MOVIE OF THE WEEK (10/2/15): SICARIO
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| 'If I keep doing all these movies where I play a tough chick holding guns, they're never gonna let me do a bad romantic comedy ... Hey – maybe I should keep this up!" Kate Macer (Emily Blunt) goes deep down underground in a hectic scene from director Denis Villeneuve's SICARIO. Credit: Richard Foreman, Jr. SMPSP. © 2015 Lionsgate. All rights reserved. |
KEY CAST MEMBERS: Emily Blunt, Josh Brolin, Benicio Del Toro, Daniel Kaluuya, Jon Bernthal, Victor Garber and Maximiliano Hernández
WRITER(S): Taylor Sheridan
DIRECTOR(S): Denis Villeneuve
60 SECOND PLOT SUMMARY (OR AS CLOSE TO THAT TIME AS ONE CAN MAKE IT): Kate Macer (Emily Blunt) is a FBI agent who specializes in kidnapping cases who has just made the biggest – and most grim – discovery of her career. This earns her the attention of Matt Graver (Josh Brolin), a special agent looking her to volunteer to join an elite task force looking to go after Mexican cartels and Miguel Diaz (Bernardo P. Saracino) in particular. Kate's partner Reggie (Daniel Kaluuya is none too trusting of the setup, however, a fear which only intensifies when the mysterious Alejandro (Benicio Del Toro) is introduced as a consultant to Matt's efforts.
Soon thereafter, Kate finds herself overwhelmingly embroiled in a world of crime where no one is what they seems they are, knowing who to trust can be deadly if the wrong choice is made and the end may or may not justify the means ...
Soon thereafter, Kate finds herself overwhelmingly embroiled in a world of crime where no one is what they seems they are, knowing who to trust can be deadly if the wrong choice is made and the end may or may not justify the means ...
WHO WILL LIKE THIS FILM THE MOST? Benicio Del Toro fans, Emily Blunt fans, people who enjoy old school (think 70s) intrigue gun battle flicks, anyone interested in the Mexico/Texas/Arizona cartel wars, people enjoy a movie with a great, tense soundtrack, Donald Trump and his supporters
WHO WON’T (OR SHOULDN'T) LIKE THIS MOVIE? People who fear it will play into immigration war debate, those who hate graphic depictions of violence, Donald Trump and his supporters
SO, IS IT GOOD, BAD OR ABSOLUTELY AWFUL? Bolstered by intense, edge-of-your seat gun battles and staredowns, a pulsating soundtrack and terrific performances in taut, unflinching settings, Sicario is easily one of the best films of 2015 and one that has plenty to say about its subject matter.
The movie has yet to open officially nationwide, yet Lionsgate is already planning a sequel to Sicario focusing on Del Toro's character; watching the film, one can tell why the studio is eager to explore the story further as plenty of material exists to be explored. However, until that film drops, director Denis Villeneuve deserves all the accolades he receives as Sicario features flawless camera work that ensnares you from start to finish.
Blunt is fantastic as Kate, a young FBI agent who is the epitome of the person who wants to do things by the book and believe in the system only to discover she's nowhere near equipped to play the game into which she is thrust. As Villeneuve throws her into every head-scratching moment, horrifying discovery and near death experience feel as if is happening right in front of your face, Blunt unearths the little remaining humanity in them all. As she's trying to make sense of it all, you will find yourself doing the same thing, both in terms of what's happening to her and how it's affecting her as she tries to cling to her ideals before becoming consumed by it all. This is only possible, however, because Brolin delivers his best performance in a while as Graver, an amoral man who is charming as a snake oil salesman concerned only with his bottom line. Using his Texas cowboy shtick here much more effectively than he did in his other September appearance Everest, Brolin gets to play the role of the devil-in-the-details with great aplomb and relishes in the opportunity.
Given that his character is the one getting the sequel, it should come as no surprise that Del Toro walks away as the most interesting character in the entire production. Staring with a seemingly innocuous beginning, Del Toro brings his character full circle in a manner that at times is humorous, engaging/cool to outright terrifying in a performance as nuanced as his character. He is able to make you laugh, respect and ultimately fear his character with a performance that is the definition of an anti-hero to a "T."
Working with a well-crafted script penned by Sons of Anarchy alum Taylor Sheridan, Villeneuve mixes in his characters as different parts of a large system of crime and punishment where there is blood on everyone's hands. Every single moment connects in plausible fashion that makes many of the age old questions – Does the end justify the means? Is anyone innocent in the drug war? Is what our government does any worse than insert-potential-criminal-they-are-fighting? – feel fresh and relevant in regards to depicting a hot button topic without taking a clear side.
Del Toro has said Sicario is a film about choices ... If you enjoy great thrillers, the only choice you have with Sicario is when and what theater at which to see it.
The movie has yet to open officially nationwide, yet Lionsgate is already planning a sequel to Sicario focusing on Del Toro's character; watching the film, one can tell why the studio is eager to explore the story further as plenty of material exists to be explored. However, until that film drops, director Denis Villeneuve deserves all the accolades he receives as Sicario features flawless camera work that ensnares you from start to finish.
Blunt is fantastic as Kate, a young FBI agent who is the epitome of the person who wants to do things by the book and believe in the system only to discover she's nowhere near equipped to play the game into which she is thrust. As Villeneuve throws her into every head-scratching moment, horrifying discovery and near death experience feel as if is happening right in front of your face, Blunt unearths the little remaining humanity in them all. As she's trying to make sense of it all, you will find yourself doing the same thing, both in terms of what's happening to her and how it's affecting her as she tries to cling to her ideals before becoming consumed by it all. This is only possible, however, because Brolin delivers his best performance in a while as Graver, an amoral man who is charming as a snake oil salesman concerned only with his bottom line. Using his Texas cowboy shtick here much more effectively than he did in his other September appearance Everest, Brolin gets to play the role of the devil-in-the-details with great aplomb and relishes in the opportunity.
Given that his character is the one getting the sequel, it should come as no surprise that Del Toro walks away as the most interesting character in the entire production. Staring with a seemingly innocuous beginning, Del Toro brings his character full circle in a manner that at times is humorous, engaging/cool to outright terrifying in a performance as nuanced as his character. He is able to make you laugh, respect and ultimately fear his character with a performance that is the definition of an anti-hero to a "T."
Working with a well-crafted script penned by Sons of Anarchy alum Taylor Sheridan, Villeneuve mixes in his characters as different parts of a large system of crime and punishment where there is blood on everyone's hands. Every single moment connects in plausible fashion that makes many of the age old questions – Does the end justify the means? Is anyone innocent in the drug war? Is what our government does any worse than insert-potential-criminal-they-are-fighting? – feel fresh and relevant in regards to depicting a hot button topic without taking a clear side.
Del Toro has said Sicario is a film about choices ... If you enjoy great thrillers, the only choice you have with Sicario is when and what theater at which to see it.
OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):
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