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Savages
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Savages (2012) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (See all 81 | slideshow) Videos (see all 14)
Savages -- Pot growers Ben and Chon face off against the Mexican drug cartel who kidnapped their shared girlfriend.
Savages -- Clip: O Has Been Kidnapped
Savages -- Featurette: Meet Lado
Savages -- Watch the TV trailer for Oliver Stone's Savages.
Savages -- Clip: Elena And O Talk About O's Love Life

Overview

User Rating:
6.5/10   59,954 votes »
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Director:
Writers:
Shane Salerno (screenplay) &
Don Winslow (screenplay) ...
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for Savages on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
6 July 2012 (USA) See more »
Genre:
Plot:
Pot growers Ben and Chon face off against the Mexican drug cartel who kidnapped their shared girlfriend. Full summary » | Full synopsis »
Awards:
6 nominations See more »
User Reviews:
Maybe not profound, but brutal, compelling, memorable and enthralling. This is Oliver Stone on form! See more (210 total) »

Cast

  (in credits order) (complete, awaiting verification)

Blake Lively ... O

Taylor Kitsch ... Chon

Aaron Taylor-Johnson ... Ben (as Aaron Johnson)
Jana Banker ... Volleyball Girl
Candra Docherty ... Grow House Girl
Nana Agyapong ... Bicycle Delivery Girl

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

Antonio Jaramillo ... Jaime

Salma Hayek ... Elena

Jake McLaughlin ... Doc / Sniper

Alexander Wraith ... Sam / Sniper
Anthony Cutolo ... Billy / Sniper

Emile Hirsch ... Spin

Kurt Collins ... Waiter

Amber Dixon Brenner ... Sophia / Cartel Girl (as Amber Dixon)

Leonard Roberts ... Hayes / 'O' Security

Joel David Moore ... Craig
Ali Wong ... Claire

Sala Baker ... Motorcycle Cop

Sandra Echeverría ... Magda
Tara Stone ... Mall Shopper
Matthew Saldivar ... Cartel Technician

Sean Stone ... Eric / Marijuana Grower
Wilfredo Lopez ... Cartel Enforcer #1

Marco Morales ... Cartel Enforcer #2

Lucinda Serrano ... Myrna / DEA Translator

Charles Haugk ... DEA Agent

Sam Medina ... Cartel Heist Driver

Ben Bray ... Cartel Heist Passenger

Gonzalo Menendez ... Hernando / Cartel Associate

Maya Merker ... Elena's Maid

Donnabella Mortel ... TV News Reporter

Trevor Donovan ... Matt / Magda's Boyfriend

Leana Chavez ... Gloria / Mexican Girlfriend

Gillian Zinser ... Beach Girl

Florine Elena Deplazes ... Beach Girl (as Florine Deplazes)

Kaj Mollenhauer ... Sarah / Dennis' Daughter #1
Alexandra Gold Jourden ... Hannah / Dennis' Daughter #2 (as Lexi Jourden)
Charles Ingram ... Cartel Sniper

Akima ... Indian Chief
Dennis Garcia ... Tribal Cop
Eddie Follis ... DEA Agent
Holly Follis ... DEA Agent

Mía Maestro ... Dolores / Lado's Wife

Schae Harrison ... Dennis' Wife
rest of cast listed alphabetically:

Christian Baha ... DEA Agent (uncredited)

Bill Blair ... DEA Agent (uncredited)

Tatjana Bluchel ... Beachgoer (uncredited)

Craig Cole ... Hot Beach Guy (uncredited)

Robbie Corbett ... Drug Courier (uncredited)

Sarah B. Downey ... Hotel Guest (uncredited)

Stephen Dunham ... Six (uncredited)

Paris Dylan ... Beach Guy (uncredited)

Ralph Echemendia ... Paul (uncredited)
Roberto C Escobar ... Elena's Bodyguard (uncredited)

Micah Femia ... Hippie (uncredited)
Patrick Fourmy ... Marijuana Distributor (uncredited)
Freedom ... DEA Agent (uncredited)

Chuy Garcia ... Gardener (uncredited)

Jade Grace ... Volleyball Girl #1 (uncredited)

Olesya Grushko ... Sun Worshiper (uncredited)

Erin Hammond ... Mall Shopper (uncredited)

Ami Haruna ... Annie (uncredited)

Nick Hermz ... Lado Cartel #2 (uncredited)

Mylo Ironbear ... Tribal Officer Padden (uncredited)

Brett Johnson ... Hot Beach Guy (uncredited)

Ron Kari ... Biker on Bike (uncredited)

Neko Kelly ... Roler Blader (uncredited)

Sun Jae Kim ... Hot Beachgoer (uncredited)

Aaron Kunitz ... Young Chon (uncredited)
Julio Leal ... Beheading Victim (uncredited)

Jessica Lee ... Li (uncredited)

Anthony Martins ... Cartel Guy #2 (uncredited)

Livia Milano ... Woman on Escalator (uncredited)

Jonathan Patrick Moore ... Beach Guy (uncredited)

TJ Myers ... Restaurant Guest (uncredited)

Brett Nichols ... Eric's Associate #2 (uncredited)
Dominic Prampin ... Lado's Crony (uncredited)

Alan D. Purwin ... Helicopter Pilot (uncredited)

Matt Riedy ... Seven (uncredited)

Tony Sagastizado I ... Neighbor (uncredited)

Tatiana Sarasty ... Annie's Friend (uncredited)
Mauricio Solis ... Bodyguard (uncredited)

Elena Varela ... Maria (uncredited)

Sal Velez Jr. ... Cartel Member (uncredited)
Robson Vieira ... Brazilian Translator Diego Santos (uncredited)
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Directed by
Oliver Stone 
 
Writing credits
Shane Salerno (screenplay) &
Don Winslow (screenplay) &
Oliver Stone (screenplay)

Don Winslow (novel)

Produced by
Todd Arnow .... executive producer
Evan Bates .... associate producer
Moritz Borman .... producer
Eric Kopeloff .... producer
Shane Salerno .... executive producer
Fernando Sulichin .... executive producer
 
Original Music by
Adam Peters 
 
Cinematography by
Daniel Mindel (director of photography) (as Dan Mindel)
 
Film Editing by
Joe Hutshing 
Stuart Levy 
Alex Marquez 
 
Casting by
Sarah Finn 
 
Production Design by
Tomas Voth  (as Tomás Voth)
 
Art Direction by
Lisa Vasconcellos 
 
Set Decoration by
Nancy Nye 
 
Costume Design by
Cindy Evans 
 
Makeup Department
Rhonda Ann Burns .... hair stylist
Diana Choi .... wig maker
Bill Corso .... makeup department head
Sasha Glasser .... makeup production assistant
Mary L. Mastro .... hair department head
Randi Mavestrand .... makeup: second unit
Mike Mekash .... makeup artist
Elaine L. Offers .... key makeup artist
 
Production Management
Sheryl Benko .... post-production supervisor
Meredith Meade .... production supervisor: splinter unit
Daniel A. Mondschain .... production supervisor
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Alicia Cho .... second second assistant director
Peter Dress .... second assistant director
Donald Murphy .... first assistant director
Richard Oswald .... second assistant director: second unit
Taylor Phillips .... first assistant director: helicopter unit
Taylor Phillips .... second second assistant director
Andrew Ward .... first assistant director: second unit
 
Art Department
Tamar Barnoon .... assistant set decorator
John Bevan Jr. .... set dresser
Don 'Tex' Clark .... additional on-set dresser: Los Angeles
Xavier Corby .... on-set dresser
Kirk Corwin .... property master
Skip Crank .... assistant property master
R. Scott Doran .... lead man
Monica Fedrick .... graphic designer
James Fernandez .... on set dresser
Chela Fiorini .... property assistant
Andy Flores .... stand by painter
Yvonne Garnier-Hackl .... set designer
Alberto Gonzalez-Reyna .... assistant art director
Melissa Harrison .... art department coordinator
Michael A. Heath .... prop paperwork
Nadia Soraya Hennrich Kock .... set dresser
Karen Higgins .... construction coordinator
Sean D. Jackson .... set dresser
Steven Kissick .... general foreman
Thomas D. Krausz .... set dresser
Richard Lepore .... greensman
Thomas Machan .... set designer
Douglas McKay .... set dresser
Josh McKevitt .... art department assistant
Joshua Mckevitt .... art department production assistant
Marc Meisels .... gang boss
Paul Pastorelli .... gang boss
Roger Prater .... greensman
Kira Qwan .... art department production assistant
Dan Sweetman .... storyboard artist
Jason Vanover .... key greensman
Clint Carney .... prop maker (uncredited)
Jack White .... food stylist (uncredited)
 
Sound Department
Harry Cohen .... sound designer
Jason Patrick Collins .... utility sound technician
Mark DeSimone .... adr mixer: New York
Kris Fenske .... sound effects editor
Michael Fowler .... adr mixer
Nerses Gezalyan .... sound mixer
Hector C. Gika .... sound effects editor
Shane Hayes .... adr recordist
Gary A. Hecker .... supervising foley artist
Michael Hertlein .... dialogue editor
Tim Hoagland .... re-recording mix technician
James Hyde .... adr recordist
Michael Keller .... sound re-recording mixer
Drew Kunin .... sound mixer: additional photography
Tod A. Maitland .... sound mixer
Gary Marullo .... foley artist
Michael Miller .... adr mixer
Dror Mohar .... sound editor
Mike Prestwood Smith .... sound re-recording mixer
Brett Rothfeld .... adr recordist
Ric Schnupp .... adr recordist
Michael Scott .... boom operator
Branden Spencer .... first assistant sound supervisor
Wylie Stateman .... supervising sound editor
Greg Steele .... adr mixer
Renee Tondelli .... supervising sound editor
Tami Treadwell .... adr mixer
Tim West .... adr mixer
Greg Zimmerman .... adr recordist
Russell Heeks .... sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)
 
Special Effects by
Mark R. Byers .... special effects supervisor
Sam Dean .... special effects on-set technician
Al Marangoni .... special effects technician
Nick Marra .... special effects makeup
Ken Rudell .... special effects technician
Keith Suzuki .... special effects foreman
 
Visual Effects by
David Burton .... visual effects supervisor: With A Twist Studio
Harry Eisenstein .... compositor
Gizem Ersavas .... digital matte painter: Crazy Horse Effects
Bradley Gaines .... compositor: With A Twist Studio
Christina Graff .... visual effects producer
Paul Graff .... visual effects supervisor
Pam Hammarlund .... visual effects producer: With A Twist Studio
Hetal Jain .... producer: BOT VFX
Derek Ledbetter .... digital compositor
Blake Loyd .... compositor
Adam Matis .... digital compositor: Crazy Horse Effects
David Matusek .... visual effects editor
Luke McDonald .... digital effects supervisor: CHE
Patrick Paul Mullane .... matte painting: Crazy Horse effects
Howard Nourmand .... main title designer
Brian Sales .... compositing supervisor: Crazy Horse Effects
Sankarasubramanian .... paint & rotoscoping supervisor: BOT VFX
Gregory S. Scribner .... compositing supervisor
Hitesh Shah .... producer: BOT VFX
Carl Stern .... compositor
Judy Webster .... visual effects coordinator
Sam Winkler .... compositor
Magdalena Wolf .... visual effects production manager
Christian Zeiler .... digital compositor: Crazy Horse Effects
Brandon Bartlett .... cg supervisor: With A Twist Studio (uncredited)
Srikanth .... lead paint artist (uncredited)
Jason Ullrich .... compositor (uncredited)
 
Stunts
Michelle Alvarado .... stunt double: Salma Hayek
Ramon Antonio .... precision driver
Ben Bray .... stunt actor
Geo Corvera .... stunt driver
Doc Duhame .... stunts
Eyad Elbitar .... stunt driver
Paul Eliopoulos .... stunt driver
Paul Eliopoulos .... stunt performer
Roberto C Escobar .... stunt driver
Mark Fichera .... stunt double: Taylor Kitsch
Colin Follenweider .... stunts
Victor Harris .... precision driver
Nick Hermz .... stunt performer
Logan Holladay .... stunts
Martin Klebba .... stunts
Anthony Martins .... stunts
Ed McDermott II .... precision driver
Ed McDermott II .... stunt driver
Sam Medina .... stunt actor
Marco Morales .... stunt driver
Kimberly Shannon Murphy .... stunt double: Blake Lively
Panuvat Anthony Nanakornpanom .... stunt driver
Lin Oeding .... stunt pre-viz
Jimmy Ortega .... stunt double: Benicio Del Toro
Mario Perez .... stunt driver
James Peyton .... precision driver
Kevin Scott .... stunts
Mark Stefanich .... stunts
Sal Velez Jr. .... stunts
Victor Winters-Junco .... stunt driver
Keith Woulard .... stunt coordinator
Nico Woulard .... stunt double: Demian Bichir
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Tigran Aghasaryan .... dolly grip: "a" camera, second unit
Dominic Aluisi .... first assistant camera: "b" camera
Chris Bangma .... libra head technician
Robert 'Boceno' Campbell .... second assistant camera: "c" camera
Philippe Carr-Forster .... camera operator: "a" camera
Andy Chen .... camera production assistant: second unit
Demetrie Cooley .... best boy grip: second unit
John Davies .... fixtures foreman
Keith B. Davis .... first assistant camera: "b" camera
François Duhamel .... still photographer
Eric Dvorsky .... aerial camera technician
David Edsall .... first assistant camera: "a" camera, second unit
Simon England .... second assistant camera: "a" camera
Kevin Fahey .... rigging key grip
Clayton Fowler .... grip
Charley Gilleran .... key grip
Brandon Gleave .... lighting technician
Brandon Gleave .... set lighting technician
Jerardo Gomez .... electrician
Chris Haarhoff .... camera operator
Chris Hill .... video playback
Patrick Hoeschen .... lighting technician
Walrus J.U.I.C.E. Howard .... assistant camera
Jordan C. Kadovitz .... additional video assist
Greg Karamov .... key grip: second unit
Michael Kelem .... aerial director of photography: splinter unit (as Mike Kelem)
Matthew J. Lloyd .... director of photography: second unit
Johan Martínez .... lighting technician
Brian Minzlaff .... set lighting technician
Paul Murphey .... key digital video assist operator
Yen P. Nguyen .... second assistant camera: "b" camera
Serge Nofield .... first assistant camera: "a" camera
David B. Nowell .... aerial director of photography: splinter unit (as David Nowell)
Morten Petersen .... lighting technician
Christopher Prampin .... gaffer
Brad Rea .... dolly grip: "b" camera
Mike Sanchez .... supervising video engineer
Marlen Schlawin .... camera loader: second unit
Brent Studler .... electrician
John Tanzer .... gaffer: second unit
Don Telles .... rigging grip
Cameron Thorburn .... grip
Hootly Weedn .... set lighting technician
Eric Yu .... digital imaging technician: second unit
 
Casting Department
Michelle Beatty .... extras casting
Judith Bouley .... casting consultant
Chris Bustard .... extras casting
Joe Cappelletti .... adr voice casting
Deborah Gabinetti .... casting: Indonesia
Tamara Hunter .... casting associate
Terry L. Lamfers .... casting executive
Philip Walton .... casting assistant
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sarah Bowman .... costume assistant
Michele Flynn .... head ager/dyer
Karen Franke .... costumer coordinator
Laurel Frushour .... set costumer
Dana Kay Hart .... costume supervisor
Jason M. Moore .... set costumer
Daniel Grant North .... costume supervisor
Lisa Parmet .... key costumer
Marcy Rector .... costumer
Marta Villalobos .... costumer
Carmen L. Rodrigues .... costume coordinator (uncredited)
 
Editorial Department
Angel Askins .... digital intermediate producer
David Bilow .... first assistant editor
Richard A. Eisenstein .... post-production technician
Elliott Eisman .... assistant editor
Zack Fox .... post-production assistant
Brian Gee .... assistant editor: Fotokem
Andy Kaplan .... senior digital intermediate producer
Stefan Sonnenfeld .... digital intermediate colorist
Matthew W. Johnson .... digital intermediate editor (uncredited)
 
Music Department
Budd Carr .... music supervisor
Geneviève Thomas Colvin .... music coordinator
Bruce Fowler .... orchestrator
Kevin Globerman .... digital score recordist
Tom Hardisty .... music scoring recordist
Stephen Hilton .... musician: keyboards and programming
Bryce Jacobs .... guitars
Carlton Kaller .... music editor
Christopher Kaller .... ProTools music coordinator
Kevin Kaska .... orchestrator
Jonathan Krimstock .... guitarist
Jonathan Krimstock .... musician
T.J. Lindgren .... additional arranging and programming
Frank Macchia .... music preparation
Alan Meyerson .... music scoring mixer
Mac Quayle .... additional programming
Peter Rotter .... music contractor
Carl Rydlund .... orchestrator
Ruwanga 'Ru' Samath .... composer: additional music
Robert Schaper .... music editor
Adam Schmidt .... music recording engineer
Monica Sonand .... composer assistant
Christian Wenger .... mix assistant
Devin Johnson .... assistant to the composer (uncredited)
 
Transportation Department
Ronald Augustus .... production van driver
Karen Bathalter .... dot administrator
Daniel Davis .... driver
Ken Farnell .... transportation co-captain
Keith D. Fisher .... transportation captain
Margo Hunt .... driver
Bill Lopez-Arjona .... transportation
Charles Montgomery .... driver
Cyril O'Neil .... picture car consultant
Don Poole .... driver: Oliver Stone
Tom Rebber .... picture car coordinator
Richard C. Ryan .... driver/generator operator
Aaron Skalka .... transportation coordinator
Jay Thompson .... driver
Paul Tumber .... transportation
Gary Thomas Williams .... driver (as Gary 'Little G' Williams)
 
Other crew
Rachel Aberly .... unit publicist
Jesse J. Adams .... production assistant
Ted Alvarez .... key assistant location manager
Alex Ballar .... stand-in
Drew Barnett-Hamilton .... production secretary
Nicholas S. Biron .... location scout
Jules-César Bréchet .... production assistant
Kevin A. Canamar .... supervising set medic
Andy Chen .... production assistant
Nick Costantino .... first assistant accountant
Bryan Davis .... assistant production coordinator
Drew Maximillion Davis .... production assistant
Rafael Echemendia .... computer security expert
Ralph Echemendia .... computer security consultant
Louis Farah .... medic
Scott Fitzgerald .... key assistant location manager
Robert Foulkes .... location manager
Mairead Gaffney .... production assistant
Matthew J. Gannon .... production assistant
Michael Paul Gibben .... stand-in
Amy K. Green .... second assistant accountant
Judd Greener .... production assistant
Amanda Harrington .... assistant location manager
Cary Heckman .... location scout
Sean Jennings .... production assistant
Kim Khoo .... production secretary
Chris Kieffer .... video playback graphics
Brian Patrick Kinney .... key assistant location manager
Amanda Klein .... second assistant accountant
Janet Lee .... assistant: Mr. Stone
Evan Liss .... medic
Israel Lliteras .... site representative
Marguerite Lliteras .... studio operations manager
Tamara Maellaro .... medic
Stephen Mapel .... location manager
Owen Maxwell .... production assistant
Kevin McKeon .... assistant: Mr. Kopeloff
Meredith Meade .... production coordinator
Roni Meron .... stand-in: Salma Hayek
Carla Meyer .... dialect coach
Jennifer S. Milliman .... production assistant
Brian Nailing .... cook
Manny Padilla .... location scout
Michael Panevics .... armorer
David Park .... key assistant location manager
David Park .... location scout
Monica Perez Gelbman .... post-production accountant
Joshua Brian Pierce .... asset coordinator
Catherine Pittman .... dog trainer
Rebecca Robertson .... script supervisor
Rick Roesch .... payroll accountant
Jill Rosenblatt .... production accountant
Alfonso F. Ruiz .... key assistant location manager
Courtney Salmon .... assistant: Ms. Hayek
Rahim Samadian .... office production assistant
Richard Schuler .... location manager
Blair Skinner .... office production assistant
Ben Skorstad .... helicopter pilot
Timothy I. Stevenson .... assistant to producer
Jason Suhrke .... key set production assistant: second unit
Joshua Sussman .... assistant: Mr. Borman
Kim Thio .... paramedic: construction/rigging
William Vasquez .... production assistant
John Weber .... production office assistant
Kirk Worley .... key assistant location manager
Sean Yopchick .... production assistant
Britney Young .... accounting clerk
Larry Zanoff .... armorer
Jerome Zelle .... assistant craft service
Tanya F. Zora .... production assistant
Dana Curt .... set medic (uncredited)
Nick Loren .... double for John Travolta (uncredited)
Kyle Oliver .... key assistant location manager (uncredited)
Joshua Sussman .... production coordinator: Indonesian Unit (uncredited)
 
Thanks
Oliver Stone .... special thanks
 

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Additional Details

Also Known As:
MPAA:
Rated R for strong brutal and grisly violence, some graphic sexuality, nudity, drug use and language throughout
Runtime:
131 min | USA:141 min (unrated version)
Country:
Language:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
Certification:
USA:R (certificate #47564) | Canada:18A (Ontario) | Singapore:R21 | Norway:15 | South Korea:18 | UK:15 (cut) (cinema release) | Sweden:15 | Ireland:16 | Portugal:M/16 | Australia:MA15+ | New Zealand:R16 | Netherlands:16 | Hong Kong:III | Germany:16 (theatrical version) | Brazil:18 | Mexico:C | Italy:VM14 | Argentina:18 | UK:18 (uncut) (video release) | Japan:R15+ | Philippines:R-18 | France:12 | Germany:18 (extended version)
Filming Locations:
Company:

Did You Know?

Trivia:
For legal reasons, all the marijuana plants in the film are artificial. The production designers visited legal medical marijuana growers to get the details right.See more »
Goofs:
Incorrectly regarded as goofs: When the cartel 'motorcycle cop' comes up to the guy's car, after pulling him over, he has his hand on his holstered pistol. The pistol does not protrude through the bottom (barrel) - standard issue type. But, when the hit-man shoots the guy, there's a silencer on the barrel. There was no time to have screwed one on. However the hit-man has a holstered pistol on his right hip; he grabs the weapon that he uses to kill Frankie with his left hand from the back of his body.See more »
Quotes:
O:It started here in paradise, Laguna Beach, where they say God parked himself on the seventh day, but they towed him on the eighth.See more »
Movie Connections:
Soundtrack:
Neptune's NetSee more »

FAQ

Is this a true story?
What is the first song?
What are the differences between the Theatrical Version and the Unrated Version?
See more »
3 out of 4 people found the following review useful.
Maybe not profound, but brutal, compelling, memorable and enthralling. This is Oliver Stone on form!, 27 September 2012
Author: TheSquiss

Savages, the first of my double bill tonight, is Oliver Stone's nineteenth feature as director in a career that has so far won him three Oscars and a fair share of both critical acclaim (Platoon) and vitriolic vituperation (Alexander). It's impossible to know which Stone will be on duty with each release until you hand over paper and take your seat. Savages won't trouble the Academy in February but this is Stone fairly close to the top of his game.

Ben (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and Chon (Taylor Kitsch) contrast each other in almost every way emotionally and in their approach to life but they are best friends, business partners and share their lives, their home and their girl, O (Blake Lively). Their business is drugs but not in the seedy, council flat, Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels kind of way but in the scientific, multi-million, California kind of way. Life is fun, cash is plentiful and there's even Dennis (John Travolta), a bent DEA agent, vaguely on their side to ensure everything runs smoothly. Then the Mexican Baja Cartel, headed by Elena (Salma Hayek) and her bulldog, Lado (Benicio Del Toro) decide they want a slice of the pie and kidnap O as gentle persuasion.

Savages doesn't have anything new or profound to say about drug smuggling or the multitudinous crimes tied up in the drag trade and there's no great political slant or revelation, which is disappointing after such bold statements from Stone in the likes of JFK and Nixon. But it is a ripping good yarn and there are times when it's just blisteringly fine entertainment. It looks beautiful. The frames are saturated with rich colours and the cinematography is to be celebrated. Each shot is sculpted, each movement feels effortless choreographed.

Stone has paid huge attention to the incidentals, the minutiae. For such a harsh, brash film there is some wonderful subtly in the periphery of the frame and the seemingly disposable dialogue has barbs that tear. Everything is planned & executed explicitly so that there is occasionally too much to absorb, which can be a relief in a film that is so brutal.

The brutality of Savages is numbing from the outset; the opening scene is shocking and horrific despite not being depicted fully for us to endure. This is a violent film in tone far more than in act but don't fool yourself that Savages will be easy on the eyes. It isn't. This is no place for sensitivity and sensitivity is, in fact, murdered in cold blood. Just one more blood splatter in an ocean of claret.

The opening voice-over jars initially but is quickly forgiven because Stone, who also co-scripts, takes his time telling the story. Nothing is rushed; time is taken to explain fully. It's not that he thinks we can't keep up, it's that he's determined we should completely understand everything he wants to show and tell. And while he takes over two hours to spill his beans, it's worth investing in every second to enjoy his tale. So, it's a linear affair with few twists or subplots? It's still an accessible, engaging film that is difficult to shake off after the affair.

Much of Savages' success is in the casting and performance. Stone has shied away from huge, bankable movie stars that have carried so many of his films, instead favouring recognizable actors who play second-fiddle to the characters. Of the principal three, Taylor-Johnson has earned plaudits in the likes of Nowhere Boy and Kick-Ass and is on his way to stardom; Lively, though he provided solid support in The Town, is better known as the small-screen star of Gossip Girl; and Kitsch is just trying to get by after two of this year's biggest turkeys, John Carter and Battleship.

Each if them is watchable, delivering performances that are as entertaining and moving as they are believable, while Hayek chews scenery as a woman you may fantasize about but has serious black widow tendencies. You'd no more mess with her than you would cross Uzis, with Del Toro's Lado, a thug who craves greater acts of sadism and louder screams of agony with every bout of torture he inflicts.

Whenever Travolta turns up in a decent film, I can't help feeling he's been thrown a bone by a sympathetic director (look what Tarantino did for him with Pulp Fiction or Terrence Malick with The Thin Red Line) but will inevitably spit it out and go after a foetid rat. With each career rejuvenation he seems to jump straight back into another Battlefield Earth or Michael. Very much a supporting actor here, he's adequate rather then excellent but proves again he's worthy of so much more than another Swordfish.

There is an art to compiling a film soundtrack and too often we're blasted with something deeply inappropriate because a record company requires a hit – anyone remember the shocking inclusion of I Love It When You Call in rom-com Good Luck Chuck where the second line, but you never call at all, was cut? Fortunately there are no such travesties in Savages' soundtrack, which is dressed with some fabulous covers including Bruce Lash's take on Psycho Killer and Yuna's Here Comes the Sun.

When I asked a member of Cineworld staff if he'd seen Savages yet, he responded "I haven't seen anything since Ted. I only like comedies." If you take a similar view, steer clear of Savages; it is most certainly not for you. But if you're looking for something that requires more thought than the second film of my double-bill, Dredd, and has more to it than noise, guns, blood and smashed heads, Oliver Stone might have provided an option.

For more reviews from The Squiss subscribe to my blog at www.thesquiss.co.uk

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the ending isn't that bad... its just clint-taylor
This is the first great film I've seen with a HORRIBLE ENDING!! DukeTogo84
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