Sicario (2015) Movie Review NO SPOILERS: Emily Blunt, Benicio del Toro, Josh Brolin, Taylor Sheridan

The Plot

Idealistic FBI agent Kate Macer (Emily Blunt) is recruited by a shadowy government task force led by CIA operative Matt Graver (Josh Brolin). Her mission: to escalate the war against a Mexican drug cartel.

Along for the ride is Alejandro (Benicio del Toro), a consultant with a terrifyingly calm demeanor and a dark past that links him directly to the cartels.

Kate soon realizes she isn’t there to lead an investigation; she is a LEGAL PAWN in a black ops chess match.

Review

• The Direction: Denis Villeneuve (before he went to Arrakis) created a world of unbearable tension. The ‘Border Crossing’ sequence remains one of the best action scenes in recent times. There is a REALISM in his directing style that makes you feel uncomfortable.
• The Visuals & Sound: The late Jóhann Jóhannsson’s pounding, bass-heavy score and Roger Deakins’ desert cinematography create a feeling of constant, vibrating dread, in line with Villeneuve’s direction.
• Benicio del Toro: He redefined the ‘hitman’ trope. Alejandro isn’t a villain or a hero; he is a SURVIVOR who became what he is because of the cartel. Also, don’t be so dreadful when watching this movie. The payoff is GREAT.
• The Frustration: Some critics find the movie difficult because the protagonist, Kate, has almost no power. She is pushed around by the men in the room from start to finish. However, that’s exactly the point — it’s a movie about the IRRELEVANCE of RULES in a lawless war.

Summary

Sicario is about The Death of Idealism. It asks the audience: Is it better to have a world of chaos, or a world where we let ‘monsters’ run the show to keep things quiet? Or, should we be like Kate, or Superman, in the end, and push for JUSTICE and FREEDOM?

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