Review of Savages (2012) by Ryan C — 20 Oct 2013

Who are the real savages in Oliver Stone's "Savages"? It's hard to tell, really. Each side accuses the other side of being savages. Fret not. We're given Webster's definition of the word "savage" towards the end of the movie - you know, just to make sure we're on all the same page. In the end, our heroes, Ben and Chon, may be the real savages (since they're uncultivated, untamed and lacking the restraints of civilized human beings).

Pic starts out with the perfect love triangle. Ben (Aaron Johnson) and Chon (Taylor Kitsch) are two Californian dudes who have prospered by growing some of the most perfectly impossible tripped-out weed this side of the border has ever produced. Ben and Chon also share the love of O (Blake Lively), our narrator, who informs us at the beginning that, "just because I'm telling you this doesn't mean I'm alive at the end.".

Well, all right then.

Since Ben and Chon hold the secret for top-notch weed, the Mexican cartel comes a-callin' to get a slice of the action. Ben and Chon resist, so the Mexican cartel - led by the delightfully wicked Elena (played wonderfully by Selma Hayek) - kidnaps O and what follows is unfair to try and explain. There are many sticky twists and turns - each involves a US DEA agent (played by John Travolta) and Elena's right-hand-man (played by the great Benecio Del Toro). Sometimes the twists get downright absurd.

But okay. I was along for the ride... up until the end, when we're offered two possible scenarios. I'm not sure if I accept the "real" ending, but I'm also not sure I'd accept the Hamlet-esque ending, either. (You know, since our heroine is named after Ophelia.) It doesn't matter. Besides, I'm still trying to figure out why an extra ending was tacked on in the first place...