Posted September 22, 2012 by Dave Higgins in Juicy Gossip

Movie Review – Savages

Who’s In It?
Blake Lively, Taylor Kitsch, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Benecio Del Toro, Salma Hayek and John Travolta

What’s It About?
Pot growers Ben and Chon face off against the Mexican drug cartel who kidnapped their shared girlfriend.

Review
Savages is one of those thrillers that is simplistic and hard-hitting with the right amount of cool. The story is straightforward and the centrepiece, as in most good thrillers, is a damsel in distress.

Laguna Beach entrepreneurs and best buds, Ben (Aaron Johnson), a peaceful and charitable Buddhist who aims to avoid the violence that is synonymous with drugs, and Chon (Taylor Kitsch), a former Navy seal and ex-mercenary, run a lucrative home-grown marijuana business and share a one of a kind mutual love with the extremely beautiful and hedonistic Ophelia (Lively). Their life and love is perfect until Mexican big-guns the Baja Cartel decide to move in and demand a piece of their business.

When the boys refuse the merciless head of the cartel ‘Madrina’, Elena (Hayek) and her right-hand man decide to kidnap the boys’ true love, the affectionately nicknamed O. Throw in John Travolta as a conniving corrupt cop seemingly helping Ben and Chon out and you’ve got the cast to create something spectacular.

Oliver Stone’s movie is a helluva lot of fun to watch. Stone has attempted to create something unusual and foregoing the run of the mill thriller formula, instead has put together a progressive love story. O, Chon and Ben have a surprisingly stable three-way relationship, they all love each other. Their ocean-side house and hazy nights of casual drug-use are the films stylistic high points creating blissful scenes that are easy on the eye.

Hayek as Elena is a great character and a twist on the usual male-dominated head of the gangs, yet there is a vulnerability to her flawed villain. Rather than getting her own hands too dirty, preferring to leave the true violence at the hands of Lado, her right hand man. He is a moustachioed heartless stone-cold killer that is willing to do anything to progress in the Cartel.

Visually striking and with a flair not usually seen in these type of movies, Savages is a sexy, violent commentary on what happens when people are pushed to the edge. Sure, at times all the double crossing and plot twists stretch reality, but isnt that what movies are for? A glimpse into a life less ordinary, Savages delivers a solid thriller and entertaining action movie.