Blow 2001

Critics score:
55 / 100

Reviews provided by RottenTomatoes

Ebert & Roeper: Read more

Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: The problem with Blow is not so much that a film was made about a drug dealer as that once that opening section's energy has dissipated, no one could find a way to make the proceedings of even minimal interest. Read more

Susan Stark, Detroit News: There's a been there, done that quality to this picture for anyone who saw the far nervier, more flamboyant Scarface -- not to mention the far grittier, urgent Traffic. Read more

Chris Vognar, Dallas Morning News: Even when the film fails to get deep into George's psyche, it does a fine job delineating his circumstances and his slow, steady fall. Read more

A.O. Scott, New York Times: Neither a tragedy nor a morality play, but rather a jaunty, candy-colored romp through a quarter century or so of American pop music, pop fashion and popular illegal substances. Read more

David Edelstein, Slate: An extraordinary -- and unfathomable -- piece of whitewashing. Read more

Peter Howell, Toronto Star: Blow can't sustain the high. Read more

Steve Murray, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Won't blow you away, but it's a highly watchable morality tale. Read more

Eric Harrison, Houston Chronicle: Very little about this druggy drama works as intended. Read more

Paul Tatara, CNN.com: There are laugh-out-loud interludes, and some of Depp's stunned reaction shots are priceless. Read more

Steven Rosen, Denver Post: An indelible portrait of one decent man's blown life. Read more

Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: Catchy and efficient entertainment, occasionally gripping in its detail. Read more

Globe and Mail: Read more

John Anderson, Newsday: Depp aside, the acting is almost uniformly atrocious -- although it's hard to make hay out of this dialogue. Read more

Peter Rainer, New York Magazine/Vulture: Read more

Andrew Sarris, New York Observer: Read more

Christy Lemire, Associated Press: Consistently entertaining. Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: The movie boasts an uncommon level of intelligence to go along with the fine craftsmanship. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: Take away the drugs, and this is the story of a boring life in wholesale. Read more

Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com: Tthe movie is higher on style than it is on substance, but one of its strong suits is that it never stoops so low as to lecture us. It throttles by with irresponsible abandon. Read more

Edward Guthmann, San Francisco Chronicle: A mediocre biopic. Read more

Time Out: Read more

Mike Clark, USA Today: It's one of the few major releases so far this year that is worth a grown-up's time. Read more

Dennis Harvey, Variety: Initially buoyant and flavorful, pic grows less distinctive as Jung's rise-and-fall saga hits the downhill slope. Read more

J. Hoberman, Village Voice: The panorama is funneled through the experience of an increasingly dull character. Read more

Desson Thomson, Washington Post: Makes you wonder, just a little, what it was about Blow that made it a 'go' project. Read more