Savages
Metascore
59 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 41 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 41
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 41
  3. Negative: 7 out of 41
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  1. Miami Herald
    Reviewed by: Rene Rodriguez
    Jul 3, 2012
    25
    Aggressively, defiantly stupid.
  2. The New Yorker
    Reviewed by: David Denby
    Jul 19, 2012
    30
    If the rest of the movie had been on Travolta's level of sly knowingness, it might have been a hip classic, rather than what it is -- a summertime debauch. [23 July 2012, p. 81]
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  3. Tampa Bay Times
    Reviewed by: Steve Persall
    Jul 4, 2012
    25
    An amoral mosaic of carnage and carnality.
  4. New York Observer
    Reviewed by: Rex Reed
    Jul 11, 2012
    25
    These are neither good people nor interesting savages, and they're not worth caring about. Neither is the movie.
  5. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Amy Biancolli
    Jul 5, 2012
    0
    So. What part of this is boring? All of it.
  6. The Guardian
    Reviewed by: Peter Bradshaw
    Sep 21, 2012
    20
    Sadly, Savages plays up to Stone's worst tendencies: machismo, bombast and self-indulgence, and the factor that could conceivably have made this movie tolerable – humour – is off the menu.
  7. Slant Magazine
    Reviewed by: Jesse Cataldo
    Jul 5, 2012
    38
    While his classic hyperbolic visual style is back in force, Stone can't bother to muster any of his usual righteous anger, instead mischanneling his discontent into a kind of zen acceptance of these perpetually tiresome main characters.

User Reviews

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User Score
6.3 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 142 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 31 out of 47
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 47
  3. Negative: 10 out of 47
  1. certified_hater
    3
    To open this review I
  2. soupdumplings
    0
    Steer clear of this movie - it is terrible. I love action/suspense thrillers and went to see Savages after seeing an overall positive score for it on Metacritic. I have no idea how Savages got a score of 62 - I would give it a 2 at best. Save your time, brain and money and see something else.… Full Review »
  3. TastyJamProject
    9
    Oliver Stone is back in ruthless form in this in-depth exploration of the war on drugs, drug dealing, and the inner workings of Mexican drug cartels. As a viewer who has seen his previous work, I wondered if some of the influence of the Iraq/Afghanistan war veteran character was a reflection of Oliver Stone's Platoon and his own experiences in the vietnam war. The torture scenes echo the brutality of that earlier film, and push the limits of grotesquery. But nothing is over the top. As someone who has read articles and studied the war on drugs, everything in this film is realistic. The performances are amazing, a surprising Travolta is electrifying. This is his best work since Pulp Fiction. Del Toro once again humanizes a horrific and unique character and Hayek holds her own. The younger leads, Kitsch and Johnson are also exceptional, at times I found myself forgetting they were acting on screen. The only downside to this film was Blake Lively, who seems to be acting like less of a bimbo-airhead-california blonde and instead just acting like her normal self. Her skills aren't really up to par but that's not to say it wasn't an adequate job, but in a film with powerhouse performances from Travolta and Del Toro, it is noticeable. Overall, the film was an exceptional thrill ride and exploration of the war on drugs. It's got Stone's subtle metaphors and hints and the "surprise" ending is one of the best endings I've seen in years. A warning, though - the film is exceptionally violent and ruthless. Savage, actually.… Full Review »
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