I think we have reached a point where we can watch a movie and confidently say “That is a Denis Villeneuve film”. The French-Canadian filmmaker can be defined as someone not afraid to claw deep under the surface of difficult subject matter. He also spares his audience no amount of discomfort or unease when telling his stories. His films are incredibly cinematic and are recognized by both their narrative and visual intensity. Several films have helped reveal his uniquenesses, but his new film “Sicario” is his best yet.
Every one of Villeneuve’s characteristics mentioned above are present in “Sicario”, a border thriller that stings with relevancy. Emily Blunt is superb playing Kate Macer, an FBI field agent specializing in hostage rescue. The film opens with a gripping sequence featuring Kate leading a raid on an Arizona housing division. Her actions catch the attention of her superiors who then ask her to join a task force led by Department of Defense ‘advisor’ Matt Graver (played with amusing cockiness by Josh Brolin). The mission is to strike back at the drug cartels responsible for a number of brutal killings. Anxious to finally make a significant difference, Kate agrees to join Graver’s team.
Also on the team is the mysterious and shadowy Alejandro played with unflinching precision by Benicio del Toro. Back in 2000 he won the Supporting Actor Oscar for “Traffic”, but this stellar performance rises above his past work. His Alejandro is impenetrable – a walking contrast of information and emotion. The vast majority of the film is shown through Kate’s perspective. Like her, we struggle to figure out Alejandro, Graver, and the entire mission for that matter. Screenwriter Taylor Sheridan meticulously feeds us small bits of information never allowing us the feeling of being fully informed.
“Sicario” is also strengthened by the sting of its moral ambiguity. There is no easy way to navigate the morality of what we see on screen. Kate struggles with it and Villeneuve forces his audience to struggle with it too. It casts a bright light on the drug war, border violence, and government policy painting each as murkier and far more complex than we normally hear through political talking points. It operates under the idea that we have lost the drug war. Now it’s about control and making sure it doesn’t consume us. But does that mean compromising our moral conscience and turning what we known to be ‘right and wrong’ into a much more gray area? These questions hit Kate like a crashing wave.
And there is no way to talk about this movie without mentioning its phenomenal presentation. Villeneuve has perfectly matched the intensity of his story and subject matter with a visual rendering that is truly absorbing and stimulating. It will come as no surprise that Roger Deakins’ cinematography is magnificent. When will this man finally win the Oscar he deserves? His camerawork is key in making many of these scenes work. There are no vanity or prestige shots. They all have meaning. Deakins visually infuses so many scenes with tension and potency.
There is one particular sequence that may be my favorite of the year. Kate joins Graver’s team in a extradition mission to Juarez. They are to move across the border, pick up a high value target, and make it back. Deakins’ magic takes over the moment they leave the military base. Through his lens, Deakins reveals to us the boiling tension of the location and situation – the same tension that Kate is experiencing for the first time. It is also helped by Jóhann Jóhannsson’s simmering score – one of the year’s best. The entire sequence is cinema at its finest.
“Sicario” is a searing and provocative thriller – visceral and unflinching in its depiction of a situation with no easy answer. Denis Villeneuve and company expertly craft a cinematic experience grounded in relevancy and unwilling to sugar coat its subject matter. Villeneuve, Blunt, del Toro, Deakins, and Jóhannsson all deserve Oscar nominations and the film itself is among the year’s very best.
VERDICT – 4.5 STARS
Keith & the Movies 
Emily Blunt can do no wrong and Denis Villeneuve is rising fast in my estimation as a powerful director. Great review, Keith.
Easily, one of my favorites of the year!
Hands down! This thing blew me away. I haven’t been that riveted in the theaters for a while.
Great review!
Thanks! Have you had a chance to catch this one yet?
Yes! I really liked it.
Awesome. This is one that really deserves its high praise.
Fabulous stuff my friend. Glad to see it get the near-perfect score! 🙂
That sequence you speak of, when we sneak in and back out of Juarez, I’m pretty sure I didn’t draw a breath that entire time. It was absolutely incredible. Sicario and The Martian for me are my top favorites of the major film pack at the moment. Though this one is certainly the more ‘important’ (for lack of a better word) film of the two, I think
Man, that scene was absolutely riveting. Like you, I was glued to it. Every visual detail was absolutely perfect. You felt the tension. I’ll be honest with you, I’m wrestling with a 4.5 or a 5. I truly love this film that much.
How about that scene when they descend at dusk into the underground mines and the use of the night vision? That was simply one of the coolest moments this year.
Yes. And that type of scene has been done several times before. But here it is so intense. The disorienting shifts in night vision types, the focus on sound, it works sooo incredibly well.
Oh I’m so sad I haven’t seen this yet! Every review I read gets me more excited. Bring on the DVD release!
– Allie
Hey Allie! This is an absolute must-see. The best thriller of the year (so far), two of the best performances, maybe the best cinematography, the best score. Just fantastic!
I REALLY want to see this Keith! Like you, I’m a big fan of miss Blunt. But I think I’ll just rent it instead as it looks so brutal. Denis Villeneuve is on a roll, boy he’s made some really bold, terrific stuff lately. I saw Enemy which was bizarre but the idea of the premise is very unique.
I’ll be perfectly honest Ruth. This one has a few gruesome images and some scattered bloody violence. But it’s never gratuitous and it is perfectly in context. Aside from that I think you will really be involved with this one. Hands down one of my favorites of the year.
Oh good, then I will just cover my eyes during those scenes. I definitely want to see it, but I find that it’s easier for me to handle it if I see brutal films like this at home.
I can see that. I’m really going to be frustrated if this one doesn’t get some Oscar nomination recognition. It is that good. And can Roger Deakins please get the Oscar he has deserved for so long???
Finally got to see it this week and have to agree completely, one of the best movies I’ve seen this year and that first mission into Mexico is a very thrilling watch indeed.
Absolutely! Glad you liked it too. This movie deserves a good audience. Top notch.
Good review Keith. A very tense watch, however, also has something going on underneath the hood that makes it more than just a thrilling movie.
Thanks man. You’re exactly right. It’s definitely more than a routine thriller. I really liked that about it.
Really did think about giving this an A, Keith. I think the only thing I wasn’t that thrilled with was the mystery and always being left in the dark, but really, we’re seeing the story through Kate’s eyes. Just a minor quib…
cause otherwise, this was amazing! I really do want to see this get tons of love during nomination season. Great writing Keith.
I’m with you. I have struggled with not giving it 5 stars. I am still wrestling with that and my score may eventually change.
Can’t wait to buy on Blu-Ray and watch again 🙂
Excellent review Keith. I’m so disappointed that I missed this one on the big screen. I just hope we don’t have to wait too long for the blu-ray!
Excellent work Keith! I am keeping my eyes peeled for this – it’s gotten high praise and I will see it purely because of Villeneuve. His work is unique, different, thrilling.
Thanks Zoe! I think this is easily his best film. Also features my favorite scene of the entire year (so far). SEE IT!!! 😉
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Good review. I also thought Sicario was a fantastic film, it was so riveting. It’s really more psychological than normal action thrillers.
It surprised me with its numerous layers. And Del Toro was fantastic. Really anxious to see it again. I think it hits blu-ray next month.