Sicario

Sicario is the latest venture from Denis Villeneuve, a filmmaker who has skyrocketed since his incredible directing turn in Enemy, as well as his previous works. Starring Emily Blunt, Josh Brolin and Benicio Del Toro, it goes in the world of drug cartels as FBI Agent Kate Macer was brought to a task force headed by Matt Graver, only to see results she wasn’t exactly betting on.

For a thriller-driven film, the subtlety of the characters’ personalities shine through, particularly the characters of Kate and Alejandro. They contradict each other in more ways than one, with Blunt and Del Toro’s performances echoing out their characters’ sentiments perfectly. There’s Kate who’s experienced in the field, but she hasn’t seen the harsh realities of her work. Then there’s Alejandro, a man who has been destroyed that nothing ever seems to faze him. In a way, the film was shot to reflect the personalities of these characters. The events transpiring are sinister, planned methodically, with the people (with the exception of Kate) armed for anything out of the ordinary. And yet the way the film was shot, it reflected the confusion, uncertainty and curiosity of Kate. 

The cinematography of the film was remarkable – the framing was good, the shift to different perspectives added intensity to the scenes, the camera able to capture the personalities and emotions of the characters involved. The narrative was clear, and the editing allowed the events to flow smoothly, causing no necessary confusion to the plot. The film never loses its momentum, powering through each scene with intensity. 

Emily Blunt was wonderful. There’s a naiveté her character has and she was able to express it out alongside her natural instinct of protecting and defending herself. Her character was neither strong nor broken, but she can be what the scene demands her to be. Blunt has some shining moments, and portrayed her character well. 

The character that will leave you wondering is Alejandro, played marvelously by Benicio Del Toro. His expressions, his actions, they’re premeditated and calculated. Despite his cool, calm exterior, he was ruthless. Del Toro was able to bring out the cruelty of the character, making it appear that everything he does is second nature to him. He and Blunt were the stars of this film, really amazing performances from them. 

Despite its two-hour runtime, the film was fast-paced. Some scenes were also telling of what would happen next, and nothing unnecessary was added. Denis Villeneuve outdone himself with Sicario, it left me wanting more of the characters and the narration. 

Cast: Emily Blunt, Benicio Del Toro, Josh Brolin

Director: Denis Villeneuve

Year: 2015