Oliver Stone, the amazing director behind the Vietnam War flicks Platoon (1986), Born on The Fourth of July (1989), and Heaven & Earth (1993), makes a credible return on his dark, gritty film style with this violent, grim crime-thriller showing a bleak portrayal of international drug exchanging set on the sun-soaked side of southern California. Aaron Johnson plays Ben, a soft and peace-loving entrepreneur who owns a pot-growing business, selling some of best marijuana in the world, with his best friend Chon (played by Taylor Kitsch), a former NAVY seal veteran with a less merciful and more ruthless character who is often involved in violent confrontations against drug lords, unlike Ben prefers to live a life without violence and brutality. These two share a smoking, hot girlfriend named O a.k.a Ophelia (played by Blake Lively). However, when the two receive a business offer from a sadistic Mexican drug lord Lado (played by Benicio Del Toro) and his partner Elena (played by Salma Hayek), O is kidnapped and held hostage by Lado and his henchman. Ben and Chon must come with the money to save her from the vicious drug cartel, with the help of a corrupt DEA agent Denis (played by John Travolta).
This movie doesn't quite hike up the peak of Oliver Stone's previous films, but its still entertaining as it needs to be; despite some of its flaws. With this film set in a coastal city of Laguna Beach, California, the cinematography uses some very high saturation to give the environment a sharp, colorful look. The plot is starts off a pretty solid note as we are introduced the backgrounds of the main characters Ben and Chon with Blake Lively's character's narration, including the story of Chon acquired the seeds to grow the marijuana plants. After that, the development of the characters stops there. While the plot moves pretty well more most of the first half, it eventually descends into an inconsistent mess in the second half. From there on, the story leaves a few plot holes here and there. However, the film still manages to be compelling and gritty in a way that still keeps the plot going. As the film goes on, it gets darker and more sinister, and progresses into a very mean atmosphere. With their girlfriend held hostage, the main characters get involved gunfights against cartel members that get quite bloody and gruesome at times. There is also a horrifying torture scene with some grisly results. So the film can does a bit brutal and tough to watch, but is still entertaining for the least.
Savages may not be one of Oliver Stones's best films, but it still manages to be captivating. Salma Hayek and Benicio Del Toro are great in this, as well as Aaron Johnson and Taylor Kitsch, even though their characters are a bit underdeveloped. However, this movie is extremely violent and brutal, and it is not recommended for those with weak stomachs.
This movie doesn't quite hike up the peak of Oliver Stone's previous films, but its still entertaining as it needs to be; despite some of its flaws. With this film set in a coastal city of Laguna Beach, California, the cinematography uses some very high saturation to give the environment a sharp, colorful look. The plot is starts off a pretty solid note as we are introduced the backgrounds of the main characters Ben and Chon with Blake Lively's character's narration, including the story of Chon acquired the seeds to grow the marijuana plants. After that, the development of the characters stops there. While the plot moves pretty well more most of the first half, it eventually descends into an inconsistent mess in the second half. From there on, the story leaves a few plot holes here and there. However, the film still manages to be compelling and gritty in a way that still keeps the plot going. As the film goes on, it gets darker and more sinister, and progresses into a very mean atmosphere. With their girlfriend held hostage, the main characters get involved gunfights against cartel members that get quite bloody and gruesome at times. There is also a horrifying torture scene with some grisly results. So the film can does a bit brutal and tough to watch, but is still entertaining for the least.
Savages may not be one of Oliver Stones's best films, but it still manages to be captivating. Salma Hayek and Benicio Del Toro are great in this, as well as Aaron Johnson and Taylor Kitsch, even though their characters are a bit underdeveloped. However, this movie is extremely violent and brutal, and it is not recommended for those with weak stomachs.