SAVAGES

Stone, a once highly revered director, has never shied away from the unpleasant, the hardcore and political topics, so why oh why has he made ‘Savages’? While filled with gratuitous, sadistic violence in the name of a territorial drug war, the drug in question is marijuana. Come on! The most readily available drug in existence and we’re watching people get decapitated for it - I don’t think so. The film is also set in California, a state constantly on the fence and debated about en mass as to marijuana's legalization - a point that is even made in the film, making it all the more ridiculous. Why would a major drug cartel move north to a place where they run the very real risk of become superfluous in the near future?

The characters are convoluted and there actions are confusing to say the least. All cast members' performances are adequate, as it’s hard to define any real standouts within a messy story and poor characterisation. Stone’s fans deserve better, as does Stone himself. What he tries to make edgy in this film comes off as strained, superficial, cliché and utterly pointless. We eagerly await his return to form.

Overlook the whole drug and gang war issue, and this film is a beautiful 131 minute tourism commercial from Laguna Beach, southern California - and that’s about it.