First image from Oliver Stone’s Savages featuring Del Toro and Lively

The first image from Oliver Stone’s crime drama SAVAGES has appeared online, featuring a scraggly-looking Benicio Del Toro blowing smoke in Blake Lively’s face.

That’s just rude, man.

Del Toro plays a drug dealer henchman who kidnaps the girlfriend (Lively) of two pot growers (Taylor Kitsch and Aaron Johnson) who then attempt a rescue mission. Throw in Uma Thurman as Lively’s mom and John Travolta as a DEA agent, plus roles for Salma Hayek and Emile Hirsch and you’ve got yourself a pretty kick ass cast, especially considering the material.

Here is the synopsis of the book by Don Winslow:

Part-time environmentalist and philanthropist Ben and his ex-mercenary buddy Chon run a Laguna Beach–based marijuana operation, reaping significant profits from their loyal clientele. In the past when their turf was challenged, Chon took care of eliminating the threat. But now they may have come up against something that they can’t handle—the Mexican Baja Cartel wants in, and sends them the message that a “no” is unacceptable. When they refuse to back down, the cartel escalates its threat, kidnapping Ophelia, the boys’ playmate and confidante. O’s abduction sets off a dizzying array of ingenious negotiations and gripping plot twists that will captivate readers eager to learn the costs of freedom and the price of one amazing high.

This really seems like a return to form for Stone, as he’s been hit or miss of late (okay, mostly miss) and could use to get back to some of his more intense roots (SALVADOR and NATURAL BORN KILLERS are two of my faves).  Usually, Stone is channeling some form of a political agenda, but this feels like something he, GASP, may be doing for fun.  Imagine that?

Speaking to Empire, Taylor Kitsch likened SAVAGES to “Pulp Fiction meets Goodfellas.”  That’s a pretty bold statement if you ask me.  “This is right in Stone’s wheelhouse,” Kitsch said.

I’m pretty pumped to see some more images and a trailer for sure.  I think it’s safe to say that SAVAGES can now be placed as a blip on my radar. 

SAVAGES is set for release on September 28th, 2012.