Sicario (2015) Review!!

Synopsis – An idealistic FBI agent is enlisted by an elected government task force to aid in the escalating war against drugs at the border area between the U.S. and Mexico.

My Take – For months now this film directed by Denis Villeneuve, has been among the most hyped features to hit the cinemas. While a bunch of law men taking on the Mexican drug cartel may not seem like a unique idea (yet interesting), as its been done for quite some time now, for example last year’s cancelled brilliant FX show The Bridge also covered some of the similiar topics covered in this film. Yet, one of the main reasons for the hype beside the excellent cast would be director Denis Villeneuve himself! Back in 2013, he was the man behind the camera for two of the most intriguing thrillers I had ever seen – Prisoners & Enemy. Even though it may (according to me) not be the best thriller out there, it sure manages to grab your attention from the opening credits to the very end. With this film, director Denis Villenueve has now consolidated his name as one of most important and gifted directors of our time and has shown us he is here to stay. I truly marvel at how this film is so tightly put together and even despite it faults, which it has, especially in script, it just never gives you a chance to breathe and take it all in, thanks to the atmosphere that is established from shot one until the last one, you are always anticipating something’s going to happen and that is the sign you are watching a good thriller. The movie has a way to throw you into the action that is really rare to find, especially in a highway sequence close to the final act of the film. I was surprised how relatively little wrong there was on the technical point of view, a thing most thrillers (Hollywood ones in particular) completely do wrong quite often. The plot is quite solid, it’s refreshing to see a police-based film taking a darker turn than most of the big budget thrillers does. Denis Villeneuve‘s masterful piece exemplifies not only film-making of the highest order, but carves out a place alongside the terrible news reports as a deeply regretful, angry and at times almost unbearable look into the abyss of a socio-political nightmare that is fueled by first world-habit and global economics. I’ve never been to Juarez, I’ve heard horrible stories about that place, and this film (though it wasn’t exactly filmed in Juarez) does manage to put the fear of God in audiences’ heart by showing Juarez for what it is, there’s no sugar coating, there’s no hiding that it’s one of the murder capitals of the world. It’s a deeply harrowing part that will stay with you long after you’ve done watching the film which in and of itself wrestles with questions of morality.

The title of the film means ‘hit-man,’ you’ll come to wonder which of those three lead characters is the actual hit-man but ultimately, what the film gives you is this dilemma – if somebody could finally solve the drug cartel and drug kingpin problems for the rest of us, would you really care that they did it by killing instead of bringing the perp to justice? The story follows idealistic FBI agent names Kate (Emily Blunt), who leads a raid on a Mexican drug house near Phoenix, Arizona and discovers dozens of executed victims packed into the walls. From here, Kate is enlisted by an elected government task force to work for Matt Graver (Josh Brolin) to aid in the escalating war against drugs at the border area between the U.S. and Mexico. With the “guidance” of a mysterious agent Alejandro (Benecio Del Toro), who works as a sort of fixer on both sides of the border. Their work leads them to drug trafficker Fausto (Julio Cesar Cedillo) and the group then works to transport the criminal back across the border. Their journey will be met with many obstacles with shoot-outs at border crossings and a tense hunt and shoot inside a drug trafficking tunnel connecting the two countries, events which will shake Kate’s morals to her very core. Few movies this year have such a clear and defined structure and unflinching approach towards a situation that appears to be beyond salvation, while showing at the same time that life nevertheless continues. Director Denis Villenuve re-teams with master cinematographer Roger Deakins to take advantage of the desert, the weather, the landscape, the terrain, and use them as silent supporting characters that also serve to express the characters’ inner demons. Deakins is a multiple Oscar-nominated DOP that gets better with every work and here, you will see that he once again experiments with even richer and newer ways of shooting, whether it’s the night vision first person view or the angles to capture the intensity at the border, moments before weapons are drawn, it’s like enrolling in another classroom taught by Deakins but with extra curriculum to learn. The man just knows how to leave his competition behind. Some airborne shots in particular stand out as both daring and stunningly original, clearly showing just how harsh the landscape is, while managing to propel the story forward – without showing anyone, no less. What makes the film stumble is the fact that in never uses the good enough plot to make things as interesting as they should be. It really has a hard time in setting up which way it’s going and in the end it actually doesn’t end up with a satisfying resolution. You are certainly left with something to think about because of the themes, the characters, the atmosphere and the intensity, but all in all the plot doesn’t offer interesting turns and not enough moral questioning, unlike “Prisoners“, and so remains slightly one-note for the whole duration. Still there is nothing short of amazing in what Villenueve achieves in two hours. What could have been a screenplay turned into a very generic police drama, is actually one of the most atmospheric and tense movies of the year. The tension never lets up. An attack could come at any moment, from any direction. Anything could be a trap. All of it, no matter how extreme something is, plays as real.

The director manages scenes expertly to avoid any clean and easy action movie cliches, and it pays off enormously as the movie goes on. The focus of the film is clearly on Blunt‘s lead character and Blunt is up to the task in being the smartest person in the room while also being the one most left in the dark as to the team’s objectives. She will be continually conflicted by her male peers particularly their penchant for instigating or responding forcefully to appeared violence. Unfortunately, if this film has a weak spot it is Blunt‘s character – she doesn’t really progress from the green, idealistic officer that she is at the start of the film. Following the discovery of this house, she is offered a change of job – a chance to really make a difference. She is hesitant but is always motivated by what she thinks is right and accepts the new assignment. She is the moral compass of a movie that is filled with immoral behavior, and yet despite the lack of development for her character, Blunt does an excellent job. Emily Blunt, as seen in nearly everything she touches, shows herself as one of the most interesting and endearing actresses working today. Her courage and vulnerability for Kate is personified by Blunt‘s ability to connect with the character’s soul. She lays into Kate calmly, echoing great performances like Jessica Chastain in “Zero Dark Thirty” but with more reserve. Benicio Del Toro is downright magnificent. As Alejandro, he delivers his best performance since “21 Grams.” A dedicated sensation that calls back to all types of performances such as Javier Bardem in “No Country for Old Men“. You won’t be able to take your eyes off him. Josh Brolin utilizes every ounce of his charm that has made him one of the most sought after actor’s in the business. A memorable, though understated and undervalued character that you do want more clarity about. Other cast members like Jon Bernthal, Jeffrey Donovan, Victor Garber, and especially Daniel Kaluuya are given their fair share of opportunity, which all take well. Johann Johannsson‘s score is another exciting driving force upon which the film is carried. Never overbearing or obnoxious, the score is dark and foreboding, it’s perfect. The film itself isn’t ‘perfect’; it could be argued that the story feels overly familiar (which I’ve mentioned above, mainly due to the subject matter) but I honestly feel that the approach isn’t. Villeneuve‘s direction is much stronger here than in any of his previous works, and his ability to balance the main trio throughout most of the film’s duration, is an achievement. On the whole, ‘Sicario‘ is a slow burn tense, nervy and an incredibly well made thriller. Unlike what the trailers are wrongly portraying, the film is more of a dramatic thriller than an action movie. Sicario isn’t anything new or mind blowing, but it is a skillfully crafted piece of film that delivers more than your average thriller, possibly because the subject matter is more interesting than your run-down-the-mill crime thriller.