Sicario is one of those films that I love and lament, as we will not see films like this anymore.
Directed by Denis Villeneuve, written by Taylor Sheridan, and starring Emily Blunt, Benicio Del Toro, and Josh Brolin, Sicario is a thriller/action film that takes place in the present, between the locations of Arizona, Texas, and Mexico.
The border itself and the geography play a pivotal part in the film.
So much so that it acts as its own character.
The film is about an idealistic female FBI agent, Kate Macer, who is part of a kidnapping rescue division. One day her operation goes up in smoke when a bomb injures or kills fellow officers.
To make amends for this chaos, she volunteers to join a small task force to hunt the men responsible for the kidnappings and the bomb.
This is where she meets Matt Graver and Alejandro.
Sticking to the rules of law in the cartel hunt, she soon finds herself in an ethical dilemma all while trying to survive.
Now she has to navigate through this conflict of the drug trade; between right and wrong, order and chaos, and good and evil… and it’s a tightrope she’s walking on.
This is one of those films that has really inspired me to see thrillers and action narratives in another light.
And to ask deeper questions of humanity and the human spirit.
What I really love about the film is how it’s an unconventional action/thriller.
On the surface, it looks and was advertised as something like The Kingdom, 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, or No Country for Old Men, but somewhere deep below the surface, something is going on that makes it… different.
It’s not what’s shown that sets it apart, but what is subconsciously implied that makes this film stand out.
I’ve always been fascinated by the cultural, political, and human tensions of the narcos in Mexico. Being a citizen of the country myself, this issue means a lot to me. And it’s an issue that needs to be discussed with earnestness.
Sicario is a film that comments on the issue without trying to lecture you.
It doesn’t insult your intelligence and tell you what to think. Nor does it try to convince you to take one side of the argument over the other.
Instead, it trusts you to make your own decision in context. The movie takes the real-life issues of what is going on today and presents them in an engaging and compelling streak of grisly moral gray.
One excellent form to show the conflicting ethical nature of this film is the way the characters operate. The excellent cast livens the heart of the conflict in the story.
I haven’t seen Emily Blunt in too many films, but her role in here reminds me of Jodie Foster as Clarice Starling in The Silence of the Lambs.
Blunt does an excellent job as the bright-eyed, naïve, idealist in the film.
I loved Josh Brolin’s performance, even if he thought it was goofy. I loved him in No Country for Old Men, and he does stellar work playing Matt Graver.
He acts as an operative who takes his work seriously, but when the job’s done, he’d be the guy that would be a cool drinking buddy.
Benicio Del Toro was a great surprise for me.
I knew about him but had seen none of his previous films. Additionally, I was told he’s quite the lively actor.
In here, he plays a more reserved bad-ass who’s covered in mystery and holds a dark and secret past.
His darkness balances Blunt’s character perfectly.
It’s a good cast. Even the extras are superb in evoking human emotions when doing their minor roles.
The cinematography is outstanding.
Despite all the darkness that’s in this film, literally and metaphorically, Roger Deakins, a master of cinematography.
He brings quality to this film and blends the bleak horror with the beauty of the desert.
It’s outright insane it didn’t win best cinematography.
What else to go along with the ambience, the tone, and the feel of this film but the score by Jóhann Jóhannsson?
Another enchantingly dark feature of this film is the music.
It’s a masterclass that allows one to experience the dread and the darkness of the world of Sicario.
Like the cinematography, it has a solemn beauty behind it that grips the viewer and allows you to explore the abyss of the film and the feelings of the characters.
Is the film perfect?
Absolutely not!
There are some factors that take place where former in-the-field operators, veterans, or officers have commented and scoffed at its depiction of real-life tactical action and standard combat procedures.
Courtesy of JRE Clips
Courtesy of JRE Clips
Courtesy of FNG ACADEMY
But not all. Some still praise the film while confirming the odd choices made in those tactical scenes.
Courtesy of Vickers Tactical
But I argue most of those “flaws” were intentional.
In fact, it’s the one reason I believe Sicario is more than what it presents.
Sicario is trying to tell us something with those choices.
For you see, fellow readers, you’re mistaking Sicario for its genre. It’s not just an action/thriller… The film goes even deeper than what the naked eye perceives.
What is it exactly? Stay tuned for an upcoming analysis of the film.
In the end, Sicario is a riveting film that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
This movie receives a strong 8/10 and earns my Dark Seal of Approval!
If you haven’t seen the movie, I highly recommend it. It may be slow in some parts, but it’s worth the watch with its profundity!
Sources
- FNG ACADEMY: GREEN BERET Reacts to Sicario | Beers and Breakdowns
- JRE Clips: Former Mexican Border Agent on Sicario Accuracy, Cartels Being Designated as Terrorists | Joe Rogan
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- Real Navy SEAL on What War Movies Get Wrong | Joe Rogan and Andy Stumpf
- Vickers Tactical: Larry At The Movies EP 4 – “Sicario”
- Movie Stuff: Sicario (2015) Making Of