Savages

Savages, released in 2012, is a relentlessly gripping crime-thriller film co-written and directed by critically acclaimed filmmaking personality, Oliver Stone. Known for his unique ability to immerse audiences into stories of conflict, violence, and moral ambiguity, Stone successfully maintains this reputation with Savages, presenting viewers with an intricate narrative that navigates the dangerous world of drug trafficking, deep friendships, impassioned love, and extreme survival.

Savages boasts a powerful ensemble cast featuring Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Taylor Kitsch, and Blake Lively, each delivering compelling performances that keep you glued to the screen. The film centers on lifelong best friends, Ben and Chon, portrayed by Johnson and Kitsch respectively. The duo leads a prosperous yet unconventional life in beautiful Laguna Beach, California, operating a lucrative business growing a potent form of marijuana. Ben, an idealistic botanist with a Berkeley degree, believes in using his wealth to do good in the world, while Chon, an ex-Navy Seal, provides the muscle, reflecting a hardened, weathered perspective on life resulting from his time in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Blake Lively portrays the free-spirited, captivating Ophelia, loved by both Ben and Chon. She is not the traditional damsel in distress but a woman who chooses to love and live with both men in an unusual but seemingly harmonious three-way relationship. Her character unfolds as the emotional heart of the story, and through her voice-over narration, the audience gets a deeper insight into the emotionally packed dynamics between the three characters.

The trio sees their idyllic life take a terrifying turn when the Mexican Baja Cartel, lead by the cunning Elena, played by the award-winning Salma Hayek, decides they want a share of their business. Elena is a ruthless matriarch who rules her empire with an iron hand and is determined to expand her operations, thus presenting the boys with a 'too dangerous to refuse' offer. Benicio del Toro skillfully portrays the chillingly psychotic Lado, Elena's right-hand enforcer, while John Travolta delivers a noteworthy performance as the corrupt DEA agent Dennis, whose loyalties seem to waver at the right price.

The plot escalates as Ben and Chon decide to resist the Cartel's proposal, leading them onto a perilous path where daunting compromises have to be made, and brutal measures need to be taken. The narrative becomes a high-stakes cat-and-mouse game, navigating betrayal, agonising choices, shifting alliances, and the limits to which they are willing to go to protect what they hold dear.

The film’s enthralling screenplay adapts Don Winslow's best-selling book 'Savages'. Stone employs dynamic directing techniques that beautifully juxtapose the sun-soaked California landscape against the dark and violent underbelly of the drug trade. The film stands apart through its unique mix of violent action sequences, elements of dark humour, intense romantic relationships, and an intriguing exploration of the clash between the brutality of savage survival instincts and the potential for human decency and compassion.

Savages is an edgy exploration of friendship, love, loyalty, survival, and the dread of brutal and ruthless underworld. It operates in a morally grey landscape, where characters are neither completely virtuous nor wholly wicked, challenging the audience to grapple with their perceptions and judgments. The film’s focus on high levels of violence and explicit content might not be suitable for everyone, but it carries a deeper significance as it starkly reveals the destructive impact of drug violence on these characters' lives and relationships.

Overall, Savages encapsulates the visceral intensity of an Oliver Stone film. While accentuated with relentless violence and mayhem, it lures viewers into an intense narrative, driven by complex characters caught up in a world where the stakes are devastatingly high. The film's treatment of its dramatic plot promises a ride into the grim reality of drug wars, challenging audiences to confront their perceptions of humanity entangled in the dark and pernicious territories of the world.