Directed by Denis Villeneuve
Starring Emily Blunt, Josh Brolin, Benicio Del Toro
Rated R, 121 minutes
Emily Blunt portrays an idealistic FBI agent in “Sicario.” (Courtesy photos)
Josh Brolin in a scene from “Sicario.”
French-Canadian filmmaker Denis Villeneuve is regarded as one of the most promising and up-and-coming directors of the 2010s. He first caught the attention of American audiences with his mystery thriller “Prisoners,” which caused many to make comparisons to David Fincher (“Se7en,” “Zodiac”). His next film, “Enemy,” captivated audiences with its surrealistic and complex approach to the simple concept of a man discovering his doppelgänger. With his latest movie, “Sicario,” Villeneuve keeps viewers on the edge of their seats with yet another fantastic film.
“Sicario” tells the story of an idealistic FBI agent assigned to take down a Mexican drug operation. As the premise may have you guessing, “Sicario” is not a film that attempts to do anything that hasn’t already been done before. Movies such as “Savages” and “Traffic” have already heavily explored the subject of cartels. What makes “Sicario” great is how it strives to do it better than any other film by adding a level of moral complexity absent from most thrillers of this nature.
The film stars Emily Blunt (“Edge of Tomorrow,” “Devil Wears Prada”) as agent Kate Macer, as well as Josh Brolin (“No Country for Old Men,” “Inherent Vice”) and Benicio Del Toro (“Usual Suspects,” “Way of the Gun”). Blunt offers a simple yet effective portrayal of an agent with a clear sense of right and wrong who’s thrown into a world where the distinction is not clear. Brolin’s character, Matt Graver, is one of the most interesting characters in the movie. Most of what you need to know about him is established in his introductory scene, where in an FBI conference room he is the only person clad in a T-shirt, cargo pants, and flip-flops. His appearance speaks to his rebellious and carefree attitude, characteristics that are unusual in FBI agents. Del Toro offers my favorite performance in the film. His chilling portrayal of Alejandro Gillick is similar to that of Anton Chigurh in “No Country for Old Men.”
A master of tension
Villeneuve has already established himself as a master of tension with his previous two films. “Sicario” might be his most intense film yet. The film opens with a chaotic FBI raid on a potential drug den, and after that the pressure never drops. This is not to say that nonstop action dominates the film; in fact, there is very little action throughout, and what scenes of violence there are tend to be simple and realistic, adding to the believability of the film.
Roger Deakins’ (“Shawshank Redemption,” “No Country for Old Men”) cinematography is astonishing. His use of negative space (the empty area around the subject of a shot) perfectly creates a sense of isolation for the main character. Without Deakins, a valuable component to this film would have been lost, and he deserves just as much credit as Villeneuve.
With “Sicario,” Villeneuve again showcases his ability to take a simple concept and make it complex. It is proof that movies do not need to be original to be great. “Sicario” is an absolute must-see.
Thos Brown is a senior at the Bromfield School.
