I came to Oliver Stone’s new movie with a different perspective than some of the audience, since I actually read Don Winslow’s book “Savages” on which this is based. The two projects aren’t all that different, but they differ in hundreds of small ways that add up (like the fact that Salma Hayek’s cartel head and Blake Lively’s kidnaped surfer girl never share a scene together in the book and, most glaringly, the ending…the ending of the book is actually the “fantasy” ending imagined in the movie). Winslow’s book Savages is fast pulp you can read in a few hours (and perhaps took a few days to write), and yet you should read that instead of watch the movie. The movie actually feels longer because of some pacing problems and because—-for some crazy reason—-it uses almost none of Winslow’s signature dialogue, which helps propel the plot forward in clever ways.
What Works: One thing the movie does share with the book is that you wind up becoming more interested in the villains (a frighteningly good Benicio Del Toro as a cartel enforcer, and Salma Hayek’s slinky, complex boss). Every time those two are on screen, the project pops with life. And even John Travolta is no slouch as a double-dealing DEA agent trying to scam everyone and stay alive. However, the project becomes a little less successful when we follow the leads…
What Doesn’t Work: The main plot is about two marijuana growers (Taylor Kitsch as enforcer Chon and Aaron Johnson as pacifist grower Ben) with a great product that the cartel wants and their mutual girlfriend O (Blake Lively) who gets kidnapped by the cartel to force them into compliance. Since I already knew the story, I was even more paying attention to the performances and I can’t say the heroes really brought it. Lively is okay as a sexualized Jennifer Aniston, but the movie version of this character isn’t as interesting as the book’s and the two dudes don’t make much impression at all. The British Johnson is particularly bad at faking a California accent, and even though I didn’t know he was British before this film (had no idea in Kick Ass) I could really hear it in this film.
What I Would Have Done Differently: Emile Hirsch shows up in a small role, but why not have him play the character Ben? Especially since he and Kitsch already look like they could play cousins and it would add an extra layer to the friendship. As for the other stuff, I guess they could have stuck closer to the book and probably made a more successful movie.