Savages (2012)

Pot growers Ben and Chon face off against the Mexican drug cartel who kidnapped their shared girlfriend.

Director:

Oliver Stone

Writers:

Shane Salerno (screenplay), Don Winslow (screenplay)

Stars:

Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Taylor Kitsch, Blake Lively

6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Blake Lively	...	O
Taylor Kitsch	...	Chon
Aaron Taylor-Johnson	...	Ben (as Aaron Johnson)
Jana Banker	...	Volleyball Girl
Candra Docherty	...	Grow House Girl
Nana Ghana	...	Bicycle Delivery Girl (as Nana Agyapong)
Gary Stretch	...	Bad Ass Biker
Benicio Del Toro	...	Lado
Diego Cataño	...	Esteban
Shea Whigham	...	Chad
Karishma Ahluwalia	...	Chad's Girlfriend
Joaquín Cosio	...	El Azul
John Travolta	...	Dennis
Jonathan Carr	...	Valet
Demián Bichir	...	Alex

Storyline

In California, the former Navy SEAL Chon and his best friend, the peaceful botanist Ben, are successful entrepreneurs producing and dealing high-quality weed. Chon brought seeds from Afghanistan and Ben used his knowledge to develop the best marijuana in the country. Chon and Ben share the pothead lover Ophelia and she loves both of them since they complete each other - Chon is a powerful and strong lover and Ben is a sensible and loving lover. Their comfortable life changes when the Mexican Baja Cartel demands a partnership in their business. Chon and Ben refuse the deal and the leader of the cartel Elena sends her right-arm in America, Lado, to abduct Ophelia to press the American drug dealers. Chon and Ben ask the support of the dirty DEA Agent Dennis and get inside information to begin a secret war against the Baja Cartel to release Ophelia.

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Plot Keywords:

marijuana | arms tied overhead | damsel in distress | dea agent | dea | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong brutal and grisly violence, some graphic sexuality, nudity, drug use and language throughout

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Japan] Universal [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 July 2012 (USA)

Also Known As:

Savages

Filming Locations:

Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$45,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$16,016,910 (USA) (6 July 2012)

Gross:

$47,307,550 (USA) (31 August 2012)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ixtlan, Onda Entertainment, Relativity Media

Technical Specs

Runtime:

131 min 141 min (unrated)

Sound Mix:

SDDS Datasat Dolby Digital

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Third time that Gary Stretch has acted under director Oliver Stone.

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Goofs

After Chon stabs Dennis' hand, the scar appliance on Chon's right neck has torn away from his skin.

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Quotes

[first lines]
O: [voice-over] Just because I'm telling you this story doesn't mean I'm alive at the end of it. This could all be pre-recorded and I could be talking to you from the bottom of the ocean. Yeah, it's that kind of a story. Because things just got so out of control.

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Connections

Referenced in Midnight Screenings: Savages (2012)

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Soundtracks

Miles De Pasajeros (Omar Remix)
Written by Guillermo Fervenza, Marcello Gamboa, Luciano Supervielle
Performed by Supervielle

User Reviews

I am in shock

I honestly can't believe that this movie could be this bad. The Don Winslow book was a page turner that was filled with suspense, gangster violence, sexy scenes, and was so stylized. The 'coolness' of this story dripped off the pages. My expectations for the movie initially were low, but when I heard that Oliver Stone was at the helm I got really excited. I mean how could it go wrong? A story this good with a film maker who brought us The Doors, Platoon, and Any Given Sunday can't go wrong.

Well it did, in a big way. Acting was terrible, the voice over narration was annoying, and the editing was wonky leaving the film with no pace. And where was the Oliver Stone touches we thought would be there?!? Even the music sound track sucked. I am very disappointed!