-and-fall saga that spends so much time on the wigs, the fur collars and the montages that the fall barely gets a scene. Johnny Depp plays George Jung, a kid from a struggling Massachusetts family who grows up to run a smuggling empire, and Depp is charming in a sleepy, sunglasses-indoors way. The trouble is the movie likes George a lot more than it questions him. Penélope Cruz gets a loud, thin role as his wife, mostly there to yell in nice outfits. Paul Reubens is a blast as a fussy hairdresser with connections. The real heart is Ray Liotta as George’s hardworking dad, a decent man who keeps forgiving his son, and their scenes together are the only ones that truly hurt. It made $83.3 million worldwide on a reported $30M. A 5.8 because the father and son story lands and the rest is a flashy highlight reel. $81.05 says the next time a parent asks how work is going, you hear Ray Liotta’s tired, gentle voice asking it instead.

What works: Ray Liotta and Johnny Depp share a few quietly devastating father and son scenes, and the period detail is a lot of fun.

What doesn’t: The movie admires George far more than it questions him, and the fall gets rushed after all that montage.

Who it’s for: People who like true crime stories with big hair, big decades and a sad ending.