Opened: July 6, 2012

Directed by: Oliver Stone

Starring: Taylor Kitsch, Blake Lively, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Benicio del Toro, John Travolta, Salma Hayek, Demián Bichir, Sandra Echeverría, Emile Hirsch, Joaquín Cosío, Mía Maestro, Shea Whigham, Joel David Moore, Leonard Roberts, Trevor Donovan, Ralph Echemendia, Jake McLaughlin, Sean Stone & Ali Wong

Despite being filled with flaws and flat performances, Savages has a good premise that makes it a gripping thriller from Oliver Stone.

Marijuana growers Chon (Taylor Kitsch) and Ben (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) are offered to go into business with cartel enforcer Lado (Benicio del Toro). When Lado learns that Chon and Ben intend to flee, he kidnaps their shared girlfriend O (Blake Lively), who is brought to cartel leader Elena (Salma Hayek).

With an odd throuple being the man driving force for decisions throughout this film, you question the younger characters while siding with the older, more flawed ones. The final showdown twist makes the ending both memorable and unaffecting.

Hayek, del Toro and John Travolta give strong performances, but they’re offset by the bland ones from Kitsch, Taylor-Johnson and Lively.

Final say: The stakes needed to be upped. ★★★☆☆