Wow!
I can’t recall the last time a movie gripped me as early as this. I was completely immersed from scene one, shot one. Sicario (Mexican for ‘hitman’) opens with a S.W.A.T raid on a cartel hideout in the deserts of Arizona.
This is an action-packed, powerful and visceral scene that creates a vibe that you are definitely in for the ride with tight framing and a fast-paced edit. It’s a style that continues throughout Dennis Villeneuve’s action-packed film, and he should be applauded for it.
Emily Blunt stars as F.B.I agent Kate Macer, who is recruited by suspected C.I.A. (Josh Brolin) to take part in an operation to bring down the leader of the in the face of red tape, loopholes and corruption. Upon agreeing to take part, Macer promptly meets the mysterious Alejandro (Benicio Del Toro) who appear as a veteran agent… but his details remain sketchy. Soon, Kate realises the true scope of this mission, and what must be sacrificed in order to achieve it.
Sicario is frustrating to watch (in a good way!), as Kate struggles to grasp why she is involved, and to try answer some very salient questions about the validity (and even the legality) of the covert op she is on. The scenes with her are intimate and close; we feel every ounce of anguish and celebrate every small victory.
I need to make special mention to a scene. Early on, there is a sequence in which Kate tags along on an extraction. A convoy of black SUVs cross the border into Mexico, a vastly different landscape and culture separated from the United States by just a soccer ball’s kick over the giant fence at the border.
The team is collecting a high profile target, and we get to watch every moment and anticipate the inevitable attack from the gang supporting their arrested leader. In every way – the music, the acting and the top down sky shots – the 10-minutes of intense action makes this a solid contender for ‘Scene of the Year’ Kudos Sicarrio team… That’s how you do storytelling.
One of the best parts about this film is that it leaves the audience to figure out the symbology and tropes on their own, rather than cramming information or plot points in the form of exposition. Subtly creeps into the details about a certain character, or to foreshadow an event. Combine this with the already-tense vibe and very unique camera work and what you have is a story that you think you may have seen, but truly haven’t.
