Blake Lively, Salma Hayek, And More In New Clips From SAVAGES

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Has the real Oliver Stone returned from the Land of the Dead?

Things are looking extremely promising in regards to Oliver Stone’s Savages.  The drug trade thriller is set for release on July 6th, and with the accompanying hype machine now shifting to high gear, it appears that a return to form for Stone may finally be at hand.

In recent years, the mention of the veteran director’s name has not brought about the combination of reverence and disgust that it did in years past.  Once among the most controversial figures in all of show business, Stone has long since faded into the crowd of capable directors-for-hire.

Based on what I’m seeing from Savages, Stone may be heading toward a career resurgence.  The recent trailers that have been airing on national TV promise a pretty gripping look at the drug trade that permeates the border country, with a heavy dose of action and a colorful cast of characters to keep you in your seat.  Think Traffic without the compulsory nap in the second act.

As the clock ticks down toward the Savages national release, Universal Pictures has released a package of clips which feature the principles from the new film in an interrogation setting, that we spotted on Deadline.  Have a look-see:

Stylistically speaking, there are some distinct Oliver Stone hallmarks at play in the new clips.  Superimposing the characters over moving imagery that offers truth in contradiction to the lies that the characters are spilling to their “interrogator” takes me right back to Natural Born Killers.  It’s the type of effect that has been conspicuous in its absence from Stone’s more recent snoozers.

I’ve been slagging on Stone pretty hard since Savages started down the hype trail.  Deservedly so, I might add.  Oliver Stone hasn’t done anything to endear himself to his fanbase in nearly twenty years.  The last time I saw the real Oliver Stone’s work was U-Turn, in 1997.  And U-Turn was horrible, but it least it was a horrible Oliver Stone film.  Since then, he’s been directing horrible Ron Howard movies.

Hopefully the real Oliver Stone will show himself on July 6th.

3 Comments

1. 

   Jimmy Callaway

   June 13, 2012 at 12:48 am

   These clips are one million times better than any trailers.

   Reply
2. 

   JayTomio

   June 13, 2012 at 8:10 am

   Saw the teasers during the Finals game last night. Looks watchable.

   Reply
3. 

   Jimmy Callaway

   June 13, 2012 at 10:35 am

   After I read this last night, I dreamt that del Toro kidnapped Lively into outer space and got so high that he cut his own dick in half and then nailed it back together.  Then Johnson and Kitsch came to rescue her in the space shuttle, but on the way back they lost cabin pressure, and it was so exciting that I had to wake myself up to get a snack.  True story.

   Reply