Sicario (2015)

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

Jess’ Review

Sicario sees FBI agent Kate (Emily Blunt) plunged into the covert operations of a government task force in their attempts to bring down a Mexican drug lord.

From the get-go, director Denis Villeneuve sets an impossible tension to the film. It’s oozing with suspense and a lurking sense of foreboding. It’s impressive, truly delving the audience into a high-stakes environment that leaves your skin prickling. The action is gripping and yet there’s somehow an even more sinister intensity enveloping the moments of calm. The tone is consistently murky. And when accompanied by the subtly insidious soundtrack, the film is elevated to a impressive level of suspense.

The performances are brilliant, with Josh Brolin and Benicio Del Toro completing the starring trio. But it is Del Toro’s brooding Alejandro that truly steals the spotlight for me. The character is entirely unnerving, mysterious and increasingly frightening in his quiet intensity. He remains on the fringes of the story for the larger half of the film, striking hard and fast at its culmination. Del Toro is at his peak here.

The plot is marvellously intricate, keeping pace and a refreshing balance between action and dialogue. It’s gritty, a tale of corruption and morals as much as it is a film about crime. Sicario presents an incredibly thought-provoking, yet dark underbelly, which examines the normalisation of violence in our world. The ending, especially, is particularly potent with this message. And I love that Sicario is a film unafraid to shine a light on the infectious nature of corruption, regardless of societal standing.

My biggest problem with Sicario is that it’s quite convoluted. It’s an intelligent film, yet I found myself constantly grappling with the various agencies on show. FBI, fine - but DOJ, SOCOM, Delta Force? I’m most definitely a layman in this field, and the film assumes that most viewers are clued in to all of these factions and so bypasses any real explanation of their significance. Certain plot points evaded me simply because I didn’t understand the differences between the FBI and CIA. The terms can be confusing, and with a script full of quick, technical lingo, it was easy to get lost. Still, perhaps this remains a reflection on my own know-how.

Despite some difficulties in keeping up with the intricacies of the plot, I really enjoyed Sicario. It’s complex - perhaps a little overwhelmingly at times - yet it’s underlying themes remain clear and poignant. The acting is phenomenal and the ominous mood completely amplifies an already intense story. This truly is a land of wolves.

8/10

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Sam’s Reviews

Sicario starts strong. There’s no preamble, just head first into the action. From the gruesome visuals, vividly portraying the violence, the gritty tone is set early.

We follow FBI agent Kate (Emily Blunt) as she is invited to join a mysterious task force to apprehend a lieutenant in the Sonora Cartel. However, early on, when things get hectic in Juárez, her reaction is perplexing. She’s a hardened agent, yet amidst the violence she becomes distressed. Upon reflection I realised why she was upset, but it was difficult to decipher while watching, leaving me puzzled by her resolve.

The deception from Matt (Josh Brolin) and Alejandro (Benicio del Toro) is clear instantly. Something is going on. Initially, it was intriguing, as I guessed their motives. It grows annoying the longer we are kept in the dark. Of course there are ways to do this, to mislead the audience, yet this felt too blunt. (Not a reference to the wonderful Emily.) The payoff, while fascinating, wasn’t worth the suspense. It certainly is a brilliant story, with many layers and elements, yet it’s not told in a reticent fashion.

In somewhat typical Hollywood fashion the Mexicans are portrayed as drug-pushing, gun-toting villains. It feels two dimensional, and misses the humanity of those caught in this precarious situation. A Mexican family living their lives is interjected within the film, but this doesn’t do enough in my opinion. Understandably the murderous cartel members aren’t going to be portrayed in good light, but it wouldn’t have been too hard to have a couple of “good” Mexican characters.

The acting is phenomenal, especially Del Toro who is a wolf embodied. His slow, precise movements lurk at the edge of the film, reminiscent of a beast circling its prey. Even the way he articulates had me on edge. Blunt does a brilliant job at showing the emotional turmoil Kate is dragged through. Though I feel that her character is hampered by bad writing.

It’s a slick action film, with a lot of political savvy. Revealing both the heroic effort and mortally corrupt element of law enforcement is impressive, and daunting. The spotlight that is held up to the underbelly of politics and government agencies is a harsh reminder that those in power are not always righteous. And there are questions that we could have delved into further. Does compromising their morals for the greater good make these ‘leaders’ evil, or is it what makes them capable of the job? Who decides the greater good? Why are they right? How corrupt are these government agencies, and what’s their agendas? We scratch the surface, and it’s done well, but it could have been so much more.

7.5/10