Sicario

Sicario (2015)

Director: Denis Villeneuve

Writer: Taylor Sheridan

Cast: Emily Blunt, Josh Brolin, Benicio Del Toro, Jon Bernthal, Victor Garber, Daniel Kaluuya, Jeffrey Donovan, Julio Cesar Cedillo, Maximilliano Hernandez

Synopsis:

FBI agent Kate Macer (Blunt) is recruited to work on a special operations team devoted to combating Mexican drug cartels operating in the southern states. Macer, who has seen first-hand the violence perpetrated by the cartels, reluctantly joins the team but is wary of its leader, Matt Graver (Brolin), who claims to be with the Department of Defense. Kate soon learns that the unit operates within its own rules, using methods and tactics that would not generally be considered  "legal." While she disagrees with Graver's methods, Kate understands that the cartels don't play by the rules either. She is then left to decide whether the ends justify the means.

First Impressions:

I saw this one in theaters back in 2015. It was one of those films I had been aware of during production and was looking forward to seeing it. On first viewing, I wasn't disappointed. I thought it was a thriller that harkened back to cop dramas of the 80s and 90s, where there's a lot of ambiguity in characters, and the end isn't necessarily all neat and tidy. It ranks up there as one of my favorite films of that year, and it still ranks pretty high on my list.

Story/Direction: 

"Nothing will make sense to your American ears, and you will doubt everything that we do, but in the end, you will understand."

I like how the story is laid out in this film because it's so unusual. The story is told from Kate's point of view, but it's clear from the get-go that she has little to no control over what's going on around her. It's an unusual way to go in a movie like this, which generally has protagonists in much more control. In fact, I think that was what Villeneuve was going for, to give the audience a sense of helplessness as Kate can only watch the chaos that unfolds around her. The film is also unusual in that the story's hero doesn't exactly "win" in the end. Instead, by the film's conclusion, Kate is even more confused and disheartened than she was at the beginning and is nearly killed for standing up for her convictions. It's such a neat departure from most movies of this ilk. 

From a pacing standpoint, Villeneuve keeps things moving quickly but doesn't rush the story. The film has a runtime of around two hours, but it doesn't feel like it. We're introduced to the major players right off the bat, and we're given the lay of the land as far as this situation with the cartels goes. Villeneuve doesn't waste our time with any extraneous scenes to "build out the world." It's all about the characters and how they interact with the world of the film than about the world itself. Villeneuve makes sure that each scene included has some purpose in telling the story, which makes the film flow very nicely. Since this is still a relatively recent film, I'm being fairly vague about plot specifics to avoid spoilers but trust me, the film really nails it in the area of the story.

Acting Characters:

I think Emily Blunt does a fantastic job carrying this film, and I really liked Kate as a character. In modern filmmaking, it's become a bit of a trope to make infallible, almost invincible female heroes. I suppose, in a way, it's Hollywood making up for some transgressions of the past. The problem is that these are generally not exciting characters, regardless of gender. Kate Macer breaks that mold and is a character much more in line with Sarah Connor from The Terminator or Ellen Ripley from Aliens. She's strong and capable, but there's a vulnerability there that makes the character compelling. When the shit hits the fan in the film, she's frightened, more often than not (just like anyone would be), yet she still manages to act despite that fear. This gives the character an authenticity that you don't often see anymore.

On the other hand, I thought Josh Brolin was a bit...meh. Don't get me wrong, Brolin is a terrific actor, but I thought he laid on the skeeviness a bit too much as Graver. Brolin plays the character with a constant smirk, which is always code to an audience that he's hiding something. I think the character may have been better served by being a bit more detached and ruthless rather than affable, but that's just me.

The rest of the cast is stellar, with Benicio Del Toro front and center as Alejandro, an independent contractor who's not what he appears to be. Daniel Kaluuya is solid, as always, as Kate's overprotective partner Reggie. One of my favorites, Jon Bernthal, also appears as a corrupt cop. All in all, I'd have to say the cast, right down to supporting characters, is top-notch.

Visuals/Action:

The film doesn't have many special effects outside the regular gunfire and explosions. However, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the movie's visual style. Villeneuve has an excellent eye for visuals, and his films a gorgeously shot, reminding me a lot of Ridley Scott in that regard. Sicario is set in the American Southwest, and much of the film's action is set against a bright background, except at the end, which is shrouded in darkness. It's a neat contrast, and Villeneuve deserves props for it.

As far as action goes, the film has a few solid action scenes, including the opening raid of a cartel-controlled house. There's also a nifty standoff of the Bridge of the Americas in the middle of the film, and the nighttime raid at the end of the film was also well shot. That being said, though, this really isn't an action film and its tensest moments come from the buildup to those scenes rather than the scenes themselves.

Score/Soundtrack:

If there's one area that this film doesn't really stand out, it's the score. The music was composed by Jóhann Jóhannsson, but I can't remember a single bar of music included in the film, save for the country tunes played inside a bar. I've said it before, though, a minimalist score that I can't remember is better than a crummy score that overshadows the film.

Final Impressions:

This is still a great film. It's probably my favorite of Villeneuve's filmography, though I admit I've only seen one other movie of his and I didn't like it. Nevertheless, fans of thrillers and cop dramas will surely enjoy it.