Lazy Film Critic Movie Reviews
Sicario
Sicario is a thriller from Denis Villeneuve, who has slowly become one of my personal favorite directors working today ever since Prisoners came out. The film follows an FBI agent, who is called in to assist in an operation that means to take down a cartel boss. However, things get complicated when the way everyone else is going about this mission is morally, ethically, and even legally questionable. The film stars Emily Blunt as the lead, along with Benicio Del Toro, Josh Brolin, Dalien Kaluuya, and Victor Garber.
In terms of the performances, all the actors in this movie did a pretty good job. However, the two actors I really have to talk about here are Emily Blunt and Benicio Del Toro. Emily Blunt gives an incredibly emotional performance here, with one of her most convincing and utterly real characters yet. Her character is also witness to some pretty shocking stuff, and she sells those parts of the film perfectly as well. As for Benicio Del Toro, his character was incredibly mysterious throughout the film, and you never really know much about him until near the end. This was reflected in his performance, as you never really feel like you know what this characters going to do next.
I've talked about it in the past how Denis Villeneuve is one of my favorite directors working today, one of the few directors who I'll really watch anything he does. Now, if I didn't already think that about him, I certainly would after seeing Sicario. Once again, much like with Prisoners, Villeneuve delivers a gut-punch of a movie, filled with dark, gritty, and otherwise shocking moments. With Sicario he's also delivered his most engaging film yet, the way this movie goes from scene to scene is so natural and you never once feel like a scene is out of place. This is one of the few movies in a while where I never once checked what the time was, because my entire focus was on this movie.
The sense of being constantly engaged by Sicario comes not only from the direction, but from how beautifully captured this film is. There is never a single shot in this movie where you don't see how much thought was put into it, the vibrant on-screen colors give the films dark tone a sense of fresh air, and nothing is out of place. Roger Deakins, one of my favorite cinematographers, has delivered some of his best work yet in Sicario, giving a film in which even simple things like a parking lot or even dirt look simply amazing.
One of the best parts of Sicario is by far the tension. Whether or not the characters are charging into a cartel tunnel, or are doing something as simple as drinking in a bar, there is constant tension. This film does an amazing job at keeping you on your toes, and never giving you a chance to relax and feel safe. Every time a character is standing out in the open, you feel like their head is going to blow off. Every time a character gets into a car, you feel like the car is going to explode. It was a lot like watching Game of Thrones, there isn't a single character in this movie who I felt was safe, and the film greatly benefits for it.
Final Rating
Sicario is essentially the second season of True Detective we never got (because the second season of True Detective was boring and pretentious). This movie keeps you on your feet from start to finish, with its constant tension and a never-ending sense of danger. Emily Blunt and Benicio Del Toro both give oscar worthy performances, and this film has some of the best examples of great cinematography I have ever seen. Simply put, Sicario is absolutely one of my favorite movies of year. If you ask me, try to see this movie as soon as you possibly can. It's nothing short of a masterpiece.
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