Blow

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The film opens to a young George (Jesse James) and his parents Fred (Ray Liotta) and Ermine (Rachel Griffiths). Fred files for bankruptcy and loses everything. Fred tries to instill George with a belief that money is not important.

A grown-up George (Johnny Depp) moves to Southern California with his friend "Tuna" (Ethan Suplee) and they plan to earn a living by selling marijuana with the help of an airline stewardess, Barbara Buckley (Franka Potente), and a girlfriend of George who introduces them to her friend/entrepreneur Derek Foreal (Paul Reubens), the main dealer. With Derek's help, George and Tuna make a lot of money. Kevin Dulli (Max Perlich), a college student back in Boston who is a friend, visits them and tells them of the enormous demand for pot in Boston. With the help of Barbara, they start bringing the drugs to Boston.

As the demand grows, they decide to start buying the drugs directly from Mexico with the help of a few Mexican drug lords. George then proceeds on to Chicago to do business, but is caught trying to import 660 pounds of marijuana and he is sentenced to two years. George skips bail (after trying to plead his innocence by reciting It Ain't Me Babe) to take care of Barbara, who is suffering from, and eventually succumbs to, cancer.

While hiding from the authorities George visits his parents back in Massachusetts. While he is having a heart to heart talk with his father, George's mother calls the police who come and arrest him.

George is now sentenced to twenty-six months in a federal prison in Danbury, Connecticut. His cellmate Diego Delgado (Jordi Molla) has contacts in the cocaine trade in Colombia and convinces George to help him go into business. When George gets out of prison, he violates his parole conditions and heads down to Cartagena, Colombia to meet up with Diego. They meet with Cesar Rosa, to negotiate the terms for smuggling 15 kilograms for "good faith". As the smuggling operation grows, Diego gets arrested, leaving George to find a way to sell 50 kilos (110 lbs) of blow and get the money in time. He reconnects with Derek in California, and the two successfully sell all of it in 36 hours, amassing a $1.35 million profit. George is then whisked off to Medellin, Colombia, where he finally meets Pablo Escobar (Cliff Curtis) who agrees to go into business with George and Diego. With the help of main middleman Derek, the pair becomes Pablo's #1 importer. After an altercation with Diego over his "connection", who happened to be Derek (Diego pressured George to reveal his connection), and a drug-related collapse, George returns home and vows to leave the drug business forevermore, especially as he now has a daughter.

All goes well with George's civilian lifestyle for five years, until his wife Mirtha (Penelope Cruz) organizes a 38th birthday party for him. Many of his former drug business associates attend, including Derek who reconciles with George after it is revealed that Diego cut him off of their deal. The party is raided by police and George is arrested. Following his conviction, he becomes a fugitive dodging his court date. Meanwhile, his large Panamanian bank accounts have been seized. His wife Mirtha causes him to be arrested while driving one night. He is sent to jail for three years and during that sentence Mirtha gives him the news that she wants a divorce and she wants custody of their nine year old daughter, Kristina Sunshine Jung. On his release he finds himself struggling to keep a relationship with his daughter on good terms.

George promises his daughter Kristina (Emma Roberts) a vacation in California and goes into one last deal to garner enough money for the trip. On the deal, he is set up by the FBI and DEA, along with old accomplices, and sentenced to 60 years at Otisville Correctional Facility in upstate New York. He explains in the end that the sentence did not bother him, nor did the fact that he was betrayed by his accomplices "to save their own asses" bother him. What bothered him was he broke a promise to his daughter, in addition to the emotional damage he caused on those he loved (especially his daughter) and how his ambition exceeded his talent.

In prison, his lawyer says that his request for a furlough for George to see his dying father was squashed by his unforgiving mother, who says it would only upset him. He is given a tape recorder to record a final message to his father. In the message, George recounts his memories of working with his father, his run-ins with the law, and how finally, too late, does he realize what his father meant when his said that money is not "real".

The film closes with George being an old man in prison, imagining that his daughter finally comes to visit him and conversing with him. She slowly fades away as a guard calls for George indicating that she is not real and just an illusion. The film concludes with notes indicating that Jung is still in prison, his sentence not to expire until 2015, and his daughter yet to visit him, with the final imagery being a photograph of the actual George Jung. 

Memorable Quotes for Blow :

George: It was the greatest feeling I ever had. Followed abruptly by the worst feeling I ever had.


[last lines]
George: So in the end, was it worth it? Jesus Christ. How irreparably changed my life has become. It's always the last day of summer and I've been left out in the cold with no door to get back in. I'll grant you I've had more than my share of poignant moments. Life passes most people by while they're making grand plans for it. Throughout my lifetime, I've left pieces of my heart here and there. And now, there's almost not enough to stay alive. But I force a smile, knowing that my ambition far exceeded my talent. There are no more white horses or pretty ladies at my door.


George: Life passes most people by while they're making grand plans for it.


Fred Jung: Sometimes you're flush and sometimes you're bust, and when you're up, it's never as good as it seems, and when you're down, you never think you'll be up again, but life goes on.


Ermine Jung: You think people don't know you're a drug dealer. Everyone knows, its no secret. Every time I go out I'm humiliated. So you go to jail. It's for your own good. You need to straighten your life out. What are you looking at Mrs. Gracie, your son's no prize.


Mirtha Jung: We are broke, that is my fucking problem and you are a fucking spy. That's right. Always spyin', always judgin'. Everyone's laughing in your face, you fucking pussy. You let Diego fuck you in the ass. Maybe because you like it, maybe because you're a fucking faggot. That's what I think you are. I think you are really fuckin' him cause you're not fucking me. Why's that? Why? Why don't you fuck me anymore? Don't you ever touch me again, motherfucker! Don't ever put your hands on me again, asshole! Get your hands off me.
[Mirtha is carried out of the car by police]
Mirtha Jung: He's a fugitive and a fucking cocaine dealer! He's got a kilo in his trunk right now!


Mirtha Jung: I'm divorcin' you George. I am getting custody of Kristina. And when you get out next week, you're gonna pay support and that's the end of it. There is someone else. I did not think you would want to know but I wanted to tell you. Say something.
George: What do you want me to say? I'm in prison. You should know you're the one who put me in here.
Mirtha Jung: I knew you would say something like that. Always thinkin' about yourself.


George: May the wind always be at your back and the sun upon your face.
Fred Jung: And may the wings of destiny carry you aloft to dance with the stars.
Fred Jung: Cheers, Georgie.
George: Cheers, pop.


George: Hello Dad. You know I remember a lifetime ago, when I was about 3 1/2 feet tall, weighing all of 60 pounds, but every inch your son. I remember those Saturday mornings going to work with my dad, we'd climb into that big green truck. I thought that truck... was the biggest truck in the universe pop. I remember how important the job we did was, how if it wasn't for us, people would freeze to death. I thought you were the strongest man in the world. And remember those home videos when mom would dress up like Loretta Young, barbeques and football games, ice cream, playing with the Tuna. And when I left for California only to come home with the FBI chasing me, and that FBI agent Trout had to kneel down to put my boots on and you said, "That's where you belong you son of a bitch, puttin on Georgie's boots." That was a good one pop, you remember that. And remember that time when you told me that money wasn't real. Well old man, I'm 42 years old, and I finally realize what you were trying to tell me, so many years ago. I finally understand. Your the best, pop, just wish I could have done more for you, wish we had more time. Anyway, may the wind always be at your back, and the sun always upon your face, and may the wings of destiny carry you aloft to dance with the stars. I love you Dad. Love George.


George: So, what'd I tell ya, Derek?
Derek: It's great, but what am I supposed to do with it?
George: Sell it.
Derek: Jesus Christ, George, I don't see you for two years and you show up on my doorstep with 110 pounds of blow.
George: Just fucking sell it, Derek.
Derek: Okay, but it's going to take me a year.
[scene shift to interior Derek's bar surrounded by stacks of cash]
Derek: 36 hours, 36 hours, I can't believe we got rid of it in 36 hours.
George: I think it's fair to say you underestimated the market, Derek.
Derek: Right on. It's going to take us longer to count it than it did to sell it.


George: The official toxicity limit for humans is between one and one and half grams of cocaine depending on body weight. I was averaging five grams a day, maybe more. I snorted ten grams in ten minutes once. I guess I had a high tolerance.


George: I was busted. Set up by the FBI and the DEA. That didn't bother me. Set up by Kevin Dulli and Derek Forreal to save their own asses. That didn't bother me. Sentenced to 60 years at Ottisville. That didn't bother me. I'd broken a promise. Everything I love in my life goes away.


Fred Jung: Money isn't real, George. It doesn't matter. It only seems like it does.
Young George: Are you gonna tell Mom that?
Fred Jung: Yeah, that's gonna be a tricky one.


Diego Delgado: How much time do you have?
George: Oh, let's see. Twenty-six months.
Diego Delgado: Twenty-six months? For murder? I must meet your lawyer.


George: Danbury wasn't a prison, it was a crime school. I went in with a Bachelor of marijuana, came out with a Doctorate of cocaine.


Cesar Toban: Do you have pictures of your kids?
Jack Stevens: What?
Cesar Toban: I need to see them. I'll also need their names and the names of their schools. We are trusting you with millions of dollars of coke, Mr. Stevens. Without your children, there is no deal.


Diego Delgado: I need a favor from you.
George: [voice over] The favor was to pick up fifty kilos of cocaine. Fifty. That's a hundred and ten pounds. Not exactly a small favor. Not like bumming a cigarette, for example. But what the hell. I didn't have anything better to do that day. It's not like I was on parole or anything.


Pablo Escobar: Our business here today is cocaine, yes?
George: Si. Yes it is.
Pablo Escobar: I need to find an Americano who I can trust. One with honor, intelligence...
George: You need an Americano with balls, Senior Escobar.
Pablo Escobar: Yes, and balls, Mr. George.


Judge: George Jung, you stand accused of possession of six hundred and sixty pounds of marijuana with intent to distribute. How do you plead?
George: Your honor, I'd like to say a few words to the court if I may.
Judge: Well, you're gonna have to stop slouching and stand up to address this court, sir.
George: [stands] Alright. Well, in all honesty, I don't feel that what I've done is a crime. And I think it's illogical and irresponsible for you to sentence me to prison. Because, when you think about it, what did I really do? I crossed an imaginary line with a bunch of plants. I mean, you say I'm an outlaw, you say I'm a thief, but where's the Christmas dinner for the people on relief? Huh? You say you're looking for someone who's never weak but always strong, to gather flowers constantly whether you are right or wrong, someone to open each and every door, but it ain't me, babe, huh? No, no, no, it ain't me, babe. It ain't me you're looking for, babe. You follow?
Judge: Yeah... Gosh, you know, your concepts are really interesting, Mister Jung.
George: Thank you.
Judge: Unfortunately for you, the line you crossed was real and the plants you brought with you were illegal, so your bail is twenty thousand dollars.


Prisoner in class: Jive ass turkey.


Diego Delgado: Do you have a dream, George?
George: Well, I would if I could get some fucking sleep.


Mr. T: I can't feel my face... I mean, I can touch it, but I can't feel it inside...


George: This is Grade A 100% pure Colombian cocaine, ladies and gentlemen... Disco shit... Pure as the driven snow.


George: [to a friend after a major betrayal] Hey, am I wearing lipstick? I said, am I wearing lipstick? When I'm getting fucked I want to make sure my face looks pretty.


George: I'm really great at what I do, Dad. I mean I'm really great at what I do.
Fred Jung: Let me tell you something, George: you'd have been great at anything.


George: 15 kilos of cocaine? That's nothing. I piss 15 kilos.


Tuna: I can't believe we're stealin' a plane...
Kevin Dulli: Don't be such a pussy.


George: Everything's gonna be okay, sweetheart. Don't be upset.
Young Kristina Jung: What's happening to us?
George: I don't know.
Young Kristina Jung: Are we gonna split up?
George: No, never. Don't even think about that, it's impossible. I love your mother and you are my heart. Could I live without my heart? Could I?


Young Kristina Jung: I thought you couldn't live without your heart.
[She drops the phone, walks away and doesn't look back]


Fred Jung: That was a beautiful message.
George: I meant every word of it.
Fred Jung: Did you know I died two weeks after you sent me that tape?
[the apparition of Fred disappears and George is left alone once again]
George: Yeah, Dad. I knew that.


[first lines]
George: That's a nice boy. Go get 'em, Dulli.


[last title card]
Title card: George Jung is sentenced to Otisville Federal Correctional Institution until 2015. Kristina Sunshine Jung has not yet visited her father.


George: I'm the only man who gets busted by waiters.


Prisoner in class: Man, you don't know dick about smugglin' no drugs!


Diego Delgado: You failed because you had the wrong dream... What do you know about cocaine?


Pablo Escobar: So, you're the man, huh? Who takes 50 kilos and make them disappear in one day.
George: Actually it was three days.

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