lorenzo212

"Savages" is Oliver Stone the way we like him - gritty, sexy, and oh-so-violent. This film starts as a simple story of a laid-back crew of Southern Californian pot dealers, but develops into and all out warfare between them and notoriously ruthless Mexican drug cartels, fronted by a very mean Selma Hayek. This is a Hayek we have not seen before - so gritty and dirty, yet so beautiful and elegant. And who is Hayek's backup - the dirtier than ever Benicio del Toro - in a magnificent performance. Yet the gang still has their hopes with John Travolta, and he steals the show. Drama in every scene, nothing is predictable, a statement from Stone on living in Southern California, which could be anywhere, in this day and age. We are all subject to the whims of the world, as Stone proves, we are perhaps too connected, too much. The world is not a large place anymore, but a terrifyingly small area, where unscrupulous people create havoc. A great storyline, great acting, depth, drama - all top of the line. Do see this one, it is fresh and new, exciting, and will leave you breathless. The 'ultra- violence' of the Droogies in "Clockwork Orange" have nothing on Stone's vision of violence in this masterpiece.

I was fortunate to win a ticket to a screening in Westwood at the Village Theater and that theater was rocking! People were singing and dancing in the aisles. It was contagious! The story was certainly good enough to carry the movie, but the music and dancing just rage and whoever has any drawbacks on this film just doesn't know how to have a great time. This is the reason movies are made - for people to express every emotion - and this one captures youth, joy, music, fun, and of course - DANCING!!! Shake yourself up and get on down to see this, you will find your feet moving and your body swaying to the rhythm! It was more than cool, and the cast was great, each person fit the part so well. It isn't a heavy piece, but it never intended to be, it is a fun movie for all to enjoy, and again, if you can't enjoy this one, have your blood pressure checked to see of you're still living!

Israel is a 15 year-old Emo kid. Like millions of teens before him, who kept back pocket combs in the 50's, long hair in the 60's, wild hair in the 70's, and on and on, he is obsessed with his hairstyle more than anything else, as it seems to define his ambiguous life position - inexperienced, still virginal, and thus innocent by today's standards. But that doesn't mean he isn't seeking new worlds - which he does through the modern day method of texting messages. Most people he contacts seem to share the same concerns teens have shared forever - who's doing who - the ritual to the beginning of coming of age. Israel and his friend, Louie, hang out for a while, where Louie shares sex stories to seem to push Israel off his butt and out there to do something, almost so Louie's point of life at that moment would be justified. And Israel seems to be on that road when he meets Ricky, an older, more experienced teen. The film captures the emptiness of many youth, unsure and stepping either carefully or recklessly into adulthood. The addition of texting provides a shared "we are all on the journey" support mechanism, that makes each step a little easier as youth reaches for solutions and actions that are beneficial for life or just momentary experiences. Israel is played by Matthew Monge, with an endearing simplicity that paints a touching picture of innocence, fragility, and playfulness, tempered by a realization that our paths are really only our own.