Ben and Chon are best friends, and entrepreneurs who run a lucrative, homegrown business of marajuana development. The two best friends couldn't be any more different in that Ben is a peaceful, charitable individual while Chon is a former Navy Seal who isn't afraid to dish out punishment when necessary. The one thing they do have in common is Ophelia, who they both love very much. Life couldn't be much better for the three of them but when the two friends turn down a Mexican Drug Cartel's invitation of partnership, the cartel kidnaps Ophelia as a persuation tactic. Oliver Stone's Savages lives up to its title in delivering a violent, tense film that makes a strong case for the legalization of drugs, particularly Marajuana in this case, in the United States. This is easily Stone's best film in years as he finds a great balance between style and substance, where the style adds a very kinetic, fast-paced tone to the film while never feeling overbearing. The Ben and Chon characters have a great dicotomy between them, but this really is Ben's film more than anyone elses. The audience sees Ben's peaceful, buddist character dragged in the muck of the Cartel, forced to lower himself to their standards- This is just another day in the life for Chon. Stone's film shows how things go from bad to worse when no rules or regulations are in tact as we constantly see greed fueled violence and double crosses which just seem to escalate in grisly nature as the film progresses. The entire cast does a great job but Benecio Del Toro really steals the show as Lado, the main enforcer of the drug cartel. Savages is an intense, fun ride that has a nice little social commentary on the "drug war" as well. 7/10
1 Comment
Pete from DC
7/11/2012 12:25:36 am
You should have taken away a full point from your rating because the unforgivable absence of an actor destined to be in a movie of this quality and subject matter, the one and only Paul Walker.
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