Savages

Two young men, one (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) a botanist, idealistic and sensitive, the other (Taylor Kitsch) a tough and volatile returned serviceman with anger boiling just below the surface have created a lucrative drug distribution empire in Southern California which is eyed enviously by drug cartels across the border in Mexico. As well as being business partners the two share a seamy relationship with (Blake Lively). The credibility of this menage a trois is crucial to 'Savages' because most of the action of the film relates to the two men's attempts to rescue Lively when the cartels kidnap her when they move to wrest the drug business from them.

Just exactly who our heroes are up against was not entirely clear to me; that is, I never quite worked out the relationships between them, but Salma Hayek and Benecio Del Toro are there in the mix. Also involved is a corrupt Federal Agent John Travolta.

The film has a highly coloured tropical summer look and comes with a ceaseless contemporary musical score. It has two endings, so you can take your pick.

'Savages' is also viciously violent. Not for the fainthearted.

★★★