I saw Oliver Stone's film Savages on cable TV last night.
I liked the book better.
Don Winslow's Savages was a good crime thriller, but Stone's film version failed to deliver the novel's irreverent humor and cleverness along with the suspense and action.
I also fault the director's casting of Taylor Kitsch, Blake Lively, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the three principal leads. The three young actors were, to me, unremarkable.
The three actors portray California pot growers and dealers who run afoul of a vicious Mexican drug cartel.
Salma Hayek portrays a female Mexican crime boss that wants to take over the California pot operation and Benicio del Toro portrayed her ruthless chief henchman. The two performances were the best part of the film. I also liked John Travolta as a corrupt DEA special agent.
You can read my review of Don Winslow's Savages via the below link:
http://pauldavisoncrime.blogspot.com/2010/08/on-crime-thrillers-don-winslows-savages.html
