News for week ending 2012-07-07

I caught Savages last night. I thought it was a highly entertaining and absorbing film. It had a lot of violence and gore, which’ll have the action buffs pumping their fists in the air, but it had intelligent and quirky dialogue and characterizations as well for those of us who like a little substance with their style–and the film has a lot of style: the soundtrack and cinematography are ear and eye catching, respectively.

The cast did an admirable job; Taylor Kitsch and Aaron Johnson really did a great job bringing Chon and Ben to life. I hope this film breaks the run of bad luck Kitsch has had recently with his career: John Carter and Battleship were financial flops. But I think, based on some projections I’ve read, Savages will probably not even break the top three for it’s opening weekend, which is disappointing, because there is quality here.

Del Toro was intriguing and sleazy as Lado, and Travolta was very believable as Dennis, a corrupt DEA agent. The character provided some welcome comedic relief although it was initially disconcerting to see what the balding and overweight Travolta looks like without his hairpiece and girdle. Except for Blake Lively, the cast was spot on. I don’t think Lively really got the character of O, but that could have been Stone’s fault more than hers. The O of the book seems more the “Laguna Beach” and “The Hills” type of Southern California young female, and almost nonplussed by her kidnapping at times, finding it more an inconvienence than anything. Lively is more the Hippie-Earth Mother type, and seems terrified at being kidnapped and held for ransom. Although she does show some defiance later in the film.

There were some minor differences from the book, but that’s to be expected with any film adaptation. Most were minor, but the ending will likely enrage and/or bewilder some fans of the book. I thought it was cool, though. Stone sort of lets the audience have a choice of which ending they prefer.

All in all I’d highly recommend the film. I have no problem with the superhero craze at the theaters (although I wish it had happened when I was ten years old, when I would have enjoyed it more. As a comic fan in the early Eighties we had to make due with Adam West reruns and Superfriends) but one of the drawbacks is that these mature, more realistic action films often get overlooked and flop. Which is bad, because then Hollywood will be more likely to pass on these kinds of projects.

I thought the same thing about Kitsch while watching, Clue. Kitsch has impressed me in his last few roles, and I could see him pulling off McGee in Blue and aging with the franchise. I’d recommend reading the book Savages, and it’s prequel, they’re great reads. Don Winslow is a talented dude. I will definitely be buying Savages in Blu-Ray when it comes out.