Oliver Stone’s newest release, “Savages” hit the box offices last week. The drama is a violent depiction of drug cartels and a sordid love affair between Ophelia (Blake Lively), Ben (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and Chon (Taylor Kitsch). Ben and Chon are entrepreneurs in the weed distribution business. Their hazy lifestyle comes to a halt when shared-girlfriend Ophelia is kidnapped by the Baja Mexican drug cartel. The guys enlist help from a seedy DEA agent to get her back. Ophelia says her two lovers complement each other, probably because both characters are far too one-dimensional to adequately portray the role of leading male. The matriarch of the Baja Cartel, Elena (Salma Hayek), steals the show, and gives an outstanding performance as a powerful, smart and sassy leader. All in all “Savages” is intense, blood-filled and fairly predictable.
Grade: C+
 
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