Savages

Theatrical Release Date: 2012 07 06 (USA)

UPC: 025192123702

Studio: Universal Studios

MPAA Rating: R   Contains:[Graphic Violence, Nudity, Profanity, Sexual Situations, Drug Content]

Summary: Oscar-winning director Oliver Stone adapts author Don Winslow's best-selling novel into this all-star ensemble crime drama about a pair of peaceful, Laguna Beach marijuana dealers who are targeted for extortion by the ruthless Mexican Baja cartel. Ben (Aaron Johnson) is a devout Buddhist and dedicated philanthropist, and his best friend Chon (Taylor Kitsch) is a former mercenary who trained as a Navy SEAL. They may not seem like major drug dealers, but together they make a comfortable living selling top-quality marijuana. And they share more than just a profitable business; their mutual girlfriend O (Blake Lively) is more than enough woman for the two ambitious young entrepreneurs to handle. But just as Ben and Chun are feeling like they're on top of the world, their blissful life of lawless hedonism threatens to yield dire repercussions. The Mexican Baja cartel wants a piece of the action, and their cruel leader Elena (Salma Hayek) has dispatched her top hatchet man Lado (Benicio Del Toro) to ensure that she gets it. When the cartel kidnaps Ophelia and threatens to kill her unless Ben and Chun comply, the desperate pot dealers enlist the aid of a shady DEA agent (John Travolta) to try and avert a tragedy. Emile Hirsch and Uma Thurman also star. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Category: Crime

Features: Deleted Scenes
Stone Cold Savages: The Making of the Film - A Comprehension, 5-part 'Making-Of' filled with behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with the entire cast and crew including John Travolta, Salma Hayek, Benicio del Toro, Taylor Kitsch, Aaron Johnson, Blake Lively and Oliver Stone

Origins
The Savages
Real Savagery
A Savage Set
Savage Cuts

Plus: Feature Commentaries with the Filmmakers

Savages

Format: Blu-ray

Release Date: 11/13/2012

Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1 2.40:1

Audio: DHMA null, DTS Digital Theater Systems, DD2 Dolby Digital Stereo, DD5.1 Dolby Digital 5.1

Runtime: 142 Minutes

Sides: 2

Number of Discs: 2

Language(s) English,French,Spanish

Subtitles: English,Spanish,French

Chapters: Disc #1 -- Savages
1. Scene 1 [6:41]
2. Scene 2 [6:58]
3. Scene 3 [7:17]
4. Scene 4 [3:38]
5. Scene 5 [7:03]
6. Scene 6 [2:07]
7. Scene 7 [:44]
8. Scene 8 [4:50]
9. Scene 9 [6:43]
10. Scene 10 [4:18]
11. Scene 11 [4:26]
12. Scene 12 [4:45]
13. Scene 13 [7:40]
14. Scene 14 [:01]
15. Scene 15 [:09]
16. Scene 16 [:58]
17. Scene 17 [4:51]
18. Scene 18 [:36]
19. Scene 19 [:40]
20. Scene 20 [8:09]
1. Scene 1 [6:41]
2. Scene 2 [6:58]
3. Scene 3 [7:17]
4. Scene 4 [3:38]
5. Scene 5 [7:03]
6. Scene 6 [2:07]
7. Scene 7 [:44]
8. Scene 8 [4:50]
9. Scene 9 [6:43]
10. Scene 10 [4:18]
11. Scene 11 [4:26]
12. Scene 12 [4:45]
13. Scene 13 [7:40]
14. Scene 14 [:01]
15. Scene 15 [:09]
16. Scene 16 [:58]
17. Scene 17 [4:51]
18. Scene 18 [:36]
19. Scene 19 [:40]
20. Scene 20 [8:09]

Jason Buchanan

Money, drugs, politics -- it's business as usual for Oliver Stone in Savages, a thinly veiled critique of the often-criticized War on Drugs that never forgets its first goal is to entertain as it tells the tale of two enterprising California pot growers drawn into a vicious war with one of Mexico's most dangerous drug cartels. Ben (Aaron Johnson) is a devout Buddhist and dedicated philanthropist, and his best friend Chon (Taylor Kitsch) is a former mercenary who trained as a Navy SEAL. They may not seem like major drug dealers, but together they make a comfortable living selling top-quality marijuana. And they share more than just a profitable business: Their mutual girlfriend O (Blake Lively) is more than enough woman for the two ambitious young entrepreneurs to handle. But just as Ben and Chon are feeling like they're on top of the world, their blissful life of lawless hedonism threatens to yield dire repercussions. The Mexican Baja cartel wants a piece of the action, and their cruel leader Elena (Salma Hayek) has dispatched her top hatchet man Lado (Benicio Del Toro) to ensure that she gets it. When the cartel kidnaps O and threatens to kill her unless Ben and Chon comply, the desperate pot dealers enlist the aid of a shady DEA agent (John Travolta) in order to avert a tragedy. Whether you agree or disagree with Stone's politics, it's an artist's duty to challenge the status quo. By exploring how drug policies that favor punishment over compassion actually increase violent criminal activity rather than curb it, and packaging that message in the context of a pulpy, entertaining thriller, Stone fulfills this duty with stylistic flair. And though Savages may not soar to the deliriously expressionistic heights of Stone's most controversial and challenging works, perhaps the restraint shown by the director is a sign of maturity given that the subject matter practically invites artistic overindulgence. While a less experienced filmmaker might have been tempted to try and visualize the effects of Ben and Chon's powerful strain of marijuana, Stone relies on his actors to express them, and in the process keeps us involved in the story rather than sending us on any distracting, THC-fueled flights of fancy. Sadly, the three actors chosen to convey this also prove to be Savages' greatest flaw; while Kitsch, Johnson, and Lively prove adept at looking convincingly stoned, their range of emotions is notably muted, making them function better as archetypes rather than sympathetic, believable characters. And with a talented supporting cast who outshine the three key players, the balance just feels slightly off. Travolta and Del Toro are the stars of the show here, with the latter in particular looking like he's savoring his role as a diabolical villain who's sure to make viewers' skin crawl. Hayek, meanwhile, infuses her ruthless cartel leader with a flash of humanity that's fascinating if not entirely effective given her character's heinous methods. The screenplay by Stone, Shane Salerno, and Don Winslow (who penned the book Savages is based on) does a commendable job of juggling multiple storylines, though some are likely to feel cheated when the writers make a not-so-subtle attempt to have it both ways in the tense climax. Ranked among the director's impressive body of work, Savages qualifies as mid-grade Stone, fitting comfortably and naturally into a filmography in which greed, hypocrisy, and violence are common themes. Think of it as Scarface's pot-smoking celluloid cousin -- the one who chooses the mellow buzz of weed to the amped up rush of cocaine, but still gets weird enough that you wouldn't necessarily want to crash at his pad for the weekend, regardless of the spectacular oceanfront view. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Cast and Crew: Stephen Dunham  Actor 
Moritz Borman  Producer 
Adam Peters  Composer (Music Score) 
Oliver Stone  Director 
Oliver Stone  Screenwriter 
Fernando Sulichin  Executive Producer 
Shane Salerno  Executive Producer 
Shane Salerno  Screenwriter 
Todd Arnow  Executive Producer 
Eric Kopeloff  Producer 
Don Winslow  Screenwriter 
Taylor Kitsch  Actor 
Aaron Johnson  Actor 
Salma Hayek  Actor 
Benicio Del Toro  Actor 
Blake Lively  Actor 
John Travolta  Actor 
Emile Hirsch  Actor 
Shea Whigham  Actor 
Demián Bichir  Actor 
Jana Banker  Actor 
Candra Docherty  Actor 
Patrick Fourmy  Actor 
Gary Stretch  Actor 
Diego Cataño  Actor 
Karishma Ahluwalia  Actor 
Joaquin Cosio  Actor 
Jonathan Carr  Actor 
Antonio Jaramillo  Actor 
Jake McLaughlin  Actor 
Alexander Wraith  Actor 
Anthony Cutolo  Actor 
Kurt Collins  Actor 
Amber Dixon  Actor 
Leonard Roberts  Actor 
Joel David Moore  Actor 
Ali Wong  Actor 
Sala Baker  Actor 
Sandra Echeverria  Actor 
Tara Stone  Actor 
Matthew Saldivar  Actor 
Sean Stone  Actor 
Wilfredo Lopez  Actor 
Marco Morales  Actor 
Lucinda Serrano  Actor 
Charlie Haugk  Actor 
Samuel Medina  Actor 
Ben Bray  Actor 
Gonzalo Menendez  Actor 
Maya Merker  Actor 
Donnabelle Mortel  Actor 
Trevor Donovan  Actor 
Leana Chavez  Actor 
Gillian Zinser  Actor 
Florine Deplazes  Actor 
Kaj Mollenhauer  Actor 
Lexi Jourden  Actor 
Charles Ingram  Actor 
Akima Castaneda  Actor 
Denis Garcia  Actor 
Eddie Follis  Actor 
Holly Follis  Actor 
Mía Maestro  Actor 
Schae Harrison  Actor 

Country: USA